When it comes to buying a section to build your dream house on, not all sections are created equal for all people!

That’s according to top Section and Subdivision Specialist, Willie Vermeulen from Harcourts Tauranga. With 19 highly successful years in real estate following a bulldozing contracting business, Willie knows “dirt” inside out, including engineers’ reports, developers’ needs and how individual buyers can maximise their buying option.

When working with clients, Willie starts with four questions to ensure they get the best section possible:

1. What’s the maximum you want to pay?*
2. What’s the minimum size of land you want?
3. Any ideas on contour of land that would be suitable?
4. What area of town do you want to be in?

All sections have something about them that will suit a particular buyer, depending on who you are and your stage of life. For example, when faced with a large new subdivision, which side of the road is better? A building or housing company will often choose a corner section that provides the most road frontage and lawn area to be able to show off as many features of their showhome as possible to passer-bys.

Willie advises you to think about your own road frontage. You will naturally want that sunny Northern facing side to be where you can base all your entertaining and living areas both indoors and outdoors. If a private family swimming pool is on the cards, choose a section on the side of the street where you will be able to have your pool safely in a North facing back-yard.

Willie says in his experience, younger couples and families who intend to build and be in a house for a long time tend to gravitate towards those sections where they will enjoy plenty of privacy and other aspects like back-yard fencing for growing families.

However he notes that older couples tend to gravitate more towards the ‘street appeal’ rather than the big family back-yard with the Northern facing side on the street enhancing the street appeal of their home. Also older couples tend to prefer front sections, rather than the private back sections which tend to be larger and more appealing to families. And while building companies put their showhomes in the area likely to experience the most traffic, cul de sacs with less traffic are popular for all buyers.

Whether a new subdivision or a subdivided section in an established part of town, Willies says investigate all possible costs when considering sloping sections which often have engineering requirements to ready them for building. And the big tip? Don’t just get one engineer’s or contractor’s quote for a retaining wall or other such work. According to Willie, prices can vary by thousands of dollars for the same job depending on whether or not you use a specialist with all the right equipment and experience to do the job efficiently.

And don’t forget about what’s under the dirt. Willie works with his clients to help them get ‘As Built’ site plans from their local councils. These show everything from sewerage to stormwater on a section which will determine your building restriction lines and exactly where you will be able to build – a crucial part of planning.

Also, find out how a section is put together. As a past bulldozing contractor, Willie has years of experience and he suggests you need to find out what kind of hard fill and top fill has been used. However rest assured that councils carefully monitor all new subdivisions so certain standards have to be met by developers.

Satisfied you will be able to use the section to its full advantage, find out about any building covenants which also determine what and where you can build. Note that covenants also provide you with the security of knowing a certain standard will be required for all to maintain the value and attractiveness of your new neighbourhood.

The thought of building a house is an exciting one, so getting the section right is crucial. With a little bit of planning and homework, the right section will provide the foundation to a fantastic new life.