Dirt Work Blueprint
Don't buy or build blind.
From raw land to Build-Ready.
Plan your property before the first machine shows up. Understand sitework, access, drainage, septic, utilities, materials and costs — before expensive mistakes become permanent ones.
Calculate
Run the numbers before anyone shows up.
Learn your project. Know how much material and work is involved, and what it could roughly cost—so you're not blindsided when the estimates come in.
Every calculator is free. No account, no email, no limit.
Browse all calculators →- →
Driveway Gravel
Tons and yards for any driveway, by material and compaction.
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Cut & Fill Earthwork Balance
Balance excavation and fill before you move a cubic yard.
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Land Clearing & Grubbing
Estimate clearing scope and debris before you get a quote.
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Driveway Base Rock
Base rock quantity by depth, width, and length.
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Trench Volume & Bedding
Excavation and bedding stone for septic, utility, or drainage.
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Aggregate / Gravel Base
Base rock tonnage for pads, parking areas, and access roads.
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Topsoil Strip & Stockpile
Volume to strip and stockpile before grading begins.
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Ecology Block Takeoff
Block and cap count for a running-bond retaining wall.
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Turf & Sod Coverage
Square footage and pallet count with a 5% waste allowance.
Research
Know what you're buying before you buy it.
Raw land can look simple until you start digging into the details. Zoning, flood zones, soil conditions, easements, access, and utilities can completely change what you can build — and what it will cost.
Know what to check, where to find it, and what the information actually means before you commit to the property.
- —Zoning & setbacks — What you can build and where.
- —Flood zone classification — FEMA maps before your lender surprises you.
- —Soil conditions — Bearing capacity, drainage, septic suitability.
- —Utility availability — Water, power, gas, fiber — what's at the road vs. what needs to come in.
- —Access & easements — Who has the right to use your land, and whether your driveway permit is straightforward.
- —Perc & site evaluation — Whether the parcel will support the system you're planning.
Plan
A good plan starts with the right sequence.
Knowing what your project will cost is important. Knowing what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, and what must be figured out first keeps that budget from getting blown by avoidable mistakes.
Organize each property into projects and stages, follow the right sequence, and know what questions need answered before the next step begins.
Budget
Estimated. Quoted. Actual.
There's a big difference between what you think a project will cost, what a contractor quotes, and what you actually spend. Tracking all three shows you where your budget is changing before those changes become expensive surprises.
Turn your saved calculations into budget line items, add contractor quotes as they come in, and track actual costs as the work gets done — so you always know where your project stands.
* Numbers shown are examples only.
Compare
Cheapest isn't the same as best value.
Driveways, building pads, site prep, and other major parts of your project aren't the places to cut corners just to save a few bucks. The lowest bid isn't always the best deal. Two contractors can bid the same project and include completely different scopes of work. Materials, quantities, drainage, haul-off, equipment, and exclusions can turn a cheaper bid into the more expensive job.
Compare bids side by side and line by line so you can see what each contractor actually included, what's missing, and where the real differences are before you sign anything.
Master Planner
Bid B is $1,950 cheaper — and missing a culvert, seeding, and mobilization.
* Numbers shown are examples only.
Build
Go in knowing what the hell you're doing.
You don't need to become a contractor to manage your project. You need to understand what you're buying, what questions to ask, what should happen next, and whether the numbers you're being given make sense.
Most costly mistakes don't happen because property owners don't care. They happen because nobody told them what to look for until after the work was done and the money was spent.
Free download
Land Planning Master Checklist
The complete checklist for planning your property — from raw land to build-ready site. Clearing, access, drainage, septic, utilities, permits, foundation, and everything in between.
- ✓Every stage in the right sequence
- ✓What to verify before each phase starts
- ✓Questions to ask your contractor
- ✓Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Free account — includes the checklist + 3 saved calculations.
Create your free account to get the checklist.
The whole system
Master Planner
For years, I've watched property owners get burned by poorly written estimates, bad planning, poor craftsmanship, and costly mistakes they didn't know to look for. Walking into a project blind can cost you WAY more than $499.
Master Planner gives you the tools to understand the project, ask better questions, compare what you're actually being quoted, and keep track of the numbers from start to finish. Don't look at it as another expense — look at it as an investment in your property and your future.
$499 once. Knowledge you'll use on every project that comes after it.
- ✓Calculate — Unlimited saved calculations attached to your projects
- ✓Research — Property intelligence guides and checklists
- ✓Plan — Unlimited properties, projects, and stage tracking
- ✓Budget — Estimated / quoted / actual across every line item
- ✓Compare — Bid & quote tracking across every line item
- ✓Build — Document storage and project record
Started with Blueprint ($49)? That $49 credits toward Master Planner — you pay $450.