Video scripts: 3 lot walkthroughs and 1 build explainer

“This is a {{acres}} acre lot in {{city}}, and in the next 60 seconds I will tell you if you can build on it.”

“County records show {{lot_description}}. Platted, which means roads and easements were set when the subdivision was approved. That helps. It does not answer everything.”

“Flood first, because it decides everything after it. FEMA lists this parcel as {{flood_zone}}. If that is zone X, flood insurance is usually optional. If it is an A zone, the lender will usually require it and the pad may have to come up. Either way it changes your budget.”

“Utilities. Water here comes from {{water_provider}}. Sewer is {{sewer_type}}. If that says septic, you are budgeting a system. Power is {{electric_provider}}. Get a tap or meter quote in writing before you buy or build.”

“Who is building near you matters. The county shows {{nearest_permits_1mi}} new home permits inside a mile in the last year. That tells you the builders already know this area.”

“I am Philip with Builder Connect. We represent buyers, not builders. The builder pays our fee, and going direct does not lower your price. Send me your address and I will pull the same report on your lot.”

VO Nothing here is a survey or an engineering report. Check with the county and a licensed professional before you rely on it.

“Owning {{acres}} acres in {{subdivision}} does not mean you can put any house you want on it. Here are the three things that decide what goes here.”

“One. The plat. The county has this lot recorded as {{lot_description}}. The plat shows easements, and an easement is land you cannot put the house on. On this lot the record shows {{easements_on_record}}.”

“Two. Setbacks. Here is how far back the plat says the house has to sit from the street: {{front_setback_ft}} feet. Side: {{side_setback_ft}}. Measure from there, not from where the clearing starts.”

“Three. Utilities and flood. Water is {{water_provider}}, sewer is {{sewer_type}}, and FEMA has the parcel in {{flood_zone}}. Each one moves your budget, and you want them in writing before you pick a builder.”

“Nearby: {{nearest_permits_1mi}} permits inside a mile. If the same two builders show up on the list, that is where the neighbourhood standard is set.”

“Builder Connect represents buyers. We are not the builder. The builder pays our fee, and going direct does not lower your price. If you own a lot, send me the address and I will send you this same list for it.”

“{{acres}} acres, no subdivision, no plat. That means nobody has already checked this for you. Here is what I would check first.”

“Access. The county lists this as {{legal_description_short}}. Is the road county maintained, and how much frontage do you have? {{road_maintenance}}, {{frontage_ft}} feet. If you are not on a public road, you need a recorded easement before a lender will talk.”

“Septic or sewer. On an unplatted tract, it is usually a private septic system, and the county signs it off. The site has to pass a soil evaluation first. Water here is {{water_provider}}. Ask for a tap quote and a soil evaluation before you close on a lot like this.”

“Flood. FEMA lists this parcel in {{flood_zone}}. Even if that is outside the flood zone, look where the water goes in a heavy rain. A builder will want to know before they price the pad.”

“New homes nearby: {{nearest_permits_1mi}} permits inside a mile. If the answer is zero, that is useful too. It tells you the builders will be quoting this area without much recent data.”

“I am Philip with Builder Connect. We represent buyers. We are not the builder. The builder pays our fee, and going direct does not lower your price. If you own a lot like this, send me the address and I will send you what the county has on record.”

“Building a home in Montgomery County takes eight steps, and the biggest money decisions sit in a few of them. I will walk you through each one, and show you where we work for you and the builder works for the builder.”

“Step one is the lot. If you do not own one, we find it and represent you on the purchase. A lot purchase usually closes in 30 to 45 days. If you do own one, we pull the county data on it: flood zone, utilities, and what is being built nearby. That decides if the lot works before you spend a dollar on plans.”

“Step two is the builder. We are not the builder and we do not build. We are not tied to one builder, so we show you which builders fit your lot and your plan. Before we introduce you to anyone, you sign a representation agreement with us. It lays out how we are paid, in writing.”

“Step three is the contract. On a custom build, the money is won and lost in three places: the allowances, the price of change orders, and who pays for an overrun. The builder’s rep works for the builder. We are on your side of the table, and we read those lines with you.”

“Step four is financing, and it matters more than people think. A one-time close loan funds at one closing and typically takes 45 to 60 days. Draws mean the lender releases cash as the build progresses, and on that route we are usually looking at 12 to 18 months to the end of the build. Talk to a lender early. It decides how your build is structured.”

“Step five is site work and permits. Clearing, the pad, driveway, utility runs, septic if you need one. This is the line that surprises people, because it depends on the lot. A flat lot in a platted subdivision and a wooded tract down a gravel road are two different budgets.”

“Step six is the build. Your builder runs the site. We check in, we walk it with you at the milestones, and if something changes, we are in the room when the change order gets priced.”

“Seven is final inspection and closing. Eight is move-in. Cost to build is a range until a builder prices your actual plan: [RANGE TO BE SET BY JACOB].”

“The builder pays our fee, and going direct to the builder does not lower your price. So you get someone on your side at the table, and the number is the same. Call or email, and tell me whether you have a lot yet.”