Choosing your land and a design

Plan ahead when choosing your land and a design for your new home

When it comes to home loans and building or renovating, there are a number of factors to consider before creating your dream home.

Once you have found the land for building, you should contact your local council to learn about:

• The land's zoning and what types of homes can be built there
• Any building restrictions that may apply
• Any factors that will affect your overall building costs. Find out about bedrock that may need to be cleared, the soil type and the slope of the land, which will affect drainage requirements
• Any council-planned developments

If you are considering building on land in an area that is not already developed, it is also important to find out about the following before you purchase:

• Is the land subject to flooding?
• Will you need to erect fences?
• Does the new subdivision have sealed roads, kerbs, utility connections (for example, gas, electricity, town water, telephone) and sewage/drainage?

This information about your block of land will give you an understanding of its unique advantages and limitations. You can then work to develop the final design for your home that best suits your budget, lifestyle and environment – this may be a kit home, a display home or an architect-designed home.

Architects and draftsmen can help determine the home design that best suits your land, your needs and your budget. For information or advice, contact The Architects Advisory Service, Archicentre Ltd.