21 Tips to Save Thousands on Home Construction

Here's a quick list of checks to do before you buy a block. Each one can save you thousands.

None of these is a deal-breaker on its own. The point is to know the extra cost before you sign, so you can negotiate, budget for it or walk away.

Ask the developer or agent for the compaction certificate. If fill on the lot wasn't properly compacted and certified, you may need deeper footings or piers.
Check whether the block is mapped as bushfire prone and get a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) assessment to AS 3959. A higher BAL means extra construction costs.
Avoid sites close to airports if you can. Aircraft noise can mean extra acoustic glazing and insulation, and it affects resale.
Avoid sites close to major roads or train lines if you can. In Queensland, a transport noise corridor triggers noise-reduction construction requirements, which add cost.
On sloping or hilly land, check whether the site is in a landslip area. That means geotechnical reports and engineered footings.
Do a title search and check for old mining tenements under the site. Old workings can mean special footings or worse.
Pick a site without a sewer or stormwater main running through it. Building near a main needs approval and often deeper footings or piers.
Waterfront sites usually cost more to build on: think piles, higher floor levels and corrosion-resistant materials.
Check the estate's design covenants. Some require face brick, render or specific facade materials, which can add thousands to your build.
Check if the site or street is heritage listed or in a character overlay. It can restrict your design and add approval costs.
Check for asbestos fences or buried asbestos (a hard one). Removal needs a licensed removalist and can cost thousands.
Do a termite inspection, ideally with a thermal imaging camera, of any existing structures and old trees, and look at neighbouring structures (without trespassing).
Check council flood overlay mapping (in Brisbane, the FloodWise Property Report) and compare the flood level to your proposed floor level. Also look at whether neighbouring sites have been built up with imported fill.
Check whether the site has acid sulfate soils. If disturbed, they need a management plan and treatment, which adds cost.
Check trucks can get in for deliveries. Poor access means smaller loads, hand carting or crane hire.
Look for low-hanging power lines or lines crossing the site. Relocating them or meeting clearance rules costs money and can limit where you build.
Have an arborist check mature trees near the building platform. Big trees can affect footing design and may need protecting.
Check the site is fully serviced: sewer, water, power and telecommunications. Extending services can cost tens of thousands.
Check for tree preservation orders. Protected trees can limit where you build and need a permit to remove.
Check for koala habitat or wildlife corridor overlays. They can limit clearing and where you can build (common in South East Queensland).
Look for fire ant activity. Fire ant biosecurity zone rules in South East Queensland control how soil and materials can be moved.