Checklist: What No One Tells You Before Buying a Plot in the South

Buying a plot is the dream of many, but it can turn into a financial nightmare if you don't check the technical aspects. At Canadian Houses, we have seen clients buy beautiful land where... they cannot build.

Use this checklist before signing the purchase promise.

1. Water Feasibility (Most critical)

• [ ] Is there APR (Rural Potable Water)? Ask for the feasibility certificate. Being close to a pipe does not guarantee connection.
• [ ] If it's a well: How deep is the water table? A 40-meter deep well costs 4 times more than a 10-meter one.
• [ ] Water Rights: Are they registered in the CBR? Without this, the water is not legally yours.

2. Electrical Feasibility

• [ ] Poles: Does the power line pass outside?
• [ ] Extension cost: If the pole is 500 meters away, bringing the light can cost more than $5 million CLP. Quote this before.

3. Topography and Soil

• [ ] Slope: Building on a slope is beautiful for the view, but increases foundation costs by 30% or 50%.
• [ ] Soil Type: Is it clay, sand, or rock? Bad soil requires improvement (removing earth and putting stabilized fill), which is expensive.
• [ ] Flood Zones: Ask neighbors what happens in the rainy winter. Bright green grass in summer can be a swamp in winter.

4. Regulations (CIP)

• [ ] Constructability Coefficient: How many m² can you build?
• [ ] Setbacks: How far from the fence must you build? In "parcelas de agrado" (DL 3.516) you often cannot build anything within 10 or 25 meters of the boundary depending on the zone.

Final Tip

Don't buy on emotion. Buy with information. If you have doubts, at Canadian Houses we offer site visits to evaluate the technical feasibility of your project before you spend a dime.