Wanting to build a home from the ground up? Buying a vacant section offers enormous potential to do all the things you’ve imagined for your dream home. However, it’s important to recognise it’s not as simple as just plonking a house on top of a piece of land or getting straight into the new build. From inspecting what services it has available, to checking if the ground is solid enough to build on, there’s plenty of factors you need to consider before you can start the process. We’re going to take you through a few of the key points so you’re as prepared as possible before taking those first steps.

Something to keep in mind is that buying a vacant residential section is going to come with different challenges than buying a rural section. One of the first things you need to clarify is whether or not there are any covenants on the land. Your agent will be able to tell you if any exist, for example, if there’s a fencing covenant that doesn’t allow you to build fencing in certain areas, or if they have to be a certain height. Another covenant that could prevent you from carrying out your plans is one that limits how you build the house, so whether it’s allowed to be two-story or have certain cladding. There are a number of things that could be hindered by a covenant, so it’s always a good idea to check if you’re unsure.

Another point to consider is if any easements are attached to the land - it could be that there is a stormwater pipe running straight through the property, which would mean you couldn’t build on top of it. The same goes if there is an electricity supply transmission line or an area of the land is needed as an accessway for services. To find out what limitations are in place, again, talk to your agent who will set you on the right track.

Does the section already have power, water and sewerage installed? While it tends to be unusual for a property to only have one of these, there is a chance none of the services have been installed yet. Why we highly recommend you check is because it isn’t something that can be done overnight. It’s likely you’ll need to gain consents and consult with your local council to ensure you have covered all the bases before putting anything in place. You can buy today but unfortunately, it’s not as easy to build tomorrow. Service installation can be a lengthy and often expensive task, so making sure you’re aware, prepared and well versed on what to expect is vital.

Last but not least, take into account the location of the section, as well as its services. Visualise how you’re going to build and the shape of your home, and then weigh it up with where the services, accessways and sunlight will be. Let’s face it, there’s no point building a home that’s angled towards a row of tall trees if they’re just going to block all the natural light and over shelter your home. Checking the foundations before you even think about starting is also a must - you can find this out by getting an engineers assessment.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the process and have asked your agent everything that they are able to answer, reaching out to a builder to get advice and come and look at the vacant section won’t go amiss.