--Passive solar, ventilation and daylighting strategies: Passive solar strategies are simple, economical strategies for working with the daily sun cycle during the four
seasons, so as to keep hot summer sun and temperatures from entering the house,
while permitting the warming sun to enter the house during the colder winter
season. Cooling natural breezes and ventilation strategies are also easy, but important to consider. The same applies to daylighting strategies. It takes very little to take advantage of these strategies if site selection and house design include them from the outset of the project. For example, aligning the long axis of the house facing south and the short axis facing east and west, maximizes natural light and minimizes glare and heat gain. Properly designed roof over hangs, trellis or arbor designs, combined with appropriate sized and positioned operable window selection will greatly enhance
the livability of a home, at minimal costs, and will make a substantial improvement in day-to-day comfort, livability, utility and operating expenses.

--Terrain, drainage and soils conditions: Surprisingly, many consumers do not understand or recognize some simple, but highly influential factors when viewing a potential piece of property. Some of these factors are: 1) Terrain: Flat terrain, for example, is the easiest and least expensive on which to build. Downhill sloping lots are often easier on which to build than uphill sloping lots. In general, avoid uphill sloping lots. 2) Drainage: Even land which appears flat has surface (and perhaps subsurface) drainage patterns. Avoid building in natural drainage areas (especially flood plains), and always ensure finish grading which channels surface water far away from the perimeter of the house. 3) Soils: Many sites may have soil conditions which include substantial portions of clayey or expansive soil materials. Expansive soils are
potentially dangerous, and may often cause cracking and movement of the house’s
foundation and interiors. If one suspects property has expansive soils, always use a geotechnical engineer to test the soils and make recommendations for proper foundations given the existing soil conditions. This is particularly true for hillside sites. Never buy or build on a site which has received loose fill materials. Loose, uncompacted fill materials have unpredictable bearing capacities and tendencies for movement when wet and saturated. Such sites can be disasterous!

--Other
site features: Many consumers fall in love with a particular property, for a variety of good reasons—views, natural vegetation and trees, privacy, family history, the opportunity to finally raise chickens and goats, etc. All of these features are fine, but always do your due diligence first and carefully review all of the criteria above before
falling in love with a piece of land. Remember, a house cannot be any better than the land on which it’s located.