A beautiful view can distract from a difficult access road, a steep slope or a neighbouring building. Before paying a deposit, assemble the site documents and ask an architect to test your brief against them. Keep the architectural assessment and the independent legal review coordinated.
Documents and permitted development
Have the local team reconcile the property register, cadastral information, survey and applicable planning conditions. Ask what can be built, where it can sit, how high it can be and which restrictions apply. Ownership and permission to build are separate questions; neither a listing nor a single cadastral entry answers both.
Ground, access and services
Identify slope, drainage, retaining walls and access for construction vehicles. Request confirmation of available services and connection costs. Agree which surveys are needed before design progresses: unknown ground conditions or infrastructure can change both the layout and the budget.
Make a feasibility sketch
Place the house, parking and outdoor spaces on the survey. Test sunlight, views, privacy and circulation rather than maximum floor area alone. The result should be a short written assessment: what fits, what compromises are needed and which questions remain unresolved before purchase.