Building plots: how to choose and buy one for your house
First, the permitted use of the land
Not every plot is fit for building a home. Land approved for residential use is different from agricultural land or land set aside for other purposes, and the rules differ. This is decided by the documents, not by the seller's words, so start there. Commercial plots have their own requirements too. If you plan to build, also check the setbacks from the boundaries and the road, because they decide where exactly the house can stand.
Think about services before you buy. Power on the plot, water from a borewell or a municipal line, a drainage connection: all of it changes your final building costs a lot.
What to put in your request
- area or locality, for example near Johannesburg;
- size in sq ft, sq yd or acres;
- budget;
- land use — residential, farm, commercial;
- services — power, water, drainage on the plot or nearby;
- access and surroundings — paved road, trees, lake, neighbours;
- shape and slope — level, sloping, rectangular, width of the frontage;
- documents — survey number, title papers;
- payment — cash, loan, builder's instalment plan.
Example: “I am looking for a level, rectangular residential plot of 2,400–3,000 sq ft near Johannesburg, with a paved road up to the plot. Power on the plot, water connection nearby. It must have a survey number and clear title. Budget up to R 1,200,000.”
How to search with BlaBlaPrice
You write a request, and plot owners, builders and agents reply in the chat: location, size, price, documents, services, photos or a map. They see where their offer stands among the others, so they often improve the terms. Your number is hidden and you give contacts only to the one you choose.
What to check before buying
- Permitted use and survey number: match them with the land records.
- Ownership: whether the papers are in order and there are no encumbrances or disputes.
- Whether there are protected zones (power lines, water bodies) that limit building.
- How much it costs to bring power, water and drainage if they are missing.
- Soil, groundwater and slope: the cost of the foundation depends on them.
Show the plot documents to a lawyer before the deal.
Common mistakes
Looking only at the price per sq ft and not counting the cost of bringing in services. Buying a “plot near the forest” without checking how to get there in the rainy season. Ignoring the shape: a narrow, long plot makes it hard to place the house. Not checking whether the approvals needed for building are already in place.
For other purposes, see land for sale, land for rent or farmland and agricultural plots. Details are on the “How it works” page.
