Site preparation is one of the most important phases of any construction or land development project. How you prepare before the equipment arrives can significantly affect the timeline, cost, and quality of the outcome. Here's a practical checklist for Middle Tennessee property owners getting ready for site prep work.

Step 1: Know Your Boundaries

Before any equipment touches your land, know exactly where your property lines are. This is especially important in Middle Tennessee, where rural lots may have old or missing survey pins and suburban lots sit close to adjacent properties and easements. Options include:

Locate existing survey pins (usually iron rods at corners) and flag them so they're visible
Order a new boundary survey if you're unsure — this is money well spent before major earthwork
Check for recorded easements (utility, access, drainage) that affect where work can occur

Step 2: Call 811 and Have Utilities Marked

Tennessee law requires contacting 811 (Tennessee One Call) at least three business days before any digging or grading. This free service dispatches utility locators to mark underground gas lines, electric lines, water mains, telecom cables, and fiber on your property. Even if you think there are no underground utilities, call. We've encountered unmarked lines on rural properties that would have been catastrophic to strike.

Step 3: Clear Personal Property from the Work Area

Remove anything from the site that shouldn't be there: vehicles, trailers, equipment, livestock (if applicable), stored materials, and anything else that could be damaged or interfere with equipment movement. Our operators work safely, but heavy machinery and personal property in the same space is an unnecessary risk.

Step 4: Identify Trees and Features You Want to Keep

If you're doing land clearing or rough grading and there are trees, shrubs, rock features, or other elements you want preserved, flag them clearly — bright surveyor's tape is the standard. Walk the site with us before work begins and point them out in person. A skid steer operator can work around flagged features, but they can't read your mind.

Step 5: Plan for Equipment Access

Our equipment needs a route onto the property. For most Middle Tennessee properties, this is straightforward — but some lots have narrow gates, soft access paths, overhead wires, or other constraints. Let us know about any access limitations when you contact us. If access requires a temporary gravel path or a specific entry point, we'll plan for it.

Step 6: Know Your Permit Requirements

Grading and site prep in Davidson, Williamson, Rutherford, and other Middle Tennessee counties may require grading permits, stormwater management plans, or TDEC notification depending on disturbed acreage and proximity to waterways. Your contractor should know the local requirements — we do — but it's worth confirming before work starts so there are no surprises.

Ready to Start? We're Here to Help.

HBR Landworks handles site preparation, land clearing, rough grading, and related work across all of Middle Tennessee. We'll walk your property with you before quoting and help you think through any prep steps specific to your site. Get in touch to schedule a site visit.

How to Prepare Your Property Before Site Prep Begins