Build on your land
Own a vacant block? Let's design a home that fits it.
For land where no house has been built before, like a lot in a new estate or a vacant block. If you have an older house to knock down first, see knockdown rebuild.
What I check on your block
The block decides more about your home than most people expect. Before we pick a design, I look at:
Width, depth and setbacks
The frontage and the required setbacks decide how wide and long the home can be, and whether a double garage fits.
Title, easements and restrictions
Easements (strips of land for drains, sewer or power) can't be built over. The title also shows any restrictions on what you can build.
Estate design guidelines
Most new estates have rules for facades, materials, fencing and driveways. The developer must approve your design before a building permit is issued.
Slope and soil
A site survey and soil test show the fall of the land and the ground conditions. They decide the slab design and any retaining walls, which are a big part of site costs.
Bushfire rating
In bushfire-prone areas, the block's Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) sets extra construction requirements, which can affect the price.
Orientation
Which way the block faces decides where living areas and windows go for natural light and comfort.
Irregular or odd-shaped block?
Not every block is a neat rectangle. Corner lots, wedge-shaped (pizza slice) lots, battle-axe blocks, narrow or sloping land all need a home that's planned around them. Instead of squeezing a standard design onto your block, Homegroup can design a plan tailored to the exact shape of your lot, so you use the land well and still get the rooms you want.
- The home follows your boundaries and setbacks, not a standard rectangle
- Living areas and windows placed for the light on your block
- A custom plan costs the same as a standard design of the same size and inclusions
Shape can affect site costs, such as extra retaining on a slope or a longer driveway on a battle-axe block. I'll explain these line by line before you sign. Send me your lot plan, or draw your plan on grid paper and tell me the shape.
How it works
- Send your lot detailsSize, frontage and where it is. The plan of subdivision or lot plan helps if you have it.
- I check what fitsWidth, setbacks, easements and the estate or council rules.
- We plan the homeStart from a Homegroup design and adapt it, or plan something completely your own.
- You get a quoteIncluding site costs, explained line by line. Plan and quote are free.
- Contract, approvals and permitOnce you go ahead: developer approval (in estates), then the building permit.
- The buildConstruction starts once the land is titled and finance is in place.
Land not titled yet?
In new estates, you often buy a lot before it's titled. You can still choose your design and get your plan and price ready, so you're set to go when the title comes through. Construction can't start until the land is titled, and most lenders release construction funds only after land settlement.
What affects site costs
Site costs prepare the block for the home. Your quote includes an allowance, and the final amount depends on the site survey and soil report for your lot.
- Slope of the block and how much cut, fill or retaining is needed
- Soil type, which decides the slab or footing design
- Rock, trees or old fill found on site
- Distance to the sewer, water, power and gas connections
- Bushfire or wind ratings in some areas
This is general information. Your building contract and the reports for your lot set out the actual requirements and costs. I don't sell land and I'm not a real estate agent.