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When building a new home, it is essential to choose where to plot the house. You need to consider how close your home should be plotted next to the property line.

Zero-Lot-Line is a residential real estate structure that is built near the edges of the property line. The Zero-lot orientation design helps in creating more livable space and it has an impact on the value of your home.

Pros:

1. Standalone structure: Zero-lot-line gives you the freedom to have a standalone structure and have your own garden home without sharing walls with others.

2. Cost saving: In a Zero-lot-line house, you only pay for the space large enough to hold your house. Smaller lots are more affordable; you don’t have to spend money buying a large area you don’t need.

3. Great privacy: Zero-lot-line houses are an alternative to condos and offer you great privacy at low maintenance.

4. Less noise: This kind of structure reduces shared walls with neighbors, therefore, there is less noise disturbance from the neighbor’s property giving you a sense of more privacy.

5. Create space: Zero-lot-line houses are built close to the property line and this helps in creating more usable space. It allows you to maximize all the available space and ensure no space is left in your property plot.

6. Less yard work: Zero-lot-line uses a smaller yard area, therefore, it is easy to maintain the yard area making your house look more beautiful.

7. On-demand: Zero-lot-line houses are on the demand for those who are looking for a simple life in a smaller house with little maintenance.

8. Multiple designs: There are various modern designs being used in the construction of zero-lot-line houses. The house interior designs are more attractive.

9. Encourage a sense of community: Modern zero-lot-line houses are built with shared back alleys and front porches to encourage a sense of belonging and a great community with neighbors.

10. Space and energy-efficient: Building a zero-lot-line house is a great way to efficiently utilize limited earth space.

Cons:

1. Tightly packed buildings: Building your home near the property line will lead to tightly packed building walls especially in urban areas where there is a lot of congestion.

2. No buffer zones: Zero-lot-line houses have little or no buffer zone in the surrounding area and this can create a lot of challenges to you and also to your neighbors who are used to having a large buffer area.

3. Design restrictions: You can’t install windows, water taps, and air vents on the wall next to the edge of your home, although this helps in minimizing noise from neighbors’ property.

4. Less seclusion: The zero-lot-line structures offer less seclusion to homeowners but if you’re on the budget, this trade-off can be worth it.

5. Permanent structures: Although there are no shared walls and windows are installed in walls away from the edges of the property line, if you have a noisy neighbor there is nowhere to go.

6. Access to walls direct on property line: Although planning and design of the structure are done early, sometimes they are not fully implemented. You also can’t stop a neighbor from building a lean wall against one of your outside walls.

7. Relationship with the neighbor: If you build your Zero-lot-line home next to a traditional lot, you may face a lot of challenges in the landscape and maintenance of the area. Your relationship with your neighbor determines how peaceful you will be living in the area.

8. Property restrictions: Although the lot lines are on the demand, there are areas where zero-lot-line houses are prohibited in the urban centers.

9. Disputes: Lack of space between the houses may lead to disputes with neighbors since you end up sharing walls with them. You also have to make a lot of compromises when living in the area.

10. Small family: The zero-lot-line houses are suitable for smaller families and older people.