So you want to buy a piece of land

When buying a house, it’s common practice to obtain a LIM report and have a building inspection done, but what checks should you undertake before buying a piece of land? In general, buying land tends to be a more complex process. Here are some key items to add to your pre-land-purchasing checklist.

First, do research on the things you can see. Start by having your solicitor obtain copies of relevant documents from the council, including title, consent notices, easement and resource consents, just to name a few. Review and discuss them thoroughly to understand what kind of restrictions have been applied to the land. Get advice on what sort of consents are needed for your build and get an understanding of the processes and costs involved. For example, a large piece of land clad in native bush may look very appealing, but will environmental restrictions prevent you from clearing the space you need?

Check for any planning restrictions that may affect the design of your house and for any binding in covenant, and, don’t forget to consider the contour of the land. There’s a saying that when you’re guessing the contour of a piece of land you should always double it, because if it looks like a 10-degree slope it’s probably closer to 20. This might be a slight exaggeration, but it gives you an indication of just how deceptive your eyes can be. A topographical survey is and more accurate and scientific way to go, or you could check out Auckland Council’s GeoMap.

Once you’ve investigated what you can see, it’s time to research what you can’t see – the condition under the ground – by arranging a geotechnical survey. This is crucial as it has a huge impact on the structure and build cost. There’s always a way around issues that occur, even on more complicated sites, but the key is to get information early so you can consider options before you begin rather than getting a time-consuming and potentially costly surprise later on.

Make sure your sales and purchase agreement allows a reasonable timeframe for due diligence to be performed, to check everything thoroughly and get all the advice you need. There’s a minimal investment required for this process, but it’s much less costly than buying a piece of land that doesn’t suit your needs.

If this all sounds a little overwhelming, don’t worry – the team at Maddren Homes can help you engage all the professionals necessary to assess your site and give you a full picture of how you can work with the restrictions and your budget to build the house of your dreams.

additional reading: What is the per square metre rates?