01
The utility line that is not there
A parcel appears serviceable, until the nearest sewer connection means a costly extension the pro forma never carried.
Free Dirt Check
Know your dirt before you buy it.
A free review by a licensed professional civil engineer who works in private land development every week. We flag likely zoning, access, utility, and stormwater constraints, in plain English, before money changes hands.
ZoningAccessUtilitiesStormwater
Who is behind the Dirt Check
Civil engineering for private land development.
7 Oaks Engineering helps developers, builders, architects, brokers, and landowners understand a site’s constraints, then move viable projects from early feasibility through civil design and permitting. We specialize in practical, small to mid-size residential and commercial development.
- Residential subdivisions and middle housing
- Commercial and multifamily site development
- Grading, drainage, and stormwater design
- Utilities, access, and agency coordination
Based in Silverton, serving projects across Oregon, Washington, and California.
A quick review beats an expensive surprise
The costly mistake hiding in plain sight.
A parcel can look perfect from the road and still hide the kind of civil issue that changes the entire deal. These are the questions worth asking before your contingency clock runs out.
02
The cheap lot with wet feet
The price looks like a steal. The floodplain and stormwater constraints say otherwise.
03
The access nobody mentioned
An easement problem adds redesign, negotiation, and six months the schedule does not have.
Illustrative scenarios. Actual costs and schedules depend on the site.
Fast, focused, useful
Three steps. Better dirt decisions.
Tell us the property
Send an address, tax lot, or the general area you are considering.
We review the basics
A civil engineer screens zoning, access, utilities, and stormwater for obvious deal killers.
You get the plain-English version
We summarize what stands out, what needs more digging, and what to ask next.
Dirt first. Surprises never.
What you get
A sharper go, no-go call.
- A desktop review by a licensed professional civil engineer
- A first-pass screen of zoning, access, utilities, and stormwater
- A short memo written for decision-makers, not plan reviewers
- Clear flags, open questions, and the next conversation to have
- No-cost, no-obligation guidance before you commit
Built for early decisions
This is your first look, not your final report.
It is for
- Developers screening a new site
- Builders checking whether a plan fits
- Brokers helping clients ask smarter questions
- Landowners considering development potential
It is not
- A land-use approval or entitlement guarantee
- A substitute for surveying or geotechnical work
- A full feasibility study or engineered plan set
- A promise that every site issue can be seen in a limited review
Good questions
Before you send the address.
Is it really free?
Yes. The Dirt Check is a focused first look at one property. There is no fee and no obligation.
What exactly do I get?
You get a short, plain-English memo covering the obvious flags we can identify around zoning, access, utilities, and stormwater, plus questions worth taking into your next step.
What areas do you cover?
We serve clients across Oregon, Washington, and California, with our home base in Silverton, Oregon.
Will you try to sell me engineering?
No hard sell. If the site needs deeper work, we will explain what kind. If 7 Oaks is a fit, you can choose whether to continue with us.
One address could change the whole deal
Do the Dirt Check first.
Send us the property. We will reply within one business hour and tell you what we need for the review.
Request my free Dirt Check