23 Oct How much does it cost to clear land to build a house?
Are you overwhelmed by the thought of clearing out your overgrown property? The good news is you don’t have to tackle the task alone! Land management services can help you freshen up any overgrown lot with ease.
Read on to learn about the benefits of residential land clearing and what you can expect to pay based on the unique features of your property.
Benefits of Residential Land Clearing
Homeowners may take an interest in clearing overgrown parts of their property for personal, aesthetic, or monetary purposes. For example, you may want to clear an area to build a new house or another type of structure. Removing vegetation and leveling ground provides a fresh canvas for constructing everything from houses and garages to swimming pools, paths, gardens, and more.
Clearing land also increases overall property value. A clean, healthy plot of land is generally more attractive to potential buyers than an overgrown mess. Residential land clearing can be a great investment for homeowners looking to transform and sell their current property.
Factors Affecting Residential Land Clearing Costs
The average cost for residential land clearing ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, but your unique estimate will depend on a number of different factors. These factors may include the size and topography of the land, the vegetation present, and your overall goals for the property.
Let’s briefly break down how each of these factors affects the cost of a land-clearing job.
Size of the Area
In most cases, land management professionals charge per acre or square foot for land clearing. Clearing a full acre of land may cost as little as $1,000 or upwards of $7,000, depending on the topography of the land and the vegetation in the area. If you only need to clear a small lot, your land management expert may charge per square foot instead, with the typical cost per square foot ranging between $1 and $2.
Tree and Brush Removal
In the context of land clearing, all types of vegetation are not created equal. Tree removal typically costs more than brush removal because carrying out the job safely requires special equipment and training. The removal cost per tree depends on the size of the tree as well as the riskiness of the job, but the average cost for a medium-sized tree ranges from $300 to $800.
The average cost of tree removal per acre is:
- Lightly forested areas: $1,000 to $3,000
- Densely wooded areas: $3,500 to $7,000
Like trees, the cost of brush removal depends on the density of the vegetation in the area. On average, brush removal costs between $1,000 and $2,000 per acre.
Excavation and Grading Requirements
Those looking to build a house or construct roads, paths, or walkways on their cleared property will most likely need to factor in costs for excavating and grading. After the necessary trees and vegetation have been cleared, excavators will remove remaining stumps, rocks, and other debris. They will do this while also digging holes for the foundation of a structure, a basement, a swimming pool, or any other features you want to construct in that area.
Grading involves leveling the property to flatten it for future construction or aesthetic purposes. You can expect to pay more for hilly, uneven land and for land that has been affected by erosion. In the case of severe erosion, your land management expert may also suggest erosion control strategies such as hydroseeding or forestry mulching.
The average costs per acre for excavation and grading services are:
- Excavation: $1,000 to $6,000
- Grading: $17,000 to $44,000
How Burgess Land Management Can Help You
At Burgess Land Management, we are ready to help you achieve your property goals. Whether you want to transform your property for aesthetic purposes or functionality, we have the skills and expertise to make your vision a reality.
Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!