If you are building a new home in a land estate, then it is very likely that the design of your home will be required to stay within the design guidelines that the developer has set out. This is generally the case so that there is a sense of cohesion from house to house and that they work within the context of the public areas that are created.
Typically, these design guidelines will set out a minimum requirement for house designs, landscaping, fencing and how the house is positioned on the land. Some blocks will also have special requirements additional to these which you will have to take into consideration. This will all be outlined in your contract of sale with the developer, and builders should be able fulfil all of these requirements.
What Guidelines & Covenants May Affect You?
Before you purchase vacant land in a residential estate it is vital that you understand exactly what restrictions you will have to work with. There may also potentially be government imposed covenants on your land. These can be put in place to protect the entire community, for example from flood and fire risk or could relate to land boundaries. For more information on this you should enquire with your state government’s consumer affairs department or check out their website. You should also be able to see restrictive covenants on your land titling document. For more information on land titling read this article.
When it comes to developer enforced guidelines there are several common restrictions that most estates will have to follow. Before you purchase property always make sure you understand your obligations and rules that you will need to work in with.
Common guidelines can include:
- Design requirements
- Facade design: What the façade is comprised of. For example including a garage, covered front door, specified materials or veranda
- Façade variety: most estates will require a variety of facades that must be different from the houses around them
- Landscaping
- Types of plants & trees used: Using native flora is something that developers will encourage or enforce
- Design of frontage: To create a consistent look your developer may require a certain layout and look for your front yard and possibly a timeline when it should be completed
- Sustainability
- Generally, this an optional guideline, but most developers will outline what is sustainable extras could assist in reducing cost and environmental impact of your home.
Finding Land To Purchase On iBuildNew
Comparing your options is the key to any property investment. On iBuildNew you can shortlist and compare side by side any land estates that you are interested in. You can also explore our developer & estate pages, which lets you have a look at important information about the developer such as their estate guidelines, masterplans and land lots available.
Want to talk to an expert? We have a team of independent consultants who can assist you with any queries or concerns you have about the home building journey, and can even connect you with developers or builders who can help find the right land or package for you. Call us on 1800 184 284 or book a call.
Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
Zoe Langenberg
Zoe is passionate about coffee and interior design. You can find her most weekends exploring an art gallery or devouring a good book.
1800 184 284
