Buying a block of land is as exciting as buying a home. This could be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make in your life. In this blog, we will take you through a few tips that help you avoid buying a lemon. With some in-depth research and care, you will be able to buy the perfect block of land for your dream home.
Location
Just like in home buying, location is important, in land buying too it is crucial. The location of your land or home makes a big difference to prices. This happens in the terms of purchasing as well as selling, if you would like to consider it later on). It is also crucial to think about location in terms of lifestyle. Consider if the following facilities like work, schools, shopping centres, medical facilities, public transport, etc., are there nearby.
Size of the Block
This is another important parameter you will have to consider when building a house. It will also assist you in generating a rough idea about the house design you plan to go with. Also, you will get to know about the land dimensions that fit your vision. If you think of a spacious acreage house, you would need a large block to accommodate it within the space. If the area or a suburb is your number one priority, you can also look for creative housing designs to make the most of the available land.
Smaller blocks can be a good way to get into the expensive neighbourhoods. At the same time, it also means less space is needed to work when it comes to building on vacant land. Even though it is obvious that the house you build needs to be smaller than the block of land, you will also have to check how close you are allowed to build property, in case you consider doing so in the near future.
Not every property is in a rectangular block, so you will need to take this into account when you purchase a block of land in Victoria. The types are – battle-axe lots, corner blocks. If you are considering buying land, check if the land dimensions suit your home or not. The shape of your block of land can also create an impact on your home design.
Legal Considerations
Just in the case of buying a property, there are a lot of legal considerations that come in the way of buying land. If you are unable to understand the legalities involved, then contact Raine and Horne experts, Land Victoria. Our professional land advocates will help you in everything that involves legal considerations such as getting approval from the local council for build. At the same time, you will also have to be aware of restrictions, if any, regarding the zoning, building materials, the limitations, etc.
Flood and Bushfire Risk
It is no secret that a part of living in Australia deals with important impact of the climate. Floods and bushfires have ravaged the country in the recent past. So, you will have to see if the block of land is in a bushfire zone or in a flood zone.
Utility Services on Land
You must check the availability of utility services such as electricity, gas, internet, sewerage, and water. If the services are not connected, you will have to take steps to make this happen because each of the services is important for basic living on land/acreage.
Land Block Orientation
While it may seem unimportant, building a house on a block of land will not only be great for you but also for the planet. Consider this – The Northern orientation will make the most of natural light. It will help you to save money on energy bills. Also, it will help in avoiding excess heat building up during summer in your home.
Terrain
Whatever changes you want to make will cost you, including levelling the land and removing trees. If you are looking forward to the former, it will add to the construction cost. When you buy a block of land, consider the changes you will require to get a more accurate idea of how much it will cost you.
The Quality of the Soil
Before you buy a block of land, it is important you do the soil test. Testing soil is important for validation purposes. In case you buy the block of land for agriculture purposes, you must check the quality of the land beforehand. Otherwise, your land might not solve the purpose you buy it for. By getting a land soil test done, you will find important information such as foundation stability and land retention. In this way, you can avoid nasty surprises down the track or can also avoid dud land/ acreage in Victoria. In case your soil has any issue, it will also add to the construction cost and additional other costs are also never cheap.
The Design
What kind of home design best suits your lifestyle, budget, and future considerations? A two-storey house with a yard may be perfect for a family that has pets whereas young professionals might be after something that requires less maintenance. You might also have to adapt the design to work with the land you own.
Nearby and Neighboring Properties
What kind of neigbourhood you desire? Just look around the new block of land for the neighbour and nearby facilities you want. Find out about your suburb and nearby suburbs as well. Also, look for future developments or building proposals, if any. It is important to consider this factor because you might hate buying a block of land that is surrounded by bushland only to know that a highway will soon be built nearby.
Require Help in Checking the Block of Land?
Buying the land or building a home on it is no doubt a daunting process. At Raine and Horne, Land Victoria, our experts work with you throughout the entire buying and selling process.