Estate Guidelines
You need to understand these. They are rules put in place by the land developers to ensure that your asset is protected by controlling what build form is allowed within the estate. These guidelines vary from estate to estate and land developer. They could be something simple like every house in the street needs a wooden look garage door, or they can be more complex where you might like a certain type of façade but they won’t allow that type of façade in the estate. In other instances, a rule may be that you must have 3 different building materials used on the front (façade) of your home.
Estate guidelines have to be met (not negotiable) and they can have a cost impact on your build if what you were initially proposing does not comply. You may end up having to pay additional money to add materials or change your façade selection to achieve compliance.
Please note: These guidelines are determined by the land developers (not the builders) All house and land packages have already taken estate guidelines into account.
Amenities
Location is the key when selecting your desired estate and purchasing a
block of land. Access to amenities will make all the difference to your
lifestyle. How far away will the proposed shops, parks, schools and
public transport be? You need to check this out with the land agent
before you purchase.
Location within the Estate
Are parks or living close by to family and friends important? Locations
near a park are sought after and blocks abutting them are in even more
demand and come at a premium. Likewise, blocks with a view and those on
the high side of a street often command higher prices. Be sure to
consider the orientation of your lot and how this will relate to natural
light for your indoor and outdoor areas.
Are you looking at a corner block? Generally corner blocks will provide a
greater sense of space and can also prove to be great value for money.
Keep in mind however that there could be some additional build costs
such as fencing, landscaping and façade extras to meet estate
guidelines.
Please note: Without any structures on a lot, even a
poorly oriented block can look elevated and light filled. Ideally you
should obtain an expert opinion on how your block’s exposure to the
elements will affect the home you hope to build. Consider meeting with
your builder on site.