3 TIPS to CHOOSE your site WISELY

The SITE you choose to build your house can significantly INFLUENCE the construction cost. Here are 3 TIPS if you want to SAVE to build your dream house.

Sloped site

Building a house on a SLOPED site will usually increase the construction cost by 15-30%.

This is due to the ADDITIONAL reinforcement required to hold the sloping land to AVOID erosion.

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Hence, knowing you will be on a TIGHT budget to build your house, make sure to consider the cost factor of building on a SLOPED site before acquiring the land.

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Note: The sloped % of a site which will have significant COST implication is  >10%

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However, a flat land is also not SUITABLE for external site drainage.

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The BEST slope for a site is between 1.5-2.5%

Geotechnical Investigation

Geotechnical investigation is a TEST to obtain information on the physical properties of your SOIL. I understand an individual will not purposefully do such test.

So WHAT should you DO?

- Some title deeds ALREADY have a geotechnical report annexed.

- Ask your NEIGHBOURS who have already constructed next to you if they know what kind of SOIL did they encounter.

- Pay a worker to dig a hole of 2m DEEP and seek for ENGINEER advice.

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Once you KNOW the physical properties of your soil, your engineer will be able to DESIGN a foundation suitable for your house. This can SAVE you 5-10% of your construction cost in certain cases.

Accessibility

Accessibility plays a CRUCIAL part when the contractor is CALCULATING his quotation for your house.

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If your site is in a REMOTE area and DIFFICULT to access, the contractor will charge you MORE in the tender stage, section: PRELIMINARIES AND GENERAL CONDITION.

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Tips for contractor not charge you extras are: proper road ACCESS to site, EASY electricity and water access, SHORT distance from their location to your site.

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