Buying a new block of land can come with many hidden and unaccounted costs, two of the most common examples being soil tests and contour surveys.

LandGipps sales manager Brad Creighton explains.  “Soil tests need to be done to assess the soil’s reactivity to moisture changes and its stability.  Essentially, your builder needs to know that the soil will be able to support the weight of your new home and that it is not at undue risk of ground movement should the moisture level change.”  A soil test will cost up to $1,000.  “Having a soil test completed means that your builder can provide you with fixed price site costs prior to purchasing so there are no nasty surprises,” said Brad.

A contour survey is important to reveal the various elevations and limitations of your land and indicate changes which need to be made to the design of your home.  “This test will also set you back between $1,000 to $2,000,” said Brad.  “As critical as having these tests done is finding a reputable supplier to ensure the advice you receive is accurate.”

When you purchase land with LandGipps, the contour survey and often the soil test have already been done.  “It saves land purchasers money as well as giving them and their builder confidence in entering the land contract,” said Brad.  “It doesn’t matter if its your very first block of land or if you are an experienced investor, you need to work with your builder to set expectations and where possible fix these site costs”.

To find out the other ways LandGipps makes the process of buying land easy, have a look through our website www.landgipps.com.au or call 1300 545 263.