What to Know Before You Buy a Lot for Your Custom Home in Nashville, Franklin, Gallatin, and Surrounding Areas

Oct 27

Building a custom home isn’t just about design and craftsmanship, it’s about making a long-term investment in lifestyle and legacy.
Before the first sketch is drawn or foundation poured, everything begins with the lot. The land sets the tone for your home’s architecture, its energy performance, and its future value.

At Leverick Homes, we guide clients across Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, and Gallatin through the process of evaluating land for high-end builds. Below are the most important lot considerations when you’re building a luxury custom home in Middle Tennessee.

1. Location Defines Legacy

Luxury isn’t only about the house, it’s about where that house lives.
When evaluating potential lots, think beyond the view and focus on long-term desirability.

Consider:

Neighborhood trajectory – Is it an established area or an area in a desirable transition?
School zones and commute – Daily convenience matters to us all. Think about those daily key items compared to proximity.
Surrounding architecture – A $3M neo-classical home surrounded by tract homes could struggle with appreciation.
Noise, privacy, and approach – A quiet cul-de-sac or gated community adds a sense of arrival that flat farmland can’t replicate.

Your address is a major part of your investment’s future value.

2. Architectural Fit and Site Character

A great lot doesn’t just fit the square footage, it inspires the design.
The site’s elevation, views, and natural light determine how the architecture lives and breathes.

When we walk a property, we’re looking at:

Natural topography – Can we create an elevated entry or terrace without excessive grading?
Tree canopy and vegetation – Mature hardwoods can frame a home beautifully but require careful siting.
Orientation for light and privacy – Morning light in the kitchen, evening shade on the porch, those details define livability.

The lot and the architecture should complement each other like a tailored suit.

3. The True Cost of the Land

Luxury buyers understand that the sticker price of a lot is only the beginning.
Site development, such as grading, utilities, retaining walls, and driveways, often adds $50K–$150K+, depending on terrain and access.

Ask early:

How much earthwork will be needed to achieve the design?
Will retaining walls or engineered foundations be required?
Is the soil stable, or will we need structural fill?

In high-end construction, site prep isn’t a place to cut corners. It’s what ensures the home performs as beautifully as it looks.

4. Utilities, Drainage, and Infrastructure

Elegant architecture loses its charm when practical details are overlooked.
Ensure your lot can support the infrastructure that matches your home’s quality:

Water and sewer access – City sewer is ideal; septic is fine with proper testing and design.
Stormwater management – Luxury neighborhoods have strict rules on drainage and runoff.
Power and connectivity – Verify underground utilities and fiber availability; modern luxury assumes full connectivity.

We can verify these conditions before you buy, because extending a water line or re-engineering drainage can quickly erode budgets and timelines.

5. Architectural Controls and HOA Restrictions

High-end neighborhoods protect their value through strict architectural guidelines.
That’s usually a good thing, but you need to know them early.

Look for:

Minimum home sizes and roof pitches
Material requirements (brick, stone, metal, etc.)
Restrictions on detached structures, pools, or outdoor living areas

We work closely with architectural review boards to design within, and occasionally push beyond, those guidelines without compromising design intent.

6. The Approach and First Impression

Your driveway and entry sequence set the emotional tone long before anyone steps inside.
In a luxury build, the approach matters, from how the home reveals itself on arrival to how the garage placement feels when you come home daily.

Consider:

Drive length and slope – Think about function and aesthetic rhythm.
Entry views – What’s framed as you arrive? A front courtyard? A tree-lined approach?
Lighting and landscaping potential – The lot should support the level of refinement your design deserves.

A great builder doesn’t just evaluate the building pad, we consider how you’ll experience your property.

7. Long-Term Value and Resale

While most custom clients plan to stay long-term, high-end real estate in Middle Tennessee continues to perform, especially in areas like Franklin, Brentwood, and Hendersonville.
Lots with ideal orientation, controlled access, and architectural harmony consistently command higher resale values. As former real estate appraisers, ROI is at the core of what we do.

We always evaluate how today’s design choices influence tomorrow’s value. You’re not just building a home; you’re curating an asset.

8. Bring Your Builder in Before You Buy

This is where we add real value.
Before you purchase land, let us walk it with you. We’ll evaluate the elevation, setbacks, and access, identify potential cost pitfalls, and ensure the property aligns with your vision and investment level.

Luxury construction demands foresight, not reaction.
An hour spent evaluating a lot can save months of redesign and tens of thousands in costs later.

Final Thoughts

Your lot is the foundation of everything that follows; design, performance, beauty, and long-term value.
At Leverick Homes, we believe that every detail, from soil to skyline, should reflect thoughtful craftsmanship.

If you’re exploring land in Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood, Hendersonville, or Gallatin, we’d love to be your first call, before you buy.

Schedule your free consultation to discuss.