Before a single bucket of dirt moves, the lot tells you most of what you need to know. Here’s how we “read” a property so the dig goes right the first time.
Walk it after a hard rain
Where water pools, where it runs, and where it disappears tells you how the lot drains. Snohomish County gets enough wet weeks to show you the truth — take photos of the standing water before it dries.
Find the high and low points
Water moves one direction: downhill. Knowing your fall — the drop from one corner to another — decides where a drain can daylight and whether you can grade away from the house at all.
Locate everything underground first
- Call 811 for free utility locates (it’s the law — two business days ahead)
- Note your water meter, septic/sewer cleanout, and any old irrigation
- Flag the drip line of mature trees — their roots are closer than you think
When to call a pro
If you can’t tell which way the lot falls, or locates come back with a gas or power line near your dig, stop. That’s exactly the read we do for free before quoting — and it’s a lot cheaper than a struck line.
Often Missed
Snap photos of where water pools after the first hard rain — that one picture tells a grader more than a page of measurements.