Pre Building Check

Check that the design you have chosen on MyPropHub, has been completed by an Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson licensed to produce drawings in your country or state. This information is listed on each design listing on MyPropHub.

A qualified Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson is only licensed within certain countries or states.

If the designer you have chosen is not licensed in your local area, you can still purchase the design but you will need to contact a local licensed Architect, Building Designer or Draftsperson, have them sign off on your plans and include their company details on the drawings. (additional fees may apply).

Contact MyPropHub if you have any questions.

A Site Plan is required for Building & Council permit purposes and can be added in the check-out cart upon purchase. 

For the designer on MyPropHub to be able to produce a Site Plan for your project, they will require a site survey to be completed by a licensed surveyor. This is often provided to buyers by their land developer but it may need to be purchased at your own expense.

When a surveyor completes a site survey for you, simply upload the site survey into your MyPropHub profile. The site details are drawn onto the final working drawings by the designer on MyPropHub, who will then provide you with a site plan.

To obtain a quote for surveyors, simply select the add-on during the check-out process with any design purchase on MyPropHub.

A site plan may include:

• Property boundary lines, size and angles
• Site Area size
• Locations of existing structures if applicable
• Site slope & contours
• North Point
• Services - Sewer, Stormwater, Water, Gas & Telecommunications
• Trees
• Flood information (if applicable)
• Non-structural information (location of pools, fences, etc.)
• Access information (roads, driveway, crossovers, etc.)
• Easements

A Site Plan is used by council to determine if a structure can be built on a property in accordance with state and local regulations to provide you with a building approval.

Have you contacted your preferred builder and discussed your project yet?

Your builder may be able to answer technical questions, assist with the approvals process and manage your project.

If do not have a builder, MyPropHub may be able to recommend builders in your area who can provide you with a free construction quote. Simply select the building quote option with any design purchased on MyPropHub.

We recommend you obtain at least 2-3 Building Quotes for your project. 

If do not have a builder, please contact  MyPropHub as we may have recommended builders in your area who can provide you with a construction quote or simply select the building quote option with any design purchased on MyPropHub.

Your builder may be able to answer technical questions, assist with the approvals process and manage your project.

Will your project comply with local building codes and standards?

If your designer is licensed and registered in your intended construction area, they will understand your local building codes and standards. If you are unsure if a design complies, we recommend you speak to your local council, private certifier or town planner.

Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance.

Choose your building fixtures & finishes wisely to ensure they last the test of time.

MyPropHub drawings contain basic finishes information, however specific finish and fixture details will need to be chosen by yourself or your builder.

Have you checked your local council regulations or spoken to a licensed certifier, town planner or builder to ensure you can build your preferred design on your site?

The key areas to check that your preferred design is permitted on your site include:

• Will the design fit on your site? 
• Minimum setback distances to the front, side and rear boundaries? 
• Overall site coverage allowed?
• Maximum number of storeys/levels?
• Maximum building height?
• Does the garage/driveway need to be on a certain side of the property?
• Is there a covenant on the site that may require certain design elements and rules to be followed? (Generally new land developments only)
• Does the facade need to be of a specific style or include certain material finishes?

Gaining building approval requires design & structural engineering drawings, structural engineering compliance documents and council forms to be completed before construction can begin. Some councils also require the builder’s details to be indicated on the forms or given to your private certifier or town planner. The rules are not always the same between council areas, so it is important to check before purchasing a design.

All residential building work involving a new home requires a building approval. Building approvals have different names in each country and state. In Australia for example, there may also be an extra step required. This is called a Development Approval (DA). Speak to your local council, certifier or town planner if you are unsure. 

A building approval must be obtained before any building work can commence, and generally includes;

• Design drawings showing how the home will be built.
• The technical details of the construction, including materials to be used.
• Building Code information and compliance.

In addition to the standard drawing sheets sold on MyProphub with every design, you will also require:

• A site survey - produced by a surveyor 
• A site plan - provided by the designer on MyPropHub (additional fees apply)
• Structural engineering drawings. This can be purchased through MyPropHub (additional fees apply)
• A soil test (provided to the structural engineer)

For the designer on MyPropHub to be able to produce a Site Plan for your project, they will require a site survey to be completed by a licensed building surveyor. This is often provided to buyers by their land developer but it may need to be purchased at your own expense.

When a building surveyor completes a site survey, these site details are drawn onto the final working drawings by the designer on MyPropHub, who will then provide you with a site plan.

When purchasing a design on MyPropHub simply select - Site Plan, Structural Engineer, surveyor and/or building quote with any design purchase in the check out process. MyPropHub may be able to connect you with a 3rd party partner in your local area.

A Development Approval (DA) may also be required. We recommend you speak to your local council, certifier or town planner prior to purchasing as there may be additional costs involved to complete the drawings for Development Approval (DA)

Town Planners are recommended to prepare and submit the application for a DA on behalf of the owner. Town Planners are professionals that understand the local council requirements for designing a new home and can assist in making the approval process as smooth as possible. Speaking to a town planner early in the design purchase process is a good idea the site is difficult to build on or if you are unsure about the regulations. 

Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance.

Have you checked with your local council to see if there are any additional or specific requirements to gain approval for new buildings in your area?

Some examples include:

• Are you allowed to have a modern façade in your area?
• Does the driveway need to be on a certain side of your property?
• Are any additional drawings required? (View Drawing Examples)

We recommend you visit your local council’s website to find out more.

Depending on where your site is located you may need to consider environmental impacts, include;

• Trees that cannot be removed on your site
• Threatened species
• Native vegetation
• Sea level rise & local flooding.
• Overland water flow path
• Bushfire management
• Sediment and erosion control and waste management
• Acoustic issues

Speak with your local council or town planner if you are not sure about environmental impacts.

Additional consultants may be required. (additional fees will apply)

Additional documentation you may be required to provide council includes; 

• Structural-engineering drawings & report
• Structural-adequacy certificate
• Geotechnical report and soil testing
• Other engineering such as Hydraulic, Civil, Hydraulic, Fire or Acoustic. These are normally for larger projects only.
• Site Survey. Some councils require neighboring properties to be shown on the drawings
• Surveys that show identification points on the dwelling during construction
• Building specification
• Landscaping plan
• Sediment control plan
• Schedule of colours and materials
• Heritage-impact statement
• Energy rating or efficiency report
• Shadow and sun studies
• Town-planning report
• Bushfire requirements

Contact MyPropHub if you require further assistance, we recommend speaking to your local council or builder prior to purchasing.

Council Approval Process

The council approval process varies in every country, state and even local council. It is important to ask council if a Development Approval (DA) is required for your new project.

1. In most cases, you will not require a Development Application (DA) and can use MyPropHub drawings without any issues or delays.
2. If you require a Development Application (DA) you will need to engage the services of a town planner. This may require additional drawings to be purchased through MyPropHub. For example, Shadow / Sun Study, Landscaping and open space plans.

The process of receiving a DA can take longer than a standard approval, as each DA must be scrutinised carefully by council before approval is granted.

The time it takes for approval will depend on your building location. If your design does not receive Development Approval, you may need to engage the designer on MyPropHub to make any required design changes. These will need to be quoted individually on a case by case basis.

All designs purchased on MyPropHub are non-refundable but our designers are experienced working with council and can make changes to the drawings for DA requirements. Due diligence is required by the buyer prior to purchasing to ensure the design is suitable for the site.

For example, a duplex may not be allowed to be built on certain sites or a house may be too large for a certain area.

Builders can also assist in the DA process, so we recommend you engage a builder early in the process.

Contact MyPropHub if you require any assistance.

You may need to consider if there are any services on your site which may prevent you using a design purchased on MyPropHub, for example:

• Is there a sewer line or Manhole that cannot be built over on your site?
• Where is the water, electricity, stormwater, gas, or telecommunication lines located?
• Does the driveway need to be on a certain side of your site and therefore affect the garage location?

We recommend you engage a qualified surveyor to locate these services and speak with your local council to find out more.

A surveyor is a licensed professional who measures and maps the environment. In the residential construction industry, a building surveyor can provide several services such as providing a site survey or surveyors report:

A site survey maps & determines the suitability for building on a site and is completed by a registered surveyor. 

A site survey can contain the following information:

• Site area size. 
• Property lines.
• Locations of existing and adjoining structures.
• Site contours/slopes.
• Trees 
• Flood information (if applicable).
• Non-structural information (location of fences, retaining walls etc)
• Access information (roads, driveways, etc.)
• Easements.
• North Point.
• Services locations. 

A site survey is required to:

• Locate, mark out property boundary lines and calculate the site area & building envelope
• Determine site contours prior to construction
• Locate site services locations. Eg. Sewer line
• Obtain a Development Approval or Building Permit
• For Subdivisions
• For a designer to produce a site plan

Surveyors play a key role to ensure that a building project can gain approval for construction. 

To obtain a quote for surveyors, simply select the add-on during the check-out process with any design purchase on MyPropHub or directly from local surveyors.

View more information on Surveyors

A structural engineer is a licensed professional who designs the structural elements of your project and is critical for the building approval and construction process.

Structural engineers also require a soil report to be able to complete their drawings. 

Structural engineering drawings may include:

• Concrete slab & footing details
• Floor framing details
• Roof & wall framing details
• Tie down details
• Bracing details

Designs purchased on MyPropHub do not come with structural engineering drawings and will need to be purchased separately, once a design, site plan and land has been purchased.

When purchasing a design on MyPropHub, simply select "Structural Engineer" with any design purchase in the check out process and MyPropHub will connect you with a structural engineer in your local area.

View more information on Structural Engineers.