How to Choose the Ideal Site for Your New Home Build
Your dream home isn’t just about the plan and interior design — it’s also about the land you choose to build on. Your property is more than just a spot on the map or square metres; it’s the foundation for the memories you’ll build and the lifestyle you want to live.
Site selection is a key part of the building journey, especially when it comes to new homes. Here, you have the opportunity to build something entirely from the ground up, and that ground is also yours to design.
So, when it comes to choosing land for your new home build, what should you be thinking about?
Focus on Lifestyle
Before you get into soil tests and slope gradients, think about the kind of life you want to live. Do you see yourself on an acreage, where kids and pets can explore freely? Is a convenient location to local shopping centres, schools, friends, and family your priority? Or would you rather live a life of peace or serenity close to the ocean or in a leafy pocket? The land you choose not only affects your day-to-day, but also long-term value; well-located blocks tend to hold and grow in worth over time.
At Westbuilt, we encourage all of our clients to imagine their lives at each location. When your land matches your lifestyle, everything else flows more naturally.
Orientation, Lighting, and Slope
Finding the right block of land for your dream home that maximises natural light, airflow, and views isn’t as hard as you think. You just have to know what you’re looking for.
The climate makes home orientation one of the most important factors, depending on your preferences. A north-east facing area is ideal, and will mean sun-filled mornings in winter and a cooler home in summer with the right shading. Thoughtful orientation isn’t just about energy efficiency; it shapes the way your home feels throughout the seasons, making everyday living more comfortable and enjoyable.
Land shape and slope are another big piece of the puzzle. A gently sloping block often provides excellent natural drainage and can inspire creative designs like split-level living. Or if you choose a corner block, you can have dual street access, extra privacy, or the chance to orient living areas toward the best views rather than the street front.
The key is to find the perfect balance between design and land capabilities. Our new homes are adaptable, so whether you’re building on level land in the suburbs or settled amongst the rolling hinterland hills, we can help tailor your home design to the land.
Get to Know the Ground Beneath Your Feet
As important as the view and location is, understanding what lies beneath the surface is crucial when building a new home. Soil conditions, rock permeability and underground stability can affect how your home is built, which is why a soil report is invaluable. It can uncover whether the soil is sandy, clay-heavy, or rocky, and advise on the best site preparation. It also helps identify hidden risks, like rock, natural watercourses or old fill.
Regulations and Local Council Requirements
Every block of land comes with its own local zoning laws, overlays, and council requirements. These can dictate building plans, such as height, building materials, and what you can and can’t build.
At Westbuilt, we conduct thorough research into every land purchase made by our clients in order to provide regulatory advice. While land regulations and council requirements can seem overwhelming, it’s an essential step in creating your dream home. Once the land has been purchased, we can help you
Environment and Future-Proofing
Your dream home is an investment built to last many years and generations, which is why it’s important to understand if you’re purchasing land in bushfire prone areas or flood zones, and to consider potential environmental impacts to the property, such as coastal erosion or damage from surrounding bushland.
Choosing a site with good natural drainage, low bushfire risk, and opportunities for passive solar design can save stress, money, and energy. At Westbuilt, we design homes to take advantage of natural heating and cooling, so the site you select can work hand-in-hand with sustainable living.
Take Your Time
As exciting as the prospect of building your dream home is, it’s important to take your time and do your research before deciding to buy land.
We believe the right block will find you. That it will just feel right. That intuition, combined with the right due diligence, leads to a choice you won’t regret.
Build Your Dream Home With Westbuilt
For over 30 years, we’ve been helping people live the lifestyle they deserve with our modular home designs. Our designs are tailored to the unique needs of iconic Aussie lifestyles, as well as your own custom requests. We don’t believe in hidden or additional costs. We go over every detail with you to determine a fixed quote before the construction process begins. That means no additional design or construction costs.
Your block of land is more than just a foundation for your new home. It’s the foundation for a lifetime of memories, stories, and experiences.
Ready to start the building process? Get in touch with the team of experts today.
