CHOOSING THE LOT FOR YOUR NEW HOME

A lot of time and consideration can go into choosing which area you’d like to live in, from looking at the work commute to sizing up local schools and ensuring there are plenty of parks and recreation facilities close to home. But once you’ve settled on where you want to build your new house, there are still factors to consider when selecting which lot is right for you.

We talked to Everleigh Sales Consultant, Chris Reid, for his advice on how to find the perfect lot for your forever home.

Be clear on your budget

The first step is to chat with your broker or bank upfront, so you know where you stand and to make sure you’re ‘fishing in the right pond’. You need that total amount to work with ahead of chatting to builders and land developers about what you want to achieve.

Pay attention to the plans

Don’t look at just the coloured lot plan alone. It tells you size and orientation, which is great, but it’s even better to get an understanding of the plans that underpin the lot plan, like disclosure plans and service plans. Work with the land sales consultant to find real-life examples that already exist so you can have a good visual of what your off-the-plan potential lot will look like.

Inform yourself as much as possible

When the lot plan comes out and you need to make a quick decision, you want to do it based on the right factors — not just the price and size. You want a clear image in your mind of what the lot is going to look like so you’re making the decision based on the right criteria.

Check the location of any easements, look at the height of retaining walls and whether they are on the boundary or encroach into a particular lot, see where services like manhole lids and street lights are located. You should also consider the orientation of the block and see where the sunlight’s going to come in and where your outdoor area’s going to be.

Find the right balance

Getting that balance between your land size and house size is important. Visit display homes  located on the same size block you are considering so you get a sense of the relativity between house and land size. It’s easy to get lost in the beauty of homes in display villages but you need to focus on your budget, how big the living spaces are and how much yard you’ll end up with, to make the most of your visit.

Some people may decide to go for the biggest block of land possible and dial back the house; others are happy to reduce the land size to get the best possible inclusions in their home. Only you know what’s best for you by making those comparisons in real-time.

Stick together

Visiting display villages and sales centres together is key if you’re purchasing with a partner or family because you’re calibrating the whole time.  You may fall in love with something for different reasons and if you’re not sure of each other’s criteria, then it can be tricky to get back on the same page.

Stay flexible

Sometimes people can be so determined to find a particular size block and, while they’re searching, they may be missing out on other opportunities that could have been just as good if they looked at them a different way.

When someone comes in and says they want a 600sqm or 800sqm block, it's really important to get an understanding of why. What they’re often saying is they want room for a pool or the kids want a trampoline, and there may be another way of achieving this.

You can choose to go up and build a double storey home, rather than building out with a single storey and needing more land. Double-storey means you have more room for the backyard, which increases your possibilities in how you use that space. 

Understand what’s involved

Different block types come with different factors to consider and opportunities to take advantage of. For example, building on a corner lot may come at a higher cost because a builder’s standard plans may need to be amended to accommodate the block shape and to create the visual attractiveness required by the local council and the developer. Corner blocks can also have a huge upside — a sense of openness, a larger side yard presence, another aspect for sun and light to come into your home and one less neighbour.

Odd-shaped lots can present a great opportunity. Narrower lots at the front mean growing families can benefit from the block fanning out at the back by creating bigger play or entertainment spaces. Lots that are wider at the front can create more side access, room for a third garage, or storage for your caravan and boat.

Lean on the sales team

Don't be afraid to ring the land sales consultant you’re dealing with and ask lots of questions:

• This is what I'm trying to achieve, which lot do you think is best?
• I'm looking at this lot, what do you think?
• Are there other lots you think are worth considering?
• Is there anything else I can do that I haven’t thought of?
• I can’t picture what this will be like, is there anything you can do to help me when I’m making this decision?

The sales team are doing this all day, every day. They have the insight to help you get what you want out of the process that you may otherwise have missed.

Everleigh Greenbank is already establishing a reputation as a beautiful and connected masterplanned community - and there's still so much to come! Our friendly sales team is here to help you seven days a week. Simply drop by our sales centre at 56 Kessels Boulevard between 10am and 5pm or phone 07 3859 5960.