Due Diligence Before You Commit to a Hills District Block

The best time to catch a build-blocking problem is before the block is purchased, not after. Due diligence on a Hills District site should go well beyond the standard building and pest inspection — it needs to look at everything that will shape the build program before a contract is signed.

What due diligence should actually cover

Tree preservation orders (see our site clearing piece), bushfire overlays, soil classification, easements, and council development controls specific to the suburb all affect whether a build can proceed on schedule and on budget. This is particularly relevant for acreage-style blocks — our piece on building in Dural covers how bushfire attack level ratings alone can materially change a build’s cost and program.

Where a buyer’s agent earns their fee

For clients purchasing land before engaging a builder, a property or buyer’s advisor who understands due diligence at this level can save far more than their fee avoids in program risk later. We’ve seen this done well by Pivot Property Buyers for Hills District purchases, and by Alcove on the finance and structuring side of a purchase.

Watch: How to do due diligence before buying land