Episode 03 - Choosing your Site

Riverside description for Episode 03, plain text, 1,796 characters (limit 4,000): Before you buy a building site, there is a lot more to check than where north is. In my career I've watched a client pour their $30,000 contingency into the ground as concrete, money they believed would help them choose their bathroom tiles, because the foundations didn't suit the ground conditions. I've also worked with clients whose dream double storey gabled home didn't suit the steep site they had already bought. When something on a site isn't easy, it tends to get expensive. In this episode of Babe, Let's Build a House, I cover chapter three of the book and the five things to be aware of before you purchase a site. In this episode: • Site physicality: topography, size, a buildable platform, slope stability, access, and why north isn't always the deal breaker • What's in the ground: soil tests, geotechnical reports, council property files, and the surprises that turn up once you excavate • Surroundings: wind, hills, planting, traffic noise, how the neighbourhood feels at different times of day, and what the zoning allows next door • Planning requirements: district plan rules, site coverage, boundary setbacks, height control planes, the difference between resource consent and building consent, and subdivision caveats • Infrastructure: what an unserviced site means for your lender and your budget, from septic and water tanks to getting electricity onto the site If it all feels overwhelming, there is a site checklist in the book, also available to purchase on my website. A design consultation with a professional can also help you make an informed decision before you buy. Next week in Episode 04, I cover choosing your team, who to speak to first and what questions to ask them. Book: www.smartlivingspaces.nz/book Podcast: https://www.smartlivingspaces.nz/podcast Title per the episode list: Episode 03: Understanding Your Site