Notes on land and houses in the Farmington Valley.
We write down what we learn and what we think you should know before you build: how a house is tested, what a lot will take, what to expect when you build on your own land.
Three things worth knowing before you build.
What a blower-door test tells you about a house
A fan in the doorway, a gauge, and one number that says how tight the house really is. What it measures, what it misses, and why you should get it in writing.
Read → LandWhat a site review covers
A half day on the land and a written report: sun, where the house and septic want to sit, likely site-work cost, and anything that would make us walk away. When to ask for one, and what you get.
Read → Building on your lotBuilding on your own lot in the Farmington Valley
Most Valley lots mean a well, a septic system, some rock and a handful of town approvals. The order things happen in, and where the surprises hide.
Read →Published October 2026.
The land write-ups live on the Land page.
We walk lots across the Valley and publish the ones we'd build on ourselves, with what each would take. Found a lot on your own? Ask us for a site review before you buy it.
Lot walks and short videos will appear here as we make them: a walk on a lot and what it would take to build there, a blower-door test as it happens, and what every Alta Terra home gets and how far you can take it.
Start a conversation.
Tell us about your land, your timing and what matters most to you. It takes about two minutes. Alex and Matt read every note and reply personally.