In this article, we explain everything you need to know about site preparation and how to get your section ready for building a prefab home.
We cover the difference between what a ‘perfect’, ‘manageable’, and ‘complicated’ building site look like and also outline how to mitigate potential issues.
We include a breakdown of the delivery costs for prefab houses, factoring in the location-based challenges that may arise during transport.
You should always make your offer on a section conditional on receiving a property title check. This will identify any problems associated with the property title which may present challenges during the building process. For example, can you build on the land? Are there any easements, covenants, or other restrictions preventing your building plans?
The same goes for any land you want to subdivide or that you inherit. Ultimately, if you are unfamiliar with the property title, make sure to have it checked by your lawyers.
What lies beneath your land? When building a house, the unseen characteristics beneath the surface are just as important as what’s above – if not more. A Geotech report will provide details about the following:
In most New Zealand regions, you will need a geotechnical report to build a new house. If you are buying land, there may be a geotechnical report already listed in the property title or you can request one before you make an offer.
To obtain a Geotech report, ask your local council before applying for Building Consent. If you need one, they will suggest the local Geotech experts you can contact. They will visit your site to complete fieldwork and testing, and then produce an assessment report based on their findings.
With a prefab home or other type of transportable home, you will need to account for the delivery. Since the home is built off-site, it will need to arrive on a truck meaning your site must be safely accessible.
During your site visit with Genius Homes, your consultant will note any obstacles and restrictions that apply to your building site. If they identify potential issues, we can adapt your house design accordingly. If there are overhanging trees or other obstructions, we will recommend how to minimise these effectively.
When delivering a Genius Homes prefab, the site access needs to account for the following:
Another key factor to consider is how established your driveway is. If this is a new building site, you may need to have an adequate driveway put in. Depending on the slope and lay of the land, you may need to invest in engineering and certain materials. In many cases, you will also need to include sufficient parking space.
While the requirements can be daunting, our team is here to help. We’ve delivered to sites all over the South Island and are familiar with all the local rules. Book a site visit to find out what we can do.
Always start your building process with an on-site consultation. At Genius Homes, we offer free site visits anywhere in the South Island. These site visits are particularly helpful for sites with little or no current connections.
During your site visit, we will determine the following:
Your site consultation is also your chance to discuss your design preferences and get answers to your questions. Our consultants are experienced in the construction process so we can guide you through with none of the usual stress.
No two building sites are the same so it’s important to find out as much as you can before breaking ground. As a general guide, we recommend dividing your prospective sites into the following:
While there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ building site, the ideal building features to look for include established site services, flat and even gradient, solid soil conditions, and easy access.
These qualities allow your builders to work quickly and efficiently while also minimising the amount of site preparation that is required. In these cases, you will be required to make few to no changes before progressing.
Key attributes of these sites include:
Please note that, for sites off a main road network, smaller house designs are easier.
A manageable building site is relatively easy to build on, with a few changes required to gain consent. Based on the Geotech report and site visit, you may be required to complete certain tasks before the project can proceed. For example, you may need to flatten the building site, build a retaining wall, or install certain site services.
Key attributes of these sites include:
If your building site is more complicated, the building process and consent process could be a challenge. That’s not to say that your project is impossible but you will need to be prepared for a few setbacks. Complications are common for sites with steep gradients, difficult site access, complex easements, and sites with problematic Geotech results.
In these cases, you may need to invest more in flattening the site, reinforcing the foundations, or preparing an adequate driveway. It is fairly common for these sites to undergo a few rounds of building consent before gaining approval.
If any of the following apply, we cannot build on your site:
When delivering your prefab to the building site, the costs are determined by the following:
The less that is required from the above list, the lower the transport cost will be.
Unsure of your next steps? Book a free on-site visit with one of our specialists to learn more about your options. We’ll guide you through the site preparation process to ensure your project runs smoothly.
These complimentary visits are available for locations within the South Island of New Zealand, including sites with little to no current connections.