Identify the parcel and collect its records
Begin with the exact location and land reference. Gather the listing, available title information, cadastral information, surveys, existing drawings and correspondence supplied by the seller. Ask your independent advisers which documents they need and how discrepancies should be investigated. A larger document folder is useful only when someone checks that its contents refer to the same land and current proposal.
Keep a short list of questions rather than drawing conclusions from incomplete records. Boundaries, existing buildings, access rights and services may require separate advice. Record who is responsible for each check and whether the answer is confirmed or still provisional.
Ask for parcel-specific planning advice
Ask the appointed professional to identify the applicable planning framework and the parameters relevant to the intended use. Discuss building position, scale, height, boundaries and any other constraints they identify. The starting point is the parcel and proposal, not the house visible on the next street.
Do not infer permission from a sales description, an attractive concept drawing or the size of the land. Ask which municipal information is needed before a purchase commitment and what remains uncertain. Where a seller supplies an earlier project, establish its status and whether it is relevant to the home you now intend to build.
Walk the site as a future resident
Consider the everyday journey to the property, the entrance arrangement and the movement from parking to the home. Visit at different times if possible. Discuss orientation, privacy, nearby buildings and how the outdoor spaces might work in both sun and shade. A view from the road may not represent the view from the eventual living room.
If the land slopes, ask how the layout, access and external levels might be resolved. Discuss the investigations needed to understand the site, including the technical information the designers require. A conceptual sketch can help organise questions, but it is not a replacement for those investigations.
Check services and construction access
Ask what is known about water, electricity, drainage and communications, and who can confirm the relevant connection arrangements. A service nearby does not by itself define the route, capacity, permissions or cost of connecting your proposal. Include unresolved connection work in the feasibility and budget discussion.
Construction access also matters. The team needs to assess deliveries, working space, equipment movement and any site-specific logistics. Ask whether temporary arrangements, removal of existing features or coordination with neighbours may be needed. These practical details can influence the build sequence as well as the cost.
Compare the complete opportunity
Use one sheet for each shortlisted plot: purchase-related costs, information received, open checks, outline house brief, likely external works and the next professional action. Avoid awarding points only for land size or view. A plot that suits the intended design and daily routine can be more useful than one with a larger advertised area.
Bring your shortlist to First Estate Construction for a discussion about the proposed build and the questions that need technical review. Keep legal, planning and technical advice with the relevant appointed professionals. The decision should rest on documented findings and the intended complete project, including the pool, access and landscape.
Related questions: Planning & permits · Build a home · Costs & budget