As a rule, a northern orientation block in Perth will ensure your home receives natural light and warmth during winter, while being shielded from excessive heat in the hotter months of the year.
Harnessing natural energy to heat and cool your home means you’ll rely less on artificial heating and cooling. Not only does this save you money but it’s much better for the planet. However, while a north-facing home is the most ‘desirable’, a clever architect and builder can plan home designs that optimise any orientation.
‘Site conditions’ is a term used to describe the features of the vacant land such as soil type, existing trees or rocks, water table, and soil distribution. You might want to think twice about a steep block with a lot of trees and clay soil – it could burn a hole in your pocket!
Site conditions directly affect build costs as it determines the amount of preparation (or ‘site works’) required to lay the foundations for your house. The site conditions can also impact your house design, so you really want to thoroughly investigate any limitations of the site prior to entering a sales contract.
Like site conditions, the dimensions of the land can affect the house design, making it simple or a little more complex to achieve your dream floor plan. Most property in Perth is rectangular which makes things easy, but you can come across odd shapes.
You’ll need to weigh up the dimensions of the land with location, too. For example, you might accept an odd shaped block because it is in a ‘better’ suburb.
Before entering a contract to purchase land, make sure the boundaries of the lot on the physical ground matches what is written in the land’s official documents. A licensed surveyor can provide you with evidence through a ‘survey report’.
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As they say in real estate: location, location, location. Consider the land’s proximity to amenities like schools, shops, public transport, parks, arterial roads, and medical facilities. If you were to rent out your home in the future, having easy access to a myriad of amenities will help you achieve a higher rental return.
What legal regulations or codes apply to the vacant land you’re looking at? Grab your fine-toothed comb because this is where you need to get down to the nitty gritty.
First and foremost, obtain a Certificate of Title from the selling agent prior to purchasing any residential property. The Certificate of Title (often simply referred to as the ‘title’) is a piece of paper that lists the present owner, any existing mortgages, and any easements on the property or restrictive covenants on the property.
Easements or restrictive covenants can greatly impact how the vacant land can be used and could affect your future enjoyment of the land. REIWA has created a great guide here to help you understand these restrictions.
Now to local city council requirements. Find out what city council your potential new vacant land falls within. Each city council has different requirements for properties in its jurisdiction.
Taking a drive around the neighbourhood will help you understand what is acceptable to that local city. Note carports, front fence heights, verges, pergolas, and facade aesthetics. Before committing to the land, review the local council’s policies and regulations on the following:
Lastly, check the availability of utility services like power, gas, internet, water, and sewage to your site. Are these connected and accessible? If not, find out the costs of having them installed and factor these into your budget and decision to purchase the land
If you’re still a little nervous about selecting the right block, one of our knowledgeable New Home Consultants can help you with your research. Why not drop us a line on (08) 6555 7548 or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you shortly.
