In many Sarasota and Longboat Key neighborhoods, vacant lots are few and far between. In fact, if you choose to build a custom home in one of these beautiful towns, chances are excellent that you will be building your new home in the midst of an established community.
Building new construction homes in an existing neighborhood is nothing new, but there are steps you can take to meet the neighbors and create goodwill before you even move in.
Building New – Meet Your Neighbors
One of the first things to understand is that while your home is being built, your neighbors are going about their normal lives. Their kids are riding their bikes, they are sleeping in after a long shift at work, or they are entertaining friends. You also must understand that the noise, dust and traffic involved with building a new home may seem disruptive.
Speak With Your Builder: Have a discussion with your custom home builder about their internal policies and procedures. Look for a contractor who can commit to only working during hours stipulated by the local ordinances (for instance, according to noise ordinances). You should also understand how many vehicles you can expect to be on the street, as well as their policy regarding daily clean-up when building new construction. Ask if they will be erecting any type of temporary fencing around the project to keep neighborhood kids and dogs from wandering in. You will also want to understand the time frames for specific phases of the building process. Although delays happen – due to weather, for instance – basic time frames are important to know.
Introduce Yourself: If you are local, this is a fantastic opportunity to meet your new neighbors. Knock on their door and introduce yourself, explaining that you are having a home built and that you are looking forward to getting to know them. It is easier for residents to understand and tolerate some of the inconveniences they may experience when they associate the new home with a specific family they like. If you both have children, you can ask about schools, parks, activities – anything to gain common ground.
If you are not local, a friendly letter to each of your neighbors is a great way to communicate how excited you are to be a part of the community. Briefly tell them about your family, why you are moving – and apologize in advance for any inconvenience. Assure them that you are working with the builder to ensure that their privacy and comfort will be respected. You can also give them a way to contact you should they have a concern. Before you even move in, they will know that you care about being a good neighbor.
Be Considerate from the Start: When building new, you have many decisions to make – and many decisions are made for you. For instance, if you are planning to build a fence around your yard, the zoning laws will have to allow it. Still, you may wish to speak to the adjacent neighbors affected by that fence (the ones who will be looking at it) to let them know your plans. Although you have every right to build the fence according to HOA and local ordinances, letting them know what to expect ahead of time shows that you are thinking of how your home will affect their lifestyle.
Communicate Updates: If there are delays or complications with building your new home, let the neighbors know. Explain the situation, and keep them updated as to the expected timeframes and expected delays.
When all is said and done, have a housewarming party for the neighbors! Hopefully, you will already have had a few positive interactions with them throughout the process- and they will love seeing the interior results of all the exterior work they witnessed over the last several months.
Building new homes is what we do at Lindahl Construction – and we are looking forward to helping you to settle into your neighborhood as seamlessly as possible. Give us a call to discuss your lot, your design, and your plans – and let’s get started on your Longboat Key or Sarasota home!