Over the last few years, there have been an increasing number of severe wildfires that have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres and thousands of homes. After such extreme events individuals often turn their attention to rebuilding homes and restoring communities. Due to a sudden peak in demand for new homes in such a short period of time, traditional building methods are often unable to keep up. That is where prefab construction presents a major opportunity.

Because prefab homes can be manufactured off site, the work of building a prefab home and restoring the fire-affected building lot can take place simultaneously. But how can you be sure that your lot is a good fit for prefab construction? Or, if you see a teardown lot for sale, how do you know if it is a good idea to purchase it and build your own home there?

To answer those questions, we created our guide to assessing a teardown or fire rebuild lot’s suitability for a prefab home. Using our land evaluation checklist and speaking with architect Toby Long, we cover the key questions you should ask when looking at a new, similar lot. Continue reading below as we break down a similar case study, so that you too, can assess a fire-affected lot’s fit for a prefab home.

Assessing a Teardown or Fire Rebuild Lot

Notes & Take-Aways

Lot Information: 8598 Tarwater Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95404

What should I be evaluating, unique for a fire rebuild lot?

In addition to using our standard checklist criteria, some of the main things to look at relate to infrastructure. In areas with well and septic systems, it is important to check if they were damaged by the fire. As Toby summarizes,

There is a process for receiving a report of sorts that demonstrates that the wellhead was not damaged by fire or there were no toxins that leached into the well, which was a problem for a while up in these areas. That the septic system was in a similar condition. The lids are fine, or the septic system wasn't irreparably damaged during the fire. Fire does actually get into the ground a little bit when it burns this hot. As long as those systems are in place, that's usually really good news because they're permitted to be reutilized for the new construction.

Additionally, because 12” - 24” of topsoil is often removed as part of the cleanup process, a new survey is often required. While that in itself is not problematic, it can sometimes impact access related to roads and driveways. Similarly, a new geotechnical survey is often necessary.

Does the site require any specific fire-related upgrades?

One important change to note is that in an effort to help the rebuild process after big fires, California and local governments have relaxed their permitting requirements This means that while buyers must plan for adding fire sprinkler systems, buyers do not need to make improvements to the driveway turnaround which can be advantageous when developing a new property.

What sort of information can we gather from the listing?

When doing research on a property, it can also be helpful to look at the listing’s history. In this case, we saw that the property went contingent in 2020. This means that the sellers agreed to an offer, however, the deal fell-through. While there could be a number of reasons for this, it should be a slight warning that there might be something worth looking at deeper (potentially if the fire redevelopment costs make financial sense).

Final Verdict

There is potential in buying and rehabilitating a fire rebuild lot. Though, that is not to say that it is an easy decision to make. Oftentimes, there are several factors that must be investigated further, as is the case with this parcel. This includes understanding the condition of the site’s infrastructure, resurveying the lot, and inquiring about any planning updates that may discourage (or encourage) building. If you would like assistance evaluating land for your own project, connect with a member of our Prefab Coaching program.

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