Sleeping Beauty

okay, seen some land that we are interested in. what do we need to do now?

do we need to do a soil test etc? i am a bit bamboozled by this buying land and building thing. some say that it can work out quite expensive as there are lots of hidden extras on top. seems like a minefield to me

fraser

If you really want it why not make an offer subject to soil test.

It will cost you around $200

Good luck mate

Sleeping Beauty

thanks fraser. do we need to check with the real estate if there is electricity/sewage etc to the land? i know i sound very thick with regard to this, but it is the complete unknown for us?!!! i think we will be throwing an offer at them, hopefully.

ps. what would the soil test do?

fraser

The agents have to give you a section 32 which discloses everything about the land, just ask them for it.

The soil test will detrmine how much the site costs will be, we didn't get one and our costs were $18000

Sleeping Beauty

thanks again. would you have had a soil test done now, in retrospect?
can we get a section 32 without putting an offer in?

biggy

Go to the agents and get all the info re the land....see if it has any covenants on it, and as Fraser said put in an offer but subject to soil test or subject to finance which give you a chance to pull out should the need arise. If there are houses already getting built in the area you could nab one of the builders and ask if they have any views on the land....or nab one of the neighbours and ask if they had the house built did they have any hassles re soil and what class of foundation they laid.....will give you an idea of the lay of the land but you still need an independant soil test for your plot.

Sleeping Beauty

thanks biggy. it is on the edge of an estate, but not actually on it. i might ask the neighbours at the side of the plot.

fraser

Yes you can as it has all the covenants on( meaning what you are aloud to put on the land)

As for the soil test we were told our site costs would be no more than $5000 and they found rock and also because of some trees near buy we had to have extra foundations.

Our estate agent told us we weren't allowed to make an offer subject to test, he lied.

If we had we probably wouldn't have bought it when we could have bought elsewhere and save $13000.

So yes I'd definitely do it.

aston man

i was going to buy up in the hills,the price of just sanding the site and putting in drainage was between30/50k.....to be honest to break out all that rock and clear trees,i thought that was quite fare....

ast

Sleeping Beauty

mmm, to be honest, the plot is level and mostly tree free. also, where we live is port stephens, a penninsula in NSW. it seems to be made of sand, the whole area, so not many rocks at all!!!! we have been into the estate agents today, but it was manned by a young girl, who looked at me as though i had 2 heads. they are going to check with the owner tomorrow, as to what facilities the land will have. it seems to be fumbling in the dark time for us, as we dont know what needs to be available. and if it isnt, the costs involved to get them available?

fraser

You are entitled to get the section 32s from the agent they are obliged by law.

That will have everything you need to know in it. I f you are unsure get a conveyencer to look over it.

Sleeping Beauty

we will also need to find out what the other plot is being used for. it isnt on a housing estate, more a field split into 2. the other half (the one we preferred) was sold last monday, after we had been enquiring about it on the saturday and sunday (just our luck). so, if possible, we could do with finding out what the plot has been bought for.

seems like a minefield fraser? is it worth it? there just seems to be so much to look at and take into account. it is our dream to buy land and build, but so much to consider?

fraser

If it's your dream go for it. You managed to emigrate here and that is a minefield.

Have you considered a house and land package where they give you fixed site costs and they will then absorb any unforseen costs.

You also seem to get a better deal on the house.

Sleeping Beauty

not so many round here. its semi-rural, so we would have to move from the area we are in (sister here and brother 20 minutes away). we would have to move more into a towny area, which isnt what we want. some of the land/house packages around here are waaaayyyy past our budget. the land we have seen is half an acre, level plot, driveway from the road, for $199,950. BUT.............. we dont know what services it has at this stage.

Wol

Check that the seller IS the owner.
Check the land register.
See that land tax (if applicable) has been paid.
Check the rates are not in arrears or will be paid.
Check there is no mortgage on the land, or it will be paid off.
Check with gas, electricity, phone, water and sewage that they are available at site, or what the installation/connection costs are.
Have a soil test done.
Check the land zoning and visit the council office to see if there is any reason why you won't be able to build. Check the building envelope permitted.
Check for bush fire zoning and flooding areas.
Visit area several times by day and evening to see what the neighbourhood's really like.
Check whether any road or industrial building is planned.
Make a check on whether the area has a high termite presence.
If there are big trees on the property get an idea of the costs of removal - gums in particular can be lethal (they are known as "widowmakers") - and can cost many thousands to remove.

It sounds a lot of work - and it is. But it's the biggest purchase you are likely to make and one of the easiest to make a balls-up of!

Good luck.