The Cost of Clearing Land for a House

When it comes to building your dream home, there’s a lot involved in preparing your block for your new home construction, one thing that you’ll definitely need to know about is the cost to clear the land for your house.

There are lots of different costs involved in building a new home, and as you begin to add up the costs of materials, labour, and design, it's easy to overlook some of the hidden expenses such as the cost of clearing your land for a house, which could significantly impact your overall budget. As experienced home builders, Eden Brae Homes is here to help get you started! We’ll talk about what’s exactly involved with clearing your block of land, and then go into detail about how much it is to clear land for a house.

What’s involved with clearing land for a home build

Clearing your block for building involves making sure there’s easy access to the site, and that it can be fully prepared and ready for construction. It’s important to keep in mind that there’s more to clearing land than just removing some grass or shrubs, and it’s really a job that you need to leave to the professionals like land clearing or excavator contractors. Depending on where you’ve bought, you may possibly need to remove things such as:

• large trees, tree stumps, and well established roots
• existing landscaping or gardens
• large rocks
• piles of dirt
• play equipment (in the ground)
• above ground or inground swimming pools
• cement slabs (for driveways, previous building structures, or paths)
• decorative paving or pebbles
• hard rubbish and debris
• old pipes or sewerage systems
• existing plumbing or electrical that will need to be removed and replaced
• any existing foundations or structures.

This phase is crucial to help you stay on track, both in terms of timing and budget. By thoughtfully planning, clearing, and then preparing your land for construction, you’re not only ensuring a smoother building process, you’re essentially creating a blank slate that’s ready to go for laying an even surface, so you can get building on your brand new home.

Cost - How Much to Clear Land for a House in Australia?

Generally with the cost to clear land for your house build, you’re looking at anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000+. To give you a rough estimate of the potential costs:

• Already levelled land with minor vegetation: $200–$1,000
• Relatively flat land with rocks and vegetation: $1,500–$3,000
• Very hilly with lots of trees and vegetation: $3,500–$7,000+

That’s all on top of the cost to build a house on your own land. On a tight budget? There are always plenty of professional land clearing companies around, so shop around for quotes on the cost of clearing land for a house so you can compare.

Factors That Add Up To The Cost to Clear Land For A House

The cost of clearing land for a house build pretty much depends on the size of the block you’re looking to clear out, the vegetation density of the land, and the labour and heavy-duty machines needed to do the job (bulldozers and excavators can be expensive to hire).

Clearing (tree removal, forestry mulching, erosion control), grading, demolition, and site preparation can also be additional steps that you need to take into consideration when budgeting for land clearing and making the site suitable for building. Here’s other cost factors you’ll need to take into consideration to lay the groundwork for stress-free building construction.

Land surveys

Site preparation typically begins with a land survey to determine and identify its easements and boundaries. If your land hasn’t been surveyed, you’ll need to have a chat with your local council to see what boundaries exist as this could also affect your land size and costs. The cost for a survey typically ranges from $575 to $700, depending on the scope of work and whether new markings need to be made. The survey team will also determine how grading or landscaping needs to be done depending on future development plans in the area.

Land condition and size

The condition and size of your land will affect the cost of clearing land for a house build. A larger lot or land with challenging conditions, like slopes or rocky terrain, may require more extensive preparation, and will raise the costs up. Quotes for clearing, grading, and drainage, can also vary, typically ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the difficulties or limitations with your site.

Equipment and labour

The right equipment and skilled labour are the backbone of your home-building project. From excavation to framing, every stage requires specialised tools and a dedicated team of professionals, so equipment hire and labour rates can eat up to significant portions of your budget. On average, labour costs can range from $50 to $100 per hour depending on your location, while equipment hire might add several thousand dollars to your overall expenses.

Permits and necessary authorities

These permits ensure your build meets all local regulations and standards. Depending on your location and the scope of your project, permit fees can range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more. Additionally, you may need to engage with various authorities for inspections and approvals, which could involve additional costs and time considerations. You can’t cut corners on these, because if you don’t have these done right you could find yourself in major legal strife.

Clearing existing structures

Before you can build, any existing structures on the lot must be carefully demolished. This essential step in land clearing paves the way for fresh beginnings. Demolition can set you back anywhere from $7,500 to $15,000, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Even smaller demolition tasks, like removing leftover foundations or steel beams, typically start around $1,000.

Asbestos removal

Depending on the age of the old home or structure, it may have asbestos which needs specialised removal. This process involves careful inspection, testing, and removal by licensed professionals to protect your health and meet strict regulatory standards. The cost of asbestos removal typically ranges from $2,000 to $10,000.

Eliminating the underground infrastructure

If there was previous construction on the land, it’s important to clear away these old foundations and underground infrastructure to make way for your new dream home. It could cost between $1,000 and $5,000, depending on the extent of the work required.

Removing Vegetation and trees (underbrush and timber)

Tree removal averages around $200 for small trees, $700 for medium ones, and up to $1,000 for large trees. If you're preserving the trees on your land, there’s no additional charge. After felling a tree, removing the stump can cost around $400 per 20-inch stump, with costs potentially doubling difficult removals. Additionally, clearing underbrush and debris from the site to ensure smooth construction typically costs between $200 and $600.

Resloping

Once the trees are removed, the next step is clearing away the stumps, leaves, and debris. For a 1,000 square foot site, this process typically costs around $985 and involves bringing in topsoil, levelling the area, and using a bulldozer to smooth everything out beautifully.

Controlling erosion

Soil erosion can be a challenge on newly cleared land, but there are effective ways to protect your site. Using metal braces and edging helps keep the soil in place, preventing it from slipping down slopes or hillsides. While these measures can add to your budget, typically costing around $10 per four-foot section, they’re a valuable investment to ensure your newly cleared land remains stable and ready for construction.

Excavation

Your site must be expertly excavated removing soil and rocks so you’ve got a level building surface. The costs can vary widely depending on the amount of soil to be moved and any challenges like slopes or rocky terrain, but you can expect to invest several thousand dollars in this crucial stage, which ensures your new home starts on solid ground.

Grading the land

Once the vegetation, brush, and trees are cleared and erosion control measures are put in place, the land is carefully graded and flattened, creating a level and stable surface for construction. This is also the time to drill wells for drinking water or sewage systems. Moving and adding dirt to the site can be costly, starting at around $4 per square foot, but it’s a crucial step to ensure your land is perfectly prepared for your home’s foundations.

Build a Beautiful Home on Your Land

As you can see, there’s a fair bit of work that goes into clearing land plus the cost to clear the land for your house, but it’s all about preparing the land for the exciting transformation ahead!

Here at Eden Brae, we make the process of building a house simple and easy. Take a look at our exclusive range of house and land packages - you know we build in all the best areas, or if you already have land and you’re ready to get building with the most reputable builder around. Get in touch with us today and we’ll talk you through your plans and what will be involved with the cost of clearing land for your house.