ᐅ Soil survey: When and to what extent should it be carried out?

Hello everyone,

I am taking over a plot of land from my parents and am wondering if I can already have a soil survey carried out.
There was a building on the plot until about six months ago, built around 1900, which has since been demolished.
The new building will be located in roughly the same place (slightly larger, extended by about 1–2 meters [3–6 feet] in all directions).

However, I currently have no approved plans defining the exact official corner points for the house.
Does it still make sense to have the soil survey conducted based on the approximate corner points?
And what level of detail should the soil survey cover? There seems to be a price range from about 1,000 to 2,500 €.

Thank you. Best regards

Did the old building have a basement and do you want one?
Otherwise, I don’t understand why you need a soil survey.
We didn’t have one done at all because the local authorities nearby had already drilled, and all the neighbors have built basements without any issues.
We received quotes starting at just under €1000 (about $1100), and personally, I would never pay much more unless there is a specific reason why the area might be problematic.

If it’s already your plot of land and you plan to build there anyway, you basically have to accept whatever comes out of it.

I think it makes more sense if you’re still deciding whether to buy the land or not.

We had a survey done before purchasing the land because the soil structure varies, and we couldn’t afford several tens of thousands of euros more for earthworks.
We paid about 500€ (around $540), but this varies a lot depending on the region.

How well do you know the requirements of the various local or district authorities? In my opinion, it might be better to wait a little longer to clearly understand the necessary scope of the soil survey. Sometimes, an additional hydrological study or an infiltration test is required. It is usually more cost-effective to commission everything at once.

Alternatively, you can check the websites of the relevant offices (possibly including the environmental agency) to see the required scope of the soil survey and what is mandatory.

Although, it might only be a matter of a few hundred euros more or less anyway.

Do you really mean a soil contamination test? That is where the soil is checked for chemical pollutants (important if you want to dispose of excavated material). Or do you mean a geotechnical survey, where the soil’s load-bearing capacity is examined and a foundation recommendation for a possible new build is provided? (If you plan to build, definitely have this done—I hardly believe any reputable construction company would start without it...).