ARE YOU CONSIDERING BUYING A RESIDENTIAL BUILDING ALLOTMENT?

by admin in Building Consultants, Building Design | 0 comments

Well here are a few things to consider before placing that deposit…

• Allotment size:

a) Is the block large enough or suitable to cater to the size of the home you wish to build? Especially if it’s a single-story home (in most cases you can only build on 60% of the lot)
b) Consider the width of the lot based on the front façade and style of home you wish to build

• The Contour of Land:

a) The contour of the land in general terms means the fall in the land. Does it fall to the front, rear or side to side? Falls inland can have an effect on what you wish to build especially if you want to build to the boundary, as there is a max height of 3.2m on the boundary
b) Also, large falls/slopes on land can cost you extra when it comes to site costs.

• The orientation of lot:

a) Always consider the direction of the north on the lot and ensure it will work with the style of home you want to build. Ideally, good designs will have the living area windows facing to the northerly direction to have a more energy-efficient home. Ideally, lots that have the north direction to the sides of the allotment or to the rear of the property will be better suited to your standard designs.

• Easements:

a) Easements are usually set aside for sewerage and drainage mostly, but sometimes you come across easements that contain gas and sometimes power; these are not as common. Always be aware of easements as you cannot build over them. In some cases, you are permitted to build garages over them with special permission (this needs to be applied for). Also, keep in mind that when building close to easements or over easements with garage, you will incur additional costs when it comes to foundations (the deeper the services in the easement, the greater the cost to your foundations pending the distance from the services). Therefore, always be aware of easements and ensure they will work with your proposed design ideas.

• Specific design guidelines and body corporate fees:

a) Many new subdivisions these days have specific design guidelines that need to be adhered to and in most cases require developer approval of your design before you can submit for building permits. Always ensure that you read these conditions and understand how they will affect the style type and home you wish to build (if in doubt, seek some professional advice from your building designer).
b) There is the occasional subdivision these days that have a body corporate attached to them which incurs an additional fee that you are required to pay on top of your standard council rates.

• Soil conditions:

a) This is the big one. Soil conditions can really affect your site costs; especially in relation to the type of foundation that will be required based on the soil conditions. As a designer and builder, I would suggest that you always obtain a soil test report to attain the soil condition of the lot prior to purchase, that way you eliminate any surprises. The average person will not really be familiar with the soil test results, so, therefore, I suggest you discuss it with your designer or builder for professional advice. The average person will not really be familiar with the soil test results; therefore I suggest you discuss it with your designer or builder for professional advice.

In general, my advice to you would be to seek some professional advice from a professional building designer, building consultant or drafting service provider prior to placing your deposit.

Here at APT Design, Drafting & Construction PL, we can provide you with all the professional advice you require prior to your purchase to ensure you have all the facts and make the right purchase to suit your requirements. Once you have made your purchase we can assist with all your design requirements through to obtaining permits. All work guaranteed.

Hopefully, these tips help when next looking to make a purchase.