Author: Joe Mena – Victor, ID
As someone who moved to Teton Valley from a state where disclosing everything to buyers and home inspectors is mandatory, buying in Idaho was a big change. After a lot of discussions with TVR’s Tayson Rockefeller, I realized I needed to get serious about doing my due diligence, and I’m very glad I did. Eight years later, and countless conversations helping others make the move like I did, I hope that sharing my experiences here can help others for with everything from choosing the right land to the right builder and enjoying life to the fullest here in this wonderful place we call home.
Get to know Teton Valley
Home isn’t just the house you live in. It’s the community surrounding you, the history of those who lived here for generations, the culture they built, and the unique mix of people and personalities that makes every place so unique.
Before I started looking for land, my wife and I immersed ourselves in learning about Teton Valley. We vacationed here, rented homes for longer stretches of time, read about the history, subscribed to newspapers and magazines, and soaked up everything we could about life here. We developed a respect for the history and culture of this valley and moved here with a determination to become a part of it – not change it.
Choose the right Realtor
You don’t have to work with the first realtor you meet. Experience, personality, enthusiasm, honesty, and taking the time to understand what I really wanted were the factors that helped me decide who to work with. If you’re out of state, don’t be afraid to ask your Realtor to do boots-on-the-ground footwork for you. When I worked with Tayson and couldn’t be here in person, he walked different land/lots, shot video, and talked through the pros and cons to help me really “see” the land, even though I wasn’t there. It took a while to find exactly what I was looking for but having patience and persistence on the part of my Realtor won in the end, as we found exactly what I wanted.
Buying land
Land isn’t just about the acreage or the views. Before you buy anything in the valley, here’s the best advice I have: Make lots of calls. Research, research, research and don’t be afraid to do the work and ask lots of questions. Call county agencies, public health offices, and even local insurance agents for insights into the area. Talk to builders, well diggers, and excavators. Learn about water – yes, water – and how it affects the land. It’s like learning a new language: riparian wetlands, water tables, aquifers, irrigation channels, snowmelt, water rights, engineered septic, perc tests, etc.
In a valley that’s experiencing tremendous growth, realize that open space is gold and HOAs aren’t always a bad thing. If you’re looking at a subdivision with CC&Rs, ask for copies and read them thoroughly to understand what you’re getting into. Other things on our list that were important to us were high-speed fiber optic and paved or chipseal roads.
Building a home
Take your time choosing a builder. Finding the right one might take a bit, but it’s worth it. Making sure you are working with someone who understands your vision, respects your budget, and has the experience and expertise to get the job done is non-negotiable.
Teton Valley is holding strong as one of the most stable and high value real estate markets in the country. This doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget or get into serious debt to build your dream home. I might get in trouble for saying this, but in my case I feel like you don’t always need the most expensive architect or surveyor for your project either. We found plans online and worked with a local architectural draft and design firm to customize those plans and get what we wanted. Much less expensive that way!
Another tip when building your home is to listen to the experts. Yes, your builder knows what he’s talking about, but so do the subcontractors who each have their own expertise. One sentence I found myself repeating over and over was “If this was your home, what would you do?” I’m smart enough to admit that I don’t know everything and was happy to listen to their advice and ideas. In the end, pick what’s right for you, of course. A few times we actually had to talk our GC into doing something more expensive, but in the end we had the house we loved and had incorporated ideas we were so glad we did.
Speaking of subcontractors, treat everyone who works on your house well. While our house was under construction, we traveled to Teton Valley once a month to check on the build and make purchases and decisions. Every time we made an on-site visit we made it a habit to treat whoever was working that day with pizza, donuts, coffee, cupcakes, etc. Those times sitting around enjoying food together were filled with invaluable local insights that helped us be more involved with the building of our home, and feel more at home here in Teton Valley.
The last lesson I will share from my own experience is don’t skimp and think to yourself “I’ll do that later.” Most builders will tell you that adding features during the initial construction of the home will end up being much less expensive, easier, and less invasive than putting it off down the line. Pay extra to have things done right at the beginning: get the whole-house generator, add on the bonus room, add A/C now. You won’t regret it. I’m not an expert, but I am someone who successfully purchased the perfect land in an area I love, built the home of my dreams, and created a life that my family and I love more each day. When Tayson asked me to share what I learned during that process, I was happy to do, and I hope some of these tips help others like me.
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