25 Ways to Get Your Site Eliminated - #25: Ignore Sub-surface Conditions
October 11, 2011 | by: Tim Davey, PE
Most of the Architects and Contractors I know can tell an owner what their project is going to cost based on some general assumptions about the size, configuration, use, and materials that are planned within the building. These same professionals will also qualify their answer with a note that states something like, “it depends on the site and subsurface conditions.” Their point is that a budget is only as good as the foundation on which it is constructed.
We often see land owners who are reluctant to invest in sub-surface exploration, or merely poke a few holes in the ground instead of completing a thorough investigation. They treat this investigation as an “expense” instead of as an “investment” in learning as much about their property as possible. Depending on the perspective of the person considering your site as the home for their new corporate expansion, this may seem short-sighted and potentially mis-leading. International customers may have heightened concerns since they are not as familiar with the sub-surface conditions as you are. They are also more likely to consider innovative sub-surface uses like geothermal heating and cooling systems which requires significant knowledge of what’s beneath the surface.
My recommendation is that you consider investing in a comprehensive sub-surface investigation as part of your planning process. This information will always be an accurate and valuable foundation on which to build a true business plan for the real estate. You will also see that the real estate can easily absorb the “cost per acre” of this work when you consider what price you choose to list the property for. We hope you enjoy reading our unique perspective and hope you will contact me and let me know what you think!