Feasibilty. What is it?
🏡 The Guide to Decide:
To Build or Not to Build.
đź“Ś What is Feasibility in Construction?
Feasibility means determining whether a proposed project is possible, practical, and makes sense to pursue — based on legal, physical, financial, and technical realities.
“Can we build what we want to build here — legally, physically, and financially — and does it make sense to do so?”
For individuals buying land or a teardown, a feasibility check helps avoid expensive surprises and confirms you can create the home you envision.
đź“‹ Feasibility Checklist for Property Buyers (Owner-Use)
Use this checklist to confirm key factors before purchasing land or a home for major remodel:
🏗️ What Am I Allowed to Build on This Property?
What is the current zoning, and does it allow what you want to build (single-family home, ADU)?
Are there rules around minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage, height, or FAR?
Are there critical areas such as slopes, wetlands, or flood zones?
Are existing structures nonconforming or limited in expansion?
Is there legal access to the site (driveway, easement)?
Are utilities available: water, sewer or septic, power, gas?
Are there overlays or restrictions (historic, environmental, shoreline, HOA)?
Are there recorded easements or encroachments that limit use?
đź“ť What kind of permits do I need?
What permits are required (building, land use, ADU, etc.)
Does the lot require design review, variances, or additional approvals?
đź’° How much will it cost?
What are the estimated design and construction costs for your vision?
What is your total project budget, including fees, site prep, and permitting?
Will the finished home’s value support financing or future resale?
Can you obtain a loan for land, construction, or both under reasonable terms?W
🛠️ Are there any major technical considerations?
Will the site require grading, retaining walls, or stormwater controls?
Is there enough space and access for construction vehicles and staging?
Are there known soil, drainage, or seismic/geotechnical issues?
Is the site approved for septic, if sewer is not available?
⏳ Timeline Considerations
How long will it take to get through design, permitting, and approvals?
Are there seasonal construction limits or wet-weather restrictions?
Do you have personal or financing deadlines that affect timing?
🧠Optional Due Diligence Before Purchase
These steps aren’t required, but they can reduce risk and clarify your next steps:
Request a preliminary zoning and permit review from the city or county
Review the title report for easements, encroachments, or restrictions
Confirm utility availability and check for potential connection fees
Order a geotechnical report or site survey, especially for sloped or irregular sites
❤️ Should I Build This Home Here?
This isn’t about zoning, cost, or timelines.
This is about how it feels — to live here, to come home here, to build your life (or someone else’s life) here.
Does this property support the kind of home — and the kind of life — that belongs here?
From a design and architectural perspective, this may be the most important question in the entire feasibility process.
And it’s often the hardest one to answer on paper.
Even if the site checks all the technical boxes, it might not be the right fit.
That’s true for homeowners — and just as true for builders and developers.
🏡 For Future Homeowners:
Will the house feel private, sunny, open, peaceful?
Can you see yourself here for years — even decades?
Does the shape of the lot, slope, or surroundings support the home you envision?
Will the layout allow you to feel connected — to nature, family, quiet, and community?
Is there joy in the idea of living here?
🏗️ For Developers & Investors:
You may not be the one living here — but someone will be.
A family. A renter. A neighbor. A future buyer.
Are you creating a home people will actually want to live in — or just one that technically “fits”?
Does the design serve the future occupant, or just maximize the square footage?
Does it contribute to a better street, a stronger neighborhood, a lasting sense of place?
Is this a home you’d be proud to put your name on?
We believe good design isn’t just aesthetic — it’s ethical.
Building for people means thinking about how it feels to live there.
We don’t always get formally involved in this part — and it won’t show up on a permit checklist — but it might be the most important part of the process.
Feasibility is more than technical — it’s personal.
If this is someone’s future home, that matters.
And if you’re not sure how to evaluate a property from that lens —
we’re here to help you see what’s possible.
đź’¬ What We Think & Recommend
✅ There’s really only one section that’s a must:
“What Am I Allowed to Build on This Property?”
If the site’s zoning, access, or conditions don’t support your goals — nothing else matters. That’s the foundation of feasibility, and we recommend everyone review that section carefully before moving forward with a purchase.
🧠The rest of this checklist? That’s up to you.
Everything else — permits, costs, technical conditions, timeline — can absolutely matter, but whether you need answers to those now or later depends on your comfort level and how you make decisions.
Some people want to know everything before they buy. Others just need the basics.
We can help with any part of this checklist — but the deeper we go, the more time, research, and cost it takes. That’s why it’s helpful for you to identify what you really want to know before moving forward.
🔄 How Feasibility Fits Into Our Process
Feasibility isn’t a standalone service — it’s woven into our early project steps.
It’s a little bit of some of these steps in our standard services:
Step 2A – Current Conditions (What’s happening on the ground)
Step 2B – City Guidelines (What’s allowed by code)
Step 2C – Visual Concepts (A quick sketch to explore ideas)
If you’re considering moving forward with the property and working with us, feasibility is already part of how we start — not an extra phase.
Want to understand how the full process works from here through construction?
