4 ms·

If you are looking to buy a house for your family to live in for next 20 years or so, pay attention to the topography of the places you are interested in. Find

• toast0 5y ago
  Flooding is a big one to avoid, as it comes in many forms. Direct flooding may be easish to avoid because of flood plain maps, although changes in the environment elsewhere may change flood risks and may not always be reflected in the flood maps. Paying attention to elevation and sloping/drainage is important. If your house is even with the street, and your street floods, your house did too; if your house is up a couple or ten feet above the street, there's a lot more water needed to flood. If your house is below the street, your driveway is an invitation for water coming down the street into your house. But beyond that, if you're on or near a significant hill, landslide as a result of flooding or saturation is an issue to consider. Trees + flooding + wind often equals fallen trees; you want some room around your house for those to fall without hitting your house, if possible. Consider the paths utilities takes and roads take as well. Flooded roads can become impassible by car. Aboveground utilities are impacted by tree falls, but underground utilities are difficult and time consuming to repair if land movement or rushing water cause trouble.