Developing land is a lot of work - if you’ve decided against buying, and instead decided to build your dream house, you’ve got a long road ahead of you.
You’ll need a mountain of property information before you get started, including things like soil reports, legal points of discharge and title searches in Victoria.
However, that isn’t all you’ll need!
As one of the leading property information services in Victoria, we’ve worked with countless builders and developers.
We’ve seen firsthand the amount of reports, documents and property surveys you’ll need before you can even start work.
And that includes things like…
Feature surveys, explained
You’ve just bought a block of land and you’re eager to start work on it.
But there’s one step you need to complete first: before any block of land is developed, a feature survey needs to be conducted.
Feature reports are a type of property survey that focuses on identifying all the features present on a property.
That means both man-made and natural features alike:
- Fences
- Topography and slopes
- Trees
- Drains and utilities
- Retaining walls
- Contours
- Freestanding structures like sheds
- Footpaths and driveways
It isn’t just the details of your block of land, however - a feature report will also report on some the features on adjacent blocks of land (though there’s another type of report with just that information - more on that later).
The information in a feature survey is essential before demolition and construction work can begin, and combines both office and on-site measurements.
Only when they have a proper grasp of what they’re working with - information a feature report provides - can engineers and builders start planning and coming up with design options for you.
But there’s one step you need to complete first: before any block of land is developed, a feature survey needs to be conducted.
Feature reports are a type of property survey that focuses on identifying all the features present on a property.
That means both man-made and natural features alike:
- Fences
- Topography and slopes
- Trees
- Drains and utilities
- Retaining walls
- Contours
- Freestanding structures like sheds
- Footpaths and driveways
It isn’t just the details of your block of land, however - a feature report will also report on some the features on adjacent blocks of land (though there’s another type of report with just that information - more on that later).
The information in a feature survey is essential before demolition and construction work can begin, and combines both office and on-site measurements.
Only when they have a proper grasp of what they’re working with - information a feature report provides - can engineers and builders start planning and coming up with design options for you.
When is a feature survey required?
Anytime you’re about to start work on a construction project, that’s when!
The information provided in a feature survey is essential, and helps architects, engineers and builders alike. By having a full picture of the parcel and everything on it, they can create an appropriate plan for your construction project.
Building without a feature survey is functionally the same as diving into the project blind - so much of the essential information is contained in the feature survey, so it’s a step you won’t want to skip!
The information provided in a feature survey is essential, and helps architects, engineers and builders alike. By having a full picture of the parcel and everything on it, they can create an appropriate plan for your construction project.
Building without a feature survey is functionally the same as diving into the project blind - so much of the essential information is contained in the feature survey, so it’s a step you won’t want to skip!
Neighbourhood survey
We briefly mentioned above how the Feature survey also covers some of the features of neighbouring plots of land.
While it’s true, it also isn’t 100% accurate - while they go over some of the features of neighbouring parcels directly bordering yours, they don’t give you the full picture.
That’s where the neighbourhood survey comes into play.
Think of this as an extended feature survey that goes beyond your parcel of land and which also details the topography and features of a certain number of adjoining properties within a 50 metre radius.
As part of this survey, a specialist will turn up and take photos of the site(s), as well as aerial photography overlays.
It may also include information regarding the neighbourhood character - something that many councils (especially in older suburbs) are very protective over.
While it’s true, it also isn’t 100% accurate - while they go over some of the features of neighbouring parcels directly bordering yours, they don’t give you the full picture.
That’s where the neighbourhood survey comes into play.
Think of this as an extended feature survey that goes beyond your parcel of land and which also details the topography and features of a certain number of adjoining properties within a 50 metre radius.
As part of this survey, a specialist will turn up and take photos of the site(s), as well as aerial photography overlays.
It may also include information regarding the neighbourhood character - something that many councils (especially in older suburbs) are very protective over.
When is a Neighbourhood survey needed?
Many choose to cover all of their bases and request a Neighbourhood survey alongside their Feature survey or Title Re-establishment survey, all to be drawn on the single plan.
If there’s a risk that your work may affect neighbouring parcels of land (such as causing erosion or collapses), you may need to request a Neighbourhood survey.
And if you’re planning to build in an area with a specific character, you may need a neighbourhood character report to ensure that your planning permit application fits with this established character and won’t be rejected on those grounds.
If there’s a risk that your work may affect neighbouring parcels of land (such as causing erosion or collapses), you may need to request a Neighbourhood survey.
And if you’re planning to build in an area with a specific character, you may need a neighbourhood character report to ensure that your planning permit application fits with this established character and won’t be rejected on those grounds.
Re-establishment survey
Property and Land Titles are our specialty here at PSI Global.
And we aren’t just talking about Land Title searches in Victoria and our ability to automate your search, either - we provide services covering a wide variety of Title-related queries.
That includes re-establishment surveys.
Sometimes, the boundaries of a parcel of land can get a little bit blurry. Sometimes, you need a second opinion.
Like the name suggests, re-establishment surveys help property owners when the Title sketch is no longer accurate, or when you need your boundaries clarified.
A surveyor will conduct an on-site inspection, performing measurements and consulting the information in the Title document to check whether the current boundaries of the parcel of land reflect its actual size and shape.
And if they aren't, you’ll need to fix that before you can start breaking ground.
And we aren’t just talking about Land Title searches in Victoria and our ability to automate your search, either - we provide services covering a wide variety of Title-related queries.
That includes re-establishment surveys.
Sometimes, the boundaries of a parcel of land can get a little bit blurry. Sometimes, you need a second opinion.
Like the name suggests, re-establishment surveys help property owners when the Title sketch is no longer accurate, or when you need your boundaries clarified.
A surveyor will conduct an on-site inspection, performing measurements and consulting the information in the Title document to check whether the current boundaries of the parcel of land reflect its actual size and shape.
And if they aren't, you’ll need to fix that before you can start breaking ground.
When is a re-establishment survey required?
Anytime you aren’t sure about the boundaries of your land, a re-establishment survey may be needed.
It isn’t just construction projects that may need boundaries and the like redefined, either - you may also need to get one of these reports when:
- Building a new fence
- Performing renovations
- Marking out easements
- Buying a parcel of land
- Settling property disputes
During this survey, the surveyor takes measurements of the land and boundaries, comparing them to the dimensions listed in the Title document.
It isn’t just construction projects that may need boundaries and the like redefined, either - you may also need to get one of these reports when:
- Building a new fence
- Performing renovations
- Marking out easements
- Buying a parcel of land
- Settling property disputes
During this survey, the surveyor takes measurements of the land and boundaries, comparing them to the dimensions listed in the Title document.
Datum and the AHD, explained
Because using plain English was too simple, apparently!
This Latin term often confuses new homebuilders and first-time developers. Think of it like a warning, similar to how colourful frogs tend to also be the more toxic and poisonous ones.
Luckily, we’re here to walk you through it.
Datum is an engineering and surveying term that refers to a coordinate system used to provide known locations and approximate positional measurements to begin surveying. Latitudes, longitudes, height - you name it, and it’s here.
Datums form the bedrock of all surveying, so naturally it’s pretty important that you get this information before work starts!
This Latin term often confuses new homebuilders and first-time developers. Think of it like a warning, similar to how colourful frogs tend to also be the more toxic and poisonous ones.
Luckily, we’re here to walk you through it.
Datum is an engineering and surveying term that refers to a coordinate system used to provide known locations and approximate positional measurements to begin surveying. Latitudes, longitudes, height - you name it, and it’s here.
Datums form the bedrock of all surveying, so naturally it’s pretty important that you get this information before work starts!
When do you need datums?
In some cases, your feature report will also include datum information. If needed however, you may need a separate datum survey.
Datum surveys in Australia are conducted using the Australian Height Datum (AHD), the national Datum system for vertical measurements.
This system provides a lot of useful information - for example, it’s a huge help in flood planning. Flood levels are advised in AHD, so if you’ve gotten your flood certificate back and found that you live in a flood zone, you’ll need this survey to figure out what your minimum floor level needs to be.
A licensed surveyor will turn up at your land with appropriate measuring tools and get to work taking measurements.
However, this system was only introduced in the 1970’s - as a result, there are many parcels of land out there that either use a different system or lack this crucial information altogether.
In these cases, you may need to call out a surveyor to redo this particular survey before construction can begin.
Datum surveys in Australia are conducted using the Australian Height Datum (AHD), the national Datum system for vertical measurements.
This system provides a lot of useful information - for example, it’s a huge help in flood planning. Flood levels are advised in AHD, so if you’ve gotten your flood certificate back and found that you live in a flood zone, you’ll need this survey to figure out what your minimum floor level needs to be.
A licensed surveyor will turn up at your land with appropriate measuring tools and get to work taking measurements.
However, this system was only introduced in the 1970’s - as a result, there are many parcels of land out there that either use a different system or lack this crucial information altogether.
In these cases, you may need to call out a surveyor to redo this particular survey before construction can begin.
How PSI makes your document search easier than ever before
Property and Land Titles, soil reports, DBYD reports and more
Whether it’s one of the surveys listed above or another piece of property information, it’s a lot of information to obtain.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be a lot of work.
Our automated, all-in-one document search is designed to do one thing: make the process of getting property surveys in Victoria (as well as other information and reports) as simple and streamlined as possible.
No more needing to make dozens of calls or send hundreds of emails to different agencies, databases or utilities operators. Our all-in-one system and direct links to relevant service providers makes it so that all you need to do is:
1. Create a company account
2. Select the information you need from a drop-down menu
3. Our system will send out requests to the relevant parties
4. Wait for the information to roll in
It’s really as simple as that!
Lay the groundwork for your construction (pun intended) with PSI Global. Click here to start your search.
Have questions? Give our team a call on(03) 8527 6300 or click here to reach out online.
Luckily, it doesn’t have to be a lot of work.
Our automated, all-in-one document search is designed to do one thing: make the process of getting property surveys in Victoria (as well as other information and reports) as simple and streamlined as possible.
No more needing to make dozens of calls or send hundreds of emails to different agencies, databases or utilities operators. Our all-in-one system and direct links to relevant service providers makes it so that all you need to do is:
1. Create a company account
2. Select the information you need from a drop-down menu
3. Our system will send out requests to the relevant parties
4. Wait for the information to roll in
It’s really as simple as that!
Lay the groundwork for your construction (pun intended) with PSI Global. Click here to start your search.
Have questions? Give our team a call on(03) 8527 6300 or click here to reach out online.
The information in this article is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. As with all things property, we strongly recommend consulting a professional to ensure that all stages of your building project (including the Title search) go smoothly.