14 WAYS TOFIND A BUILDING PLOT

As much as I’d love to tell you there’s one sure-fire way to find a plot, the truth is that there isn’t. There are lots of ways to find one, but knowing which one will work, and when? That’s the million-dollar question. Ask anyone who’s got a plot and they’ll happily boast about how they found it. While this is great to know, what worked for them might not work for you, so you’ll need a few more tactics in your armoury if your search is going to be successful.

Searching for a building plot requires a steely determination to identify and consider every possibility you come across. Plot hunting is also a highly competitive endeavour. Your search should therefore be organised to put you in a position where you’re not hunting with the pack. Different ways of searching will yield different possibilities so it’s worth trying a few different avenues to give yourself the best chance. Here we explore a few of the options you might consider…

1 USE A SPECIALIST SEARCH ENGINE

Specialist plotfinding websites are an essential part of any plot search. Because they’ve been developed with self-builders in mind, they’re very convenient and a great tool for doing market research and understanding where plots are available and at what price. A great place to start is www.plotfinder.net, but remember, it’s very popular so if you find a good plot you’ll need to move fast to beat the competition.

Tips when looking

• Focus your search on a few key areas

• Don’t just drive – take a walk so you can appreciate the opportunities you find

• Take a map — record your routes and where prospects are located

• Take lots of photos — they’ll prove essential when appraising the possibilities you’ve uncovered

• Be prepared to talk to locals

• Have a letter to drop through someone’s letterbox

While most of us are accustomed to searching for stuff on a mobile or behind a screen, there’s actually no replacement for getting out and about when searching for land. You might think you know the area