You've arrived at a big, open field. As soon as you exit your car, you're greeted by an overly enthusiastic sales rep.

"Here it is! The location of your future dream home!"

But all you see are shrubs, trees, tumbleweeds, and dirt. Maybe if you had a crystal ball, you could look into the future, see what the area will look like once it's built out, and confidently pick a site that suits your needs. 

Unfortunately, that isn't an option. You're stuck with only your imagination and intuition. 

To call this task stressful would be an understatement. That's why we at Marketplace Homes put together this list of helpful hints:

• Walk the stakes. Any good builder will have each home site staked out. They will literally stick a piece of wood or metal into each corner of the lot to signify where the property begins and ends. Your first step should always be to walk around the perimeter of a home site to locate each stake. 
  
  This will help you confirm whether the size and shape you have in mind for your home and yard are actually feasible. Further, this will help you discover whether those beautiful trees that appear to be in the backyard will actually be in the backyard — and not belong to someone else. 
  
  As you walk the stakes, ask as many questions as you can. If those trees aren't on your property, will they soon be chopped down to make room for more homes? Is that fenced-in area next to the home site actually a farm? If you were there on a warmer day, would cows be mooing at you while stinking up the joint? These are things you definitely want to know before making your final selection.
  
  
• Examine the plot plan. Everyone is given the plot plan as part of the purchasing agreement, but not everyone asks to see this document before selecting the home site. Too often, these folks end up with unexpected power lines on their properties — which, unfortunately, is just one of several potential surprises. 
  
  In addition to power lines, plot plans also reveal where things like utility boxes, sidewalks, and drainage pipes will be installed. Not only will these items affect the aesthetic of the home, but they can also create additional costs. For instance, a drainage pipe could indicate that the home site is on a flood plain — which will require the buyer to purchase flood insurance before he or she can even think about getting a mortgage.
  
  
• Ask about landscaping. If you visit a model home, keep in mind that this is a pie-in-the-sky version of what your home could look like. The builder will doll it up and surround it with gorgeous green landscaping and beautiful flowers. 
  
  It would be a big mistake to assume your home will also be surrounded by lush vegetation and a pre-installed irrigation system. Very few builders include landscaping as part of the deal, so make sure you've set aside some extra money for grass and sprinklers. Otherwise, you will find yourself living atop a dirt yard for a few years while you save up the necessary cash. 
  
  
• Think deeply about lot premiums. Builders know that people will pay extra for larger home sites that back up to the woods, so they'll charge upward of $40,000 for this luxury and label it a "lot premium." 
  
  If you're considering a home site that comes with a lot premium, I encourage you to think deeply about whether it's actually worth the price. Sure, living next to the woods may be peaceful and private, but what if one of your kids runs out into the trees and gets lost? What if there are bears and snakes out there? Perhaps it would be safer and smarter to back up to other homes and have a built-in network of neighbors keeping track of your kids. 
  
  I've personally seen someone dish out extra dough for a wooded view, only to have those woods demolished a few years later in order to clear space for a new development. The moral of that story? Make sure you'll actually own the land that warrants the premium. 
  
  
• Be unique. High-production builders tend to be associated with "cookie-cutter" homes. People think they're only capable of constructing houses that look identical. In reality, this isn't true — and it isn't necessarily their fault that they have this reputation. Often, clients will fall in love with the model home and say, "I want mine to look exactly like it." Or, they'll ask the builder, "What does everyone else do?" and end up with a home that resembles all the other ones in the neighborhood.
  
  I caution you against taking this approach. Why? Because in the future, if and when you want to sell this house, you'll regret blending in with your neighbors. You would be much better off having a unique house that stands out and shines. 
  
  As you vet home sites, ask the builder whether the adjacent lots have already been purchased. If they have, ask which exterior design the buyer selected — and make sure yours is different. 
  
  

Building a dream home from the ground up will be one of the most exciting things you ever do. But unless you have a time machine, it can be awfully difficult to select the right home site to place it on. 

Once you arrive at that big, empty field, be sure to follow the above tips. They'll add clarity to the task and lead to a smart decision that benefits you and your family for many years to come.