Buying your block of land is an exciting milestone. Whether it’s viewing display homes, understanding cost and fees, permits and approvals or the build process, there’s a few key steps you might encounter along the way. That’s why we’ve pulled together this comprehensive guide so you can come back to it whenever you need it.
Start with a walk-through
If you haven’t chosen a builder yet, visiting a display home is a great place to start. These fully built, furnished examples help you visualise what your new home could look like, from the scale and light to how the space flows and design choices bring it to life.
Display homes also offer you the chance to ask Victoria’s leading builders about their standard inclusions, the design process and how things run from contract through to handover, so you can choose your block with confidence.
Figures to factor in
Once you’ve chosen a design, the next step is knowing the site costs, which are the essential expenditures for preparing your building site before construction commences. These vary depending on things like the slope of the land, soil conditions, access and connections to essential services. Your builder will confirm the exact figure after a soil test and contour survey, so you know precisely what you’re paying before you sign.
When purchasing land, it’s important to understand stamp duty which is a one-time government tax. The amount payable depends on factors such as the property’s value, and whether you’re eligible for any government concessions or exemptions, including those available to eligible first home buyers. Your conveyancer or broker can confirm exactly what applies to you and when it needs to be lodged.
Sign-offs before you start
Building permits and planning permits sound similar, but they serve different purposes. Most new homes need a building permit before construction can start, confirming the home has been designed to meet building regulations and can be safely built.
Where a planning permit is required, it generally needs to be obtained first before a building permit can be issued. Your builder typically manages this as part of getting your build underway, but it’s worth confirming approval requirements with the relevant council or a Registered Building Surveyor before the works begin.
Getting to know your build
Every block of land is unique, so it’s useful knowing a few terms to help make sense of yours. Site fall describes the slope or vertical drop of a piece of land. Where there’s a noticeable fall, your builder may use cut and fill, which is a common earthmoving process used in construction to level the site or fill in any uneven ground.
You may come across terms like easements, setbacks and building envelopes. An easement is a strip of land set aside for services like drainage, sewer or power. It’s still part of your block but generally something you can’t build over. A setback is the minimum distance your home needs to sit from a boundary, and together these define your building envelope, the actual area available for your home. Covenants are the developer’s design guidelines, covering things like facades, fencing and landscaping, and they help protect the look and value of our community.
From foundations to final stage
Building a new home in one of Melbourne’s fastest-growing corridors like ours typically takes around eight to twelve months from the start of construction. Though this can typically shift with the weather, availability to approval timeframes.
Along the way, you might hear your builder refer to five key stages:
- Base: slab or footings complete
- Frame: wall and roof framing up
- Lock-up: external walls, windows and doors in place
- Fixing: internal fit-out, linings and joinery underway
- Final: finishing touches complete and ready for handover
Every builder runs their own schedule and level of detail within each stage, so they can walk you through exactly what applies to your specific build, and when. Many buyers like to visit the site as construction takes shape. Site access policies vary, so it’s worth checking with your builder representative before planning a visit.
We’re here to help
Building your home is an exciting journey, and our sales team are always happy to help you make the most of it. Give us a call on 0427 357 598 or email riverhills@rpmgrp.com.au for more information, we’d love to hear from you.