Soil Investigation & Topographic surveys
Before buying a plot, a soil investigation and survey is a good idea to assess the type of foundation likely to be necessary for your new build. A soil survey can provide you with detailed insight into the characteristics of the ground on your plot, and determine the quality of the earth and highlight any anomalies in the ground conditions which you may need to consider before progressing to groundworks stage.
When I talk to self builders about budgeting, one of the biggest ‘grey areas’ is the foundations. I usually advise that a ground investigation should be carried out which includes a soil survey. From the results of this survey a foundation can be engineer-designed that is the most economical for the site.