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4 Things To Consider Before Building In The Country

Posted On

  • October 06, 2021

Found an idyllic rural block and ready to escape the big city rat race? Finally made the decision to swap your life in the urban concrete jungle for rolling green hills, lush bushland, and crisp, clean air?

If you’re planning on making the move to the country to build your dream rural retreat, there are some important factors you must consider before taking possession of new acreage to ensure that it’s right for you and that you can actually build the type of home you want on it.

Let us explain…

1. LOCATION & LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Review the location of the rural acreage in regards to ALL aspects of your life. Assess the land’s proximity to key services, shops, schools, medical facilities, etc. (depending on your needs), as well as your personal support system(s). Calculate how long your work/school commutes will be and your distance from family/friends. Evaluate where you’ll get your supplies from or access facilities/services/professionals you regularly rely on like doctors, gyms, hairdressers, pharmacists etc. – how big of a lifestyle change is actually required?

2. ZONING

Check out the local council’s rules/regulations on building on rural zoned land. It’s crucial that early in the purchasing process, you see a local councillor or experienced real estate agent to confirm that you can legally build a residential structure on the acreage and that it’s zoned appropriately (preferably as ‘rural residential’, not commercial or something similar). It’s also important to check if the local zoning requirements dictate a minimum size that you can build because this could seriously hinder the grand country estate you are envisioning.

3. VEGETATION & HAZARDS

In Australia’s crazy climate, it pays to take note of the vegetation on the land and find out where the acreage sits in regard to ‘fire zoning’. Meeting the required Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating can become an expensive aspect of your build if you aren’t aware of the right zoning requirements from the outset. In addition, you’ll need to get the soil of your land assessed to make sure it meets home building regulations and planning requirements.

4. SERVICES & UTILITIES

If purchasing an unserviced block of land, one of the first things you’ll need to determine is how your new home will gain access to basic services/utilities such as water, gas, and electricity. This is exceptionally important in more remote locations where connecting to local council utilities can be very expensive. It’s wise to get some initial quotes done on how much these utility connections will cost before securing your acreage so you can include these expenses in your budget.

IN SUMMARY...

In summary, our advice is simple – do your research! When considering a move to the country use your head as well as your heart to make an informed land purchasing decision that will allow for the creation of your dream home and lifestyle (within your budget).

At Tasbuilt Homes, we have a team of consultants who would be more than happy to come out and meet you at the rural acreage you’re considering purchasing (anywhere in Tasmania) to give their expert opinion on the position and viability of the land for the home you want to build.


Contact us today to arrange a FREE onsite consultation with Tasbuilt for your rural block!

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