Buying a Block of Land in Brisbane

A 10 point checklist for buying a block of land in Brisbane.

When it comes to choosing a vacant block of land that you plan to build your dream home on it pays to get professional advice. However, your own education is just as important, so we decided to put together a 10 point checklist of things to consider when choosing a block of land to build on in Brisbane.

1. The shape and slope of the block.

One thing no custom home builder can ever change is the shape and slope of your block of land. It’s not that a sloped block can’t be built on, it’s just that the ‘stranger’ your block of land is the more planning and customisation your house will need to have. 

This kind of thing might excite you, so we’re not saying don’t buy an ‘interesting’ block of land, but just know that it might require a little more money and planning to make this dream house come to life.

2. The aspect and orientation.

The aspect of your block of land is one of the most important factors to understand before buying. Getting the orientation of your house right – receiving natural light and heat, and having that famous north facing room – won’t just make your house a more beautiful place to live in, but will likely save you money on electricity bills in the future too.

3. The right area.

Thinking about the area you want to live in means thinking about what you want close by Do you want to feel a part of a community? Do you want your kids to be close to school?

Maybe you want to be close to the local shops, or on the contrary, closer to the wonderful nature South East Queensland has to offer you. Having the right home in the wrong area is like being trapped in paradise.

4. The soil.

If you’ve never heard of the term ‘site classification’ before, you may never have built a home from scratch. In essence, site classification is a term describing how likely soil shifting is going to occur on a block of land. The more likely soil is going to shift, the more you will have to spend on ensuring your foundations are stable.

Having a professional test the potential site could save you from a nightmare in the future.

5. The natural water disasters.

Brisbane has one of the most dynamic and unpredictable climates in the world, which is partly what makes it such an interesting place to live. The downside of this is your home is vulnerable, to flooding, overland flow, or storm surges.

It’s worth understanding some of the vulnerable places in Brisbane when choosing your block. Brisbane city council has provided useful information for flooding here, and overland flow (excess rainwater that runs over the land) here.

6. The bushfire prone areas.

It’s not just water that makes Brisbane vulnerable. If your block of land lies in a Bushfire-prone area, there are certain standards that you will have to comply with when building your home which you need to be aware of. It’s definitely worth understanding how this could affect you. The QLD government has provided some handy information here.

7. The solar power potential.

The positive side of Brisbane’s dramatic climate is its potential for renewable energy resources. South East Queensland is one of the most ideal areas to power your home via the sun. It could be worth understanding how this might work with your new block of land.

8. The drainage.

In the older suburbs of Brisbane, there’s every chance that under the surface lies an old assortment of sewer and stormwater drainage. This can really impact what you can design and build – particularly if you’re planning to knock down and rebuild. Building around or trying to relocate old systems of drainage can add a considerable amount of money to your build.

9. The council classifications.

There are a plethora of local classifications that dictate what you can and can’t build. Make sure you get in contact with your local council to see what is specific to your block of land before you buy it.

10. The feel.

As important as all the above is, they cannot replace that certain sensation that the right block of land can give you. Even if you tick off every one of the boxes above but look at your land and feel no connection to the place you plan to live, no house is going to be able to fix that. As much as you don’t want to be guided by feelings alone, it’s certainly not something that you want to do without!