What to Prioritize First When Building Out the Property

Starting with raw land is exciting, but it’s also overwhelming. There’s a lot to do—and doing it in the wrong order can waste time and money. Looking back, these are the things we made sure to prioritize early, and they ended up making everything else go smoother.

Access to the Property

First thing we tackled was the driveway. Even a basic gravel path gave us a way in and out with trucks and trailers without tearing up the land or getting stuck after rain.

We made it wide enough for deliveries, set it on higher ground, and added a culvert where water flowed. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked—and let everything else start moving forward.

Utilities

Before we even thought about building, we figured out where power, water, and septic would go. Getting those lined up early helped us avoid expensive rework.

We called the electric company, got on the water district’s schedule, and did the perc test for septic while we were still planning. Some of those timelines are long, so starting early saved us months.

Clearing a Build Site

Instead of clearing the whole property, we picked one spot to start—somewhere close to the road, high and dry, with enough space for the mobile home and eventual shop.

We left trees where we could and focused on clearing just what we needed. That helped us keep costs down and gave us shade and windbreaks without stripping the land bare.

Setting Up a Temporary Living Area

We made sure we had a livable space ready before the full build began. That included a mobile home, hookups, and a basic outdoor setup for daily life.

Getting this dialed in gave us stability during the rest of the build. We could live on-site, keep an eye on projects, and stay ahead of the work without bouncing between rentals.

Storage for Tools and Equipment

Once we were on the land, we needed secure storage fast. We brought in a shipping container and set up a covered area for tools, gas, and gear.

It kept everything safe, dry, and accessible without cluttering the house or leaving things out in the weather. One of the best early decisions we made.

Fencing in One Key Area

We didn’t fence the whole property—just enough to secure a yard for the kids and a small zone for animals. That let us get started with chickens and goats without overcommitting.

It gave us breathing room to plan the rest of the fencing slowly while still feeling like we were making progress.

Basic Outdoor Lighting

Motion lights on the corners of the house and near gates made evenings way easier. We weren’t fumbling around in the dark, and it helped with security too.

We installed solar where wiring wasn’t easy, and hardwired lights where we had power. Small cost, big difference.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.