Building a new home comes with many different choices, including the one on which is the best block of land for you. Blocks of land are definitely not one size fits all kind of thing with size, site works, area or street frontage all factor in to your choice.
So before you decide whether or not to choose a corner block, make sure you’ve given the following pros and cons some thought.
Two street fronts
Pro: Having two street fronts means a lot more of your house will be on display. This can be great if you want to show off your house design especially if you've gone with a custom option.
Con: However, if you're on a budget or your perfect design doesn’t lend itself to a corner lot, your construction costs may mean you may have to sacrifice other elements of your new home to ensure you don’t break the bank.
Massive garden
Pro: If you are a garden lover, a massive garden to tinker in all day may be perfect for you. The extra space will allow you to show off your green thumb and create some stunning garden design.
Con: If you prefer a more low maintenance garden, then a corner lot is probably not for you. That extra space needs to be maintained, so if you don’t want to do it yourself, then you are going to need to allow for maintenance costs on lawn, plants, landscaping, sprinklers heads and watering.
Multiple access options
Pro: A corner block can open up options for your home design in terms of where you place your driveway, garage and front door. This means you can generate some flexibility in where to locate your new home entry points.
Another great bonus of having multiple access points means you may be able to have two addresses, adding a professional touch for those who run a business from home. A separate entrance for your clients which allows you to keep your living space separate from your home office could just be the perfect solution for you.
Con: On the other hand, multiple access options could create confusion for delivery drivers, clients, friends, family and even yourself.
Extra traffic and noise
Con: More street frontage means more noise! While this may not be a problem in most new estates if you are looking to build on a main road or a more built-up area it can become very noisy especially at night.
Pro: Having a corner block give you extra street parking for family and friends - even if they are the ones making the noise.
Opportunity for future development
Pro: If you plan to stay in your new home long-term a corner block is an excellent choice, as it gives you the option to easily subdivide your property or backyard when you are ready to downsize.
You'll want to check with your council before purchasing the land to be sure this is even an option (this is where we can help). Building a second home will allow you to cash in on your land but still live in the area you love.
Con: By subdividing, you'll either lose your backyard or have to knock down your entire house for a demolish and rebuild project. However, if you were already going to downsize this shouldn't be an issue.
Perth Townies can also help you with your land development. Whether its a demolish and build, a subdivide or a multisite development we can help. Click the image for more info.
Corner blocks have many advantages but aren't suited to everyone make sure you have thought of all the small details before you commit.
If you’re interested in chatting to us about choosing a corner block, or thinking of developing your existing block, contact Aaron for a free consult.
