Guidelines to finding land
While purchasing land may be a difficult and daunting task to undertake, finding the land to buy can be just as difficult. That’s why we’ve provided some tips and tricks to being able to find land that you can buy and that suits just what you desire.
Look at real estate businesses or local property listers:
No matter where you live, it’s quite likely that there’d be a real estate or property listing business nearby that advertises land available for purchase. A quick visit to one of these businesses could be very helpful in finding out what land is available, and the specifics of each pocket of land. A chat to an agent could then allow you to understand what piece of land is perfectly suited to what you want, and what you need. What’s more is that chatting to an agent yourself could allow you to save a few dollars, as they may be willing to lower the price just for you.
Take a drive around:
If you know what area you want to buy land in, a simple option to find land is to take a drive around the area. While this may seem like an ineffective use of your time, it will have many benefits. It will, of course, allow you to see all the empty pockets of land that you could purchase, and the specifics of each piece of land, for example, the vegetation, terrain, slope, access and the proximity to surrounding buildings. Going for a drive will also allow you to experience the neighbourhood, and see how far away the piece of land is from facilities such as shops, medical help, schools etc.
Watch local newspapers and news bulletins:
It’s not uncommon for available land to be listed in local newspapers or other news platforms. Regardless of what it is, it can be very helpful allowing you to see all the available land and the important details of each piece of land. Keeping an eye out for these listings will mean that you’ll have the best chance of acquiring that piece of land that you really love.
Worry no more! You now have three top tips to finding land available to buy that is perfect just for you. Your next step is to go find that piece of land, and continue the fun journey in your life, that you might only do once.
Tips on best placement for your new build
Where should I position my house on the block? Things to consider?
Most living rooms should be on the Northern/Eastern side of the block to capture the sun.
Most Laundries and bathrooms should be on the southern/ Western side of the block.
Most electrical and water services are usually located at the front of the block.
Most sewer and stormwater LPD are located on the lowest front or rear of the block.
Driveways cost money, the closer you are to your “Crossover” the better on the wallet.
Are your neighbours able to look onto your block? If so, consider which rooms/window they see.
Do you want your outside entertaining area private? Usually best facing the west to maximise the afternoon sun.
The main entrance should be facing the street. Provides security and welcoming aspect.
Consider over shadowing for location of windows, decks and future gardening options.
How close can I build to the front boundary?
Each council and Zoned area will have a minimum setback from the front boundary. If the house either side of your block is forward of the minimum setback, then you can build out to the average the two setbacks (STCA)
How close can I build to a side boundary?
Most councils in Tasmania require a minimum side setback of 1.5m.
Can I build closer than the minimum standard council requirements?
You can request to build outside the minimum requirements if you address a range of performance criteria in the Planning Scheme however, it is discretionary as to whether it will be accepted (STCA)
Can I build on the boundary?
If you are permitted to build on the boundary, or within 1m of the boundary, you must use a fire rated wall.
Site costs – what to factor into your budget when building a home
When constructing a new home, site costs should be one of the first things considered when budgeting for your build. Often site costs are considerably lower when residing in and around suburban areas, purely because of the proximity to TasWater and Tas Networks services. We understand that living in suburban areas isn’t for everyone and a lot of Tasmanians dream of a rural or bush home, whereby they have more privacy and a different lifestyle.
In these areas the site costs are likely to add up.
Things to be considered are:
- Soil type.
- Driveways.
- Wastewater provisions – if no TasWater sewer connections are available, soil type, land application area and slope of land for wastewater beds should be considered. In some low-density residential areas, there are no wastewater provisions, and the land sizes are relatively small for these systems to fit within.
- Stormwater drainage.
- Bushfire overlays (if an assessment required).
- Location of power pole/supply or if you are rural, you might consider having an off-grid solution.
Our team at Tasbuilt work with hundreds of customers a year and are proficient at understanding what site costs a property might require. We enjoy helping people and if you are considering purchasing land to build on or have just purchased land and would like to have a more thorough understanding of site costs, please contact us. Being a volume builder, we have the tools and strong connections available to provide you with accurate costings in a timely manner.
How to start the financing process for a new build / Know your budget and start looking into finance options
Finance is available through many of the well-known finance providers, including our referral partners Commonwealth Bank, Urban Money & MyState.
When
seeking finance approval it is important to explain to your bank that a
Tasbuilt Home is NOT a kit home or a relocatable home. It is a
home that's simply constructed off-site and then installed permanently on your
site on concrete and steel foundations, with services/utilities connected just
like a traditional build. The whole project is covered under a fixed-price
builders contract, and Tasbuilt is a fully licensed Tasmanian Builder, with all
relevant insurances required by the banks.
If your bank is not sure about the Tasbuilt Homes
process, you can ask them to contact us for more information. A quick phone
call can often help clear up any queries and get the ball rolling on your new modular
home!
Many banks also have their own policies on progress payments; how much and when they will pay. It is also important for you to know that Tasbuilt is able to negotiate with your bank to arrange your progress payments in a way that suits them.
If you cannot raise the necessary equity or provide a guarantor, we would be happy to adjust the progress payment structure, providing we have a secure contract and guarantee from your bank that they've approved your loan and will make the payment once the home is on site.
Optional Extras (e.g. walk in pantry, walk in shower, undertile heating, wheelchair access, tinted windows)
- Walk in showers have a 1500mm fixed glass panel instead of a door, with no frame needing to be stepped over to enter the shower. The tiled base allows a seamless transition of tiles from floor to ceiling, making the shower blend into the bathroom.
- Accessibility options: 920mm doors, ramps or space for ramps to be added later, grab rails in showers and toilets, 1200mm hallways, blocking in walls for shower seats.
- Tinted windows help to reduce glare, make bird strike less likely, and increase privacy for street facing windows. Also protects flooring and furniture from getting faded from the sun.
- Tiled niches in showers and above baths are a highly recommended addition to your bathroom. Allowing a designated space for your toiletries will stop them cluttering the floor or requiring a shower basket.
- Plaster niches can be used for displaying art and decorative objects, or above beds as a replacement for bedside tables.
- Upgrade your bath to a freestanding bath to give your bathroom a sense of luxury and design.
- High ceilings will open your space and make it feel bigger. This can be achieved with raking ceilings in bedroom and living areas, or even 2.7m ceilings throughout your house.
- Acoustic insulation between walls and sound check plaster can be added to increase insulation properties and reduce sound between bedrooms and bathrooms/living areas.
Upgrading insulation to get a higher energy rating
Insulation in walls and ceilings plays an important role in maintaining a strong Energy Rating. There are a lot of factors that effect energy ratings and when calculating, even a slight rotation of the house can change the way different materials harness and retain the sun’s warmth.
We work hand in hand with our energy consultant to ensure that all of our houses exceed a 6 star energy rating. Whilst 6 stars is a benchmark we need to meet, it’s important that we discuss any possible improvements to insulation and materials at the time of our Décor meetings. Our clients have the opportunity to construct an energy efficient home to their standards (6 stars plus) so upgrading insulation, under the floor, in the walls and ceilings may very well be a decision that benefits generations of families.
Cathedral ceilings and highlight windows
Cathedral ceilings are generally when the ceiling follows the pitch of the roof frame, with the benefit being a more open feel. Generally, this feature is best suited to living, kitchen and dining areas.
From a roof construction perspective, preference is to incorporate this feature with a skillion roof design, but it can be also done in a gable roof design but this construction is more involved as it requires a laminated beam along the ridge and then rafters fitted to it.
Highlight windows would generally be incorporated in a skillion roof design with the highlights being inserted in the section with the highest middle wall. Highlight windows really complement a cathedral ceiling, bringing in natural light effortlessly.
Some drawbacks are, as they would generally be over 3 meters off the internal floor level, they are hard to keep clean internally without extendable glass cleaning equipment. Also, if they are facing east, as the sun rises and the sunlight spreads across the cathedral ceiling for a brief period it exposes even the smallest of imperfections in the ceiling lining, this can be overcome with a plastering level 5 finish to the cathedral ceiling.
They are definitely a plus in providing natural light beautifully and also warmth on those cold winter mornings at no energy cost!
