Buying land and building your own home is incredibly rewarding when done right. Here’s how to start building a new house once you’ve secured your block of land.

So you’ve got land and want to build? Congratulations. Buying land and building your own home may feel overwhelming at first, but the end result is something truly special. Designing a house from scratch allows your home to be uniquely tailored to your block, lifestyle and future needs.

Customising your home gives you the freedom to include luxury features, modern innovations and smart technology, creating a space that feels authentically yours from day one.

Why buying land and building your own home is worth it

There are plenty of decisions to make along the way, but one of the most important is choosing the right builder. Whether this is your first or second home, buying land and building your own home is a significant financial and time investment, so it’s essential to work with a qualified, experienced team you can trust.

Custom builders can help you with every stage of your build, and take care of all of the complicated paperwork, preliminary research and approvals processes. However, it is crucial for you to be involved from the very beginning. Watching your own home taking shape is an incredible experience from all the fun parts of the building process: designing your unique floor plan, choosing your interior and exterior selections, and adding the finer details and finishing touches that turn a house into a home.

Best of all, buying land before building your own home doesn’t exclude you from a MyHomeBuild package. You’ll have access to a knowledgeable team of designers and builders to help make your dream house a reality and we help you every step of the way.

Here are the five things you need to do to get started:

1. Choose the right builder and home building package

When building a new house, choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. They’re the ones who lay the foundations – literally – for a high-quality, well-made new home on your site.

From the foundation and framing, to door handles and other appliances, inclusions define what’s covered in the original build cost and what’s not. A quality building company can be found by looking at their inclusion list – check the brands and suppliers they use, the number of options you have, and remember to check what is included in the base price, versus having to pay extra for. Don’t be fooled that just because a building instals specific luxury finishes and fixtures in its display homes, those are part of the standard inclusions list.

MyHomeBuild’s standard inclusions are often considered upgrades with other builders. Want to know more about the ins and outs of inclusion lists? Get in touch with us!

When you’re designing a house from scratch, you need to choose high quality materials from the outset, not just when it comes to appliances. From the foundations, to the completion of your new home, quality builders only use premium materials from reputable suppliers, ensuring products are compliant to industry standards, offer warranties and are fit for purpose. Take a look at the inclusion lists of home building packages to help you gauge whether you’re investing your money into the right hands.

It’s important to establish when building your new house whether your builder offers a structural guarantee; so your investment is protected if something goes wrong.

MyHomeBuild provides a 25-year structural guarantee* for all new home builds, giving you peace of mind of knowing that we’re building you a new house that is built to last. Building a new house is a technical process, so choosing a reputable builder you can trust makes all the difference.
*T&C apply

2. Understand your block, site conditions and location

No two blocks of land are the same. Whether you’re buying land and building your own home or you already have land and want to build a house, it is highly recommended to consult with experienced builders before finalising too many details.

Experienced builders understand how to design a home that takes into account your block’s orientation and other site characteristics to improve energy efficiency and help meet the 7-star energy rating. They also know what kind of home design will work best on your land and the level of site preparation required. Factors such as slope, soil type, shape, access, and weather exposure can influence which builder you choose and impact the overall construction costs.

The size of your block in square metre terms, plus its orientation, can also influence whether you opt for an open plan layout, two-storey design, or more compact space solutions. Builders will also understand which estate or council building guidelines apply to your land, as these can directly impact your plans.

These guidelines play a major role in the design process to ensure each house meets with strict compliance and regulations. For example, you may need to select from a specific library of plans and home building packages, rather than allowing you to design a house from scratch.

However, when you work with a custom home builder, such as MyHomeBuild, who designs the home to suit the land ensuring it’s designed to be the most cost effective, our team works closely with you to maximise your site’s opportunities and carefully manage all guideline requirements to achieve design approval.

3. Plan your budget and the cost to build a house on your own land

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the cost to build a house on your own land. Budgets vary greatly depending on the size of your block and the inclusions you choose. However, the good news is that you’ve already got land.

Have you done your research? Defining a realistic, well considered budget is essential, so it is important to talk openly to your builder about the factors which influence the cost of building a new house. If you’re wondering how much it will cost to build a house on your own land? Get in touch with us. We offer an extensive portfolio of plans, or we can design a custom home to suit almost every budget and lifestyle.

4. Organise finance, construction loans and your home loan

Typically, when you already have land and want to build a house, the build is typically financed through a separate construction loan. Need help arranging your finances? Contact us, we can take care of that for you too.

5. Designing a house from scratch and creating your dream home

Since you already have land and now want to build a house, you should look for home building packages (as opposed to home and land packages). When designing a house from scratch, custom builders have whole design teams dedicated to designing a plan that suits your block’s size and orientation. You may have already selected a floor plan, but your builder will help make sure the specifics of the design complement the land, letting in light in all the right places and insulating from the weather all year round.

If you want a garden or desire open outdoor space, you’ll need to factor this into your design process and leave room for a backyard as they are not typically included in home building packages. MyHomeBuild includes several designs to include outdoor living alfresco areas. However if your block is smaller or narrower, you may need to consider two-storey house designs to maximise space.

When building a new house, your personal circumstances, privacy and lifestyle decisions can change over time, so planning for not only now, but also for the future is wise. Time spent considering the functionality and practicality of a flexible floor plan will help to create space and purpose fit rooms for a growing family, whilst downsizing to a single-storey home with storage and low maintenance may be a better match if you’re transitioning into retirement.

Explore home designs, display homes and resources

A custom builder who offers a truly personalised building experience will guide you through every step with ease. Browse our customisable designs and start creating a home that’s uniquely yours.