Raleigh NC New Homes: Communities, Lots and Land in the Triangle

Special Events and Open Houses 

Saturday April 9th 1 to 4 pm - "Meet the Builder Special Event"

 "Septic Questions to Ask Before Buying a Lot or Building Your Home"

Presenter: Stan Williams, CEO of Stanton Homes

 

Location: 197 Horizon Drive, Chatham County
Time: 1-4 pm, Information Session at 2 pm

North Carolina has one of the nation's highest numbers of homes with septic systems. Learn what kinds of questions you should ask before purchasing a lot, or getting ready to build your new home.

• How to find out what type of septic system is required.

 

• How to determine what a specific septic system will cost.

 

• What types of septic system can break the budget.

 

• Can a septic system be moved?

 

• Can a 3 bedroom septic be expanded to a 4 bedroom septic, and how easily/cost effectively can it be done?

Listen to our septic questions presentation at 2pm, or simply drop in from 1-4pm. If you have a lot in mind, feel free to bring any documents for review. Stanton Homes offers free lot inspections.

Open House Saturday, April 9, 2011 1-4pm

Building a home just the way you want it is easy, exciting, and more affordable than you may realize.

Take a special tour on site at a completed home near Chapel Hill.

See, touch, and talk about every angle of a Stanton Home.

Come tour the Azalea Park, and learn more about new custom homes by Stanton Homes.

Click here for more information and directions to the Open House.

 

You may also be interested in these new home lot resources:

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot

 

Septic System Costs for Raleigh New Homes

How to Find Out The Cost of Your Septic System

One of the biggest variables in cost for building on your lot can be the cost of the septic system.  How much will your septic system cost for your new Raleigh custom home?

It depends.  If you're getting a home construction bid, make sure your septic system allowance will be sufficient for the unique requirements of your lot and floor plan. 

Triangle Area Septic System Costs Vary By Lot 

Septic system costs vary widely, depending on soil conditions, size of system, type of system, county requirements, and more.  

A typical septic system in the Raleigh/Triangle area can be anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, with most conventional or pump systems falling in the middle range. 

What Does "No Perk" Mean for a Raleigh Area Lot?

 

A special system can run many tens of thousands more - particularly if your lot is rated the dreaded "No Perk", which means the ground is truly not suitable for a septic and many special measures will have to be taken to support one. 

If your lot had a soils test years ago, it may need to be retested.  North Carolina septic and soils requirements have become much more stringent.  Some lots that were approved many years ago may no longer meet the requirements for a standard conventional septic system.  On the bright side, because of these stringent standards you can be confident that your septic system will do its job for many, many years! 

An experienced home builder can look at your septic permit and plot map and give you at least a good idea of what the system is going to cost. 

Questions a new home On Your Lot Builder Should Ask Before Building a New Home

 1.  How large is the septic field? 

The length of pipe required will help determine total cost.

2.   How far from the home is the septic field? 

If more than 100 ft, a backflow preventer will have to be added.

 

3.  What is the topography of the land? 

A flat, level lot will most likely have lower cost than a lot on a hill.

4.  Is the septic field cleared or densely overgrown? 

The septic field will need to be cleared of brush and of most trees in order for the pipes to be installed.

5.  What depth of soil does your septic permit allow? 

If the nitrification lines cannot be buried deep enough due to soil quality, enough approved soils will have to imported to cover the septic lines.  Add the cost of the soil, plus transportation, and labor for spreading the soil above the septic system field.

6.  Is the system gravity fed or pump fed? 

A pump system will add to the cost.

7.  What type of system has been approved or required?

Has the County approved a standard septic system, or have they required a special system like a panel block system?

8.  Has a basement been requested? 

In this area, most likely an additional pump system will be required, adding at least $3,000 to the building cost. 

Septic systems requirements can vary greatly, even on two adjacent lots.  

But an experienced builder or septic system installer will be able to identify most issues and give a ballpark cost estimate based on seeing the approved septic permit and the plot map of your lot. 

You'll probably want to bring a copy of a floor plan you're considering as well - a basement or a large number of bedrooms can also require changes in the system.    

Writing an Offer for a Raleigh Lot | Build-On-Your-Lot Tips

Remember, you can make an offer contingent on soil suitability.  Talk to your builder about getting a soils test and obtaining information about the type of system required. 

Stanton Homes will help guide you in the right direction, including help obtaining a free septic cost quote from a reputable local installer.

Septic systems may sound a little intimidating, but they are VERY common in the Raleigh area. Asking the right questions can help ensure you'll be very pleased with your new lot!

You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot

Buying a Lot?  Thinking of Building a New Home?

How to Find Out The Cost of Your Septic System

One of the biggest variables in cost for building on your lot can be the cost of the septic system.  How much will your septic system cost in NC?

It depends.  If you're getting a home construction bid, make sure your septic system allowance will be sufficient for the unique requirements of your lot and floor plan. 

Septic System Costs Vary By Lot 

Septic system costs vary widely, depending on soil conditions, size of system, type of system, county requirements, and more.  

A typical septic system in the Raleigh/Triangle area can be anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, with most conventional or pump systems falling in the middle range. 

 

What Does "No Perk" Mean?

 

A special system can run many tens of thousands more - particularly if your lot is rated the dreaded "No Perk", which means the ground is truly not suitable for a septic and many special measures will have to be taken to support one. 

If your lot had a soils test years ago, it may need to be retested.  North Carolina septic and soils requirements have become much more stringent.  Some lots that were approved many years ago may no longer meet the requirements for a standard conventional septic system.  On the bright side, because of these stringent standards you can be confident that your septic system will do its job for many, many years! 

An experienced home builder can look at your septic permit and plot map and give you at least a good idea of what the system is going to cost. 

Here are some of the things the builder will look for to determine septic system cost:

 1.  How large is the septic field? 

The length of pipe required will help determine total cost.

2.   How far from the home is the septic field? 

If more than 100 ft, a backflow preventer will have to be added.

3.  What is the topography of the land? 

A flat, level lot will most likely have lower cost than a lot on a hill.

4.  Is the septic field cleared or densely overgrown? 

The septic field will need to be cleared of brush and of most trees in order for the pipes to be installed.

5.  What depth of soil does your septic permit allow? 

If the nitrification lines cannot be buried deep enough due to soil quality, enough approved soils will have to imported to cover the septic lines.  Add the cost of the soil, plus transportation, and labor for spreading the soil above the septic system field.

6.  Is the system gravity fed or pump fed? 

A pump system will add to the cost.

7.  What type of system has been approved or required?

Has the County approved a standard septic system, or have they required a special system like a panel block system?

8.  Has a basement been requested? 

In this area, most likely an additional pump system will be required, adding at least $3,000 to the building cost. 

Septic systems requirements can vary greatly, even on two adjacent lots.  

But an experienced builder or septic system installer will be able to identify most issues and give a ballpark cost estimate based on seeing the approved septic permit and the plot map of your lot. 

You'll probably want to bring a copy of a floor plan you're considering as well - a basement or a large number of bedrooms can also require changes in the system.    

Writing an Offer 

Remember, you can make an offer contingent on soil suitability.  Talk to your builder about getting a soils test and obtaining information about the type of system required. 

 

You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:

Virtual Tours - See This Week's Most Exceptional Homes

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot

Thinking of building a new home in the Raleigh area? There are many great places to live near Raleigh, including Angier, Apex, Bear Creek, Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Chatham County, Coats, Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Harnett County, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Lillington, Morrisville, Orange County,  Pittsboro, Rolesville, Sanford, Siler City, Silk Hope, Wake County, Wake Forest, and Wendell.

 

Septic Systems - How To Make Sure Your System Does a Great Job

Did you know that approximately 25% of all US households use septic tanks? 

Or that a septic tank is installed in one of three new homes built today? 

If you're buying or building a new home with a septic tank, here are some easy maintanence steps and tips.

Top Tips For Maintaining Your Septic System

Tip #1 - Reduce Water Usage

A typical septic system is built to support about 50 gallons of water usage per day, per person.  If your lot is rated for a 3 bedroom system, the assumption is that there will be 2 persons in each bedroom - ie, the septic system is planned to support normal usage by 6 people in that household.  A 4 bedroom system is planned to support 8 full time residents. 

Too much water usage can overflow the system.  Any leaks or drips in the kitchen or bathrooms should be fixed as soon as possible.   If you live in an older home, consider replacing old fixtures with today's standard low flow, or even ultra low flow fixtures. 

Tip #2 - Reduce Solids

A garbage disposal is not usually recommended with a septic system.    Dispose of sanitary products in the trash, not down the toilet. 

As you can see in this diagram, solids generally settle to the bottom of the tank.  Too many solids can fail to break down suffciently, or require more frequent pumping of the tank.  They can also reduce the capacity of the tank. 

Tip #3 - Don't Dump Oil or Grease

Pouring oil or grease down the drain can clog up the pipes leading to and from the septic tank.  Septic systems are designed to handle a certain amount of greases, such as natural by products of dishwashing.   However, when cooking meat, homeowners should dump the grease into a container and dispose of in the trash instead. 

Tip #4 - Periodically Inspect and Pump the Septic Tank

Don't worry - you don't have to do this yourself!  Scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of local Raleigh area septic tank service companies.

A septic tank service visit should include a full inspection of the tank itself.  Here's a general guideline for how often a septic tank should be pumped. 

Currently, most North Carolina septic tanks are at least 1000 gallons for a 3 bedroom system, with increasing sizes as the number of bedrooms the system is approved for increases. 

Even if there is only one resident, it is still recommended that the septic system be inspected and pumped every 3-5 years. 

Tank Size(gallons)Number of Full Time Residents12468

Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency (Number of Years)
1,000	12	6	3	2	1
1,250	16	8	3	2	1
1,500	19	9	4	3	2
Adapted from "Estimated Septic Tank Pumping Frequency," by Karen Mancl, 1984. Journal of Environmental Engineering. Volume 110.

Tip #5 - Questions to Ask When Calling a Septic Tank Service Company

Here are some of the questions you'll probably want to ask:

1. What is the cost of a pump out?
2. If the septic tank is larger than 1000 gallons, will the extra gallons cost extra?
3. Does the cost include digging to uncover the septic tank lids (if necessary)?
4. Does the cost include dumping fees?
5. Will you inspect the inlet and outlet baffles, and does this cost extra?
6. If the septic tank is very far from road access, what is needed for the truck to get accessbility to the tank?
7. If I have a pump system instead of a conventional system, is emptying the pump tank part of your regular service? (The pump tank should be pumped, rinsed, and then pumped dry again).

Tip #6 - What Details Should the Septic Tank Service Company Provide for Me?

  The septic tank Pumper should provide you with a receipt detailing the service that was provided. This receipt should include:

1. Name, address, phone number of the Septic Tank Service Company
2. Name of the certified Pumper
3. Approximate number of gallons that were pumped
4. Number of compartments pumped
5. Condition of the tank baffles
6. Condition of the septic tank
7. Details on any work done to baffles or access lids. If scum and sludge layers were measured, they should be recorded on the pump receipt
8. Details on any work done on the septic tank or pump tank
9. Any other service work done

Tip #7 - Limit Weight Over the Septic System

When you purchase your home, you should receive a copy of the septic system layout, so that you're aware of the location of the tank and nitrification field.  You'll want to avoid planting trees or parking vehicles over the system.  However, planting grass or other small foilage over the tank is not a problem, nor is normal foot traffic. 

Septic Tank Service Companies in the Raleigh/Triangle Area

These are just a few of the companies that serve the Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham area. 

McFarland Septic Tank Service

3415 Arthurs Way
Durham, NC 27705

919-383-1015

Ivey's Septic Tank Service, Inc.
1122 Brookhollow Road
Efland, NC 27243

 919-732-5592

JC Johnson Septic Tank Pumping Service

3200 Forrester Bend Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278

919-732-3737

Lyons Septic Tank Service

804 Church St
Morrisville, NC 27560

919-467-9673

Click here to find more companies. 

For further details, we recommend checking the Better Business Bureau or asking for referrals.   Watch for follow up articles on types of septic systems and other questions.

Water and Sewer or Septic and Well - How Much do They Cost? What Questions Should You Ask Your Builder?

Need help finding a lot or neighborhood in the Triangle?

Stanton Homes offers a free lot inspection to help you find the fit that works well for your budget - and provides a full cost analysis of site work, permits, fees, and sewer and water costs.  Contact us today to find out more.

You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:

Floor Plan Modifications - Let Us Show You How We Can Design/Build Your Floor Plan

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot

 

How Much Does a Septic System Cost?

 

One of the biggest questions on the mind of a homebuyer building on their lot is usually the cost of the septic system.

And the answer:  It depends.  If you're getting a home construction bid, make sure your septic system allowance will be sufficient for the unique requirements of your lot and floor plan. 

 

Septic system costs vary widely, depending on soil conditions, size of system, type of system, county requirements, and more.  

A typical Septic system in the Raleigh/Triangle area can be anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, with most falling in the middle range. 

 

A special system can run many tens of thousands more - particularly if your lot is rated the dreaded "No Perk", which means the ground is truly not suitable for a septic and many special measures will have to be taken to support one. 

However, having said that, an experienced home builder can look at your septic permit and plot map and give you at least a good idea of what the system is going to cost. 

Here are some of the things the builder will look for:

 1.  How large is the septic field? 

The length of pipe required will help determine total cost.

2.   How far from the home is the septic field? 

If more than 100 ft, a backflow preventer will have to be added.

3.  What is the topography of the land? 

A flat, level lot will most likely have lower cost than a lot on a hill.

4.  Is the septic field cleared or densely overgrown? 

The septic field will need to be cleared of brush and of most trees in order for the pipes to be installed.

5.  What depth of soil does your septic permit allow? 

If the nitrification lines cannot be buried deep enough due to soil quality, enough approved soils will have to imported to cover the septic lines.  Add the cost of the soil, plus transportation, and labor for spreading the soil above the septic system field.

6.  Is the system gravity fed or pump fed? 

A pump system will add to the cost.

7.  What type of system has been approved or required?

Has the County approved a standard septic system, or have they required a special system like a panel block system?

8.  Has a basement been requested? 

In this area, most likely an additional pump system will be required, adding at least $3,000 to the building cost. 

 

Septic system requirements can vary greatly, even on two adjacent lots.  

But an experienced builder will be able to identify most issues and give a ballpark cost estimate based on seeing the approved septic permit and the plot map of your lot. 

You'll probably want to bring a copy of a floor plan you're considering as well - a basement or a large number of bedrooms can also require changes in the system.    

 

 

Interested in building a new custom home in Raleigh?

There are many different wonderful lots and new home neighborhoods available for your new Raleigh custom home.

Just click here to ask for the most updated information - we'll send you some great options!

 

 

You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:

Virtual Tours - See This Week's Most Exceptional Homes

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot

Thinking of building a new home in the Raleigh area? There are many great places to live near Raleigh, including Angier, Apex, Bear Creek, Carrboro, Cary, Chapel Hill, Chatham County, Coats, Durham, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Harnett County, Hillsborough, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Lillington, Morrisville, Orange County,  Pittsboro, Rolesville, Sanford, Siler City, Silk Hope, Wake County, Wake Forest, and Wendell.

 

Septic System Questions - How to Buy a Lot

 

 

When purchasing a lot, there are two important septic system questions that need to be answered.

 

First - does the lot perk?  If the answer is yes, great! 

Second, how many bedrooms is the lot rated for?  You'll want to make sure the rating supports the number of bedrooms you want to build.

But what if you've already purchased a lot that is rated for a 3 bedroom septic system, but want to build a 4 bedroom home?

There are several options that may allow you to build a four bedroom home when your septic system permit only allows a three bedroom home.

 

First, and probably least expensive, what do you plan to use that fourth bedroom for? 

If that extra bedroom is planned to be an office instead of a bedroom, a few small changes may need to be made in order for your home plan to be approved by the county.

In general, a bedroom has an egress window (a window you could open and escape out of in case of emergency), a closet, and a door, and may also be adjacent or close to a bathroom.  

But if your builder converts the bedroom to an office by removing the closet and expanding the doorway to either a wide opening without a door or possibly even a pair of French doors, this could allow you to gain approval to build the floor plan. 

If the fourth bedroom is upstairs, your builder may be able to convert it to an open bonus room or loft.  You'll still have the living space, but it may need to be much more open than originally noted in the plans. 

 

A second option is the use of a panel block septic system instead of a standard septic system. 

This system can expand the capabilities of a standard system to support at least one extra bedroom. 

But it can also add 25% to 75% to the cost of installing a septic system, depending on how close the original plan came to supporting that fourth bedroom.    It does need to be approved by the county, and a lot of factors can come into play, such as soil type and requirements that vary by county. 

Each case is unique.  In order to make a decision and go over the available options, bring a copy of the septic system permit with the system requirements to a trusted builder.   

 

You may also be interested in these Raleigh new home lot resources:

Floor Plan Modifications - Let Us Show You How We Can Design/Build Your Floor Plan

How to Find a Lot - Top 12 Questions to Ask

Build On Your Lot in the Raleigh, NC Area

Green Home Lots - What Makes a Lot Good for a Green Certified Home?

Finding a New Home Lot