Here’s a quick list of checks that can be done pre-site purchase that will save you thousands.

It’s not that the presence of any of these items is undesirable, it’s just being informed of the costs associated with each in advance so you can factor this into your purchasing decision will make your journey much smoother. 

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  1. Ask for the compaction certificate from your developer or real estate agent 
  2. Ensure you have at least 30m of clear space from your house to heavily wooded areas (trees and scrub) 
  3. Avoid house sites close to airports (if possible)
  4. Avoid house sites close to major roads or train lines (if possible)
  5. If building on a sloping or mountainous area, check first if the site is zoned in a landslip area
  6. Do a title search and check for old mining tenements under your proposed site 
  7. Pick a site that doesn’t have a sewer or stormwater main running through it 
  8. Sites within proximity to waterfront attract additional costs 
  9. Consider lightweight facades and face brickwork 
  10. Heritage listed sites 
  11. Check for the presence of asbestos fences or buried asbestos (a hard one)
  12. Conduct a  termite inspection using thermal imagery cameras of any existing structures & old trees, inspect neighbouring property structures (without trespassing)
  13. Do a quick flood Level check and check the surrounding sites for platform buildup, soil importation
  14. Check if the site has a high amount of acid-sulphate soil
  15. Check the site is accessible for truck access for deliveries
  16. Low hanging power lines or power lines crossing parts of the site?
  17. Have an arborist check mature trees in proximity to the proposed building platform
  18. Check the site is fully serviced, sewer/water/power/telephone-data 
  19. Check for any existing tree preservation orders 
  20. Check for any animal movement corridors/easements :-) 
  21. Carry out a visual inspection of the site for Fire Ant activity