SUN, WIND & STREET NOISE: HOW TO CHOOSE A BLOCK THAT FEELS GOOD TO LIVE ON

There’s no shortage of advice out there about choosing land. And most of it sounds like it was written by someone who’s never actually lived on the section they’re describing.

“Check the slope.”

“Check the services.”

“Think about resale.”

All valid. All sensible.

But you tell Uncle Kev from us: You’re not just buying a buildable patch of dirt. You’re buying:

• where you’ll drink your morning coffee

• how your house feels in winter

• whether your lounge is peaceful or permanently a bit annoying

So let’s talk about the stuff that actually matters - not just what looks good on a site plan or makes Uncle Kev nod approvingly.

1. There’s a reason people fixate on north-facing light

It’s warmer. It’s brighter. It makes a house feel like somewhere you actually want to be.

This is usually the moment Uncle Kev pipes up with: “Back in my day, houses just faced whatever way they landed.” Cool, Kev. And you also wore stubbies year-round and thought insulation was optional.

Here’s the part that actually matters though: North-facing light is gold - but you need to be smart about which rooms get it.

Before you start spinning the house around on the plan like a rotisserie chicken, think about:

• where you spend most of your time

• when you’re in those spaces

• whether you want morning sun, afternoon sun, or both

Your main living areas are usually where that light does the most work. Not the hallway. Not the spare room that only gets used at Christmas.

Same goes for outdoor living. A deck that only gets sun while you’re at work looks great on paper… and never gets used.

The goal isn’t “north-facing everything.” It’s north-facing where it actually improves your life.

2. Wind: looks calm, feels like Wellington

Some sections look mint on the listing. Then you stand on them and immediately understand why the grass is leaning sideways.

Before you commit, do yourself a favour:

• visit the site more than once

• go there when the weather’s average, not perfect

• actually stand still and feel what’s going on

Because wind decides:

• whether outdoor living is usable or purely decorative

• whether the house feels cosy or permanently drafty

• how much shelter you’ll need to build in

Design can help with wind - orientation, screening, layout, but it’s a lot easier when you know upfront you’re not building in a wind tunnel.

If your hair’s already horizontal, that’s a clue.

3. Street noise: the stuff you won’t notice at midday

Noise isn’t just motorways and sirens. It’s:

• school drop-off traffic

• tradies firing up at sparrow’s fart

• trucks using your street as a shortcut

• the neighbour who owns every power tool known to man

Open homes are usually held at the quietest possible time of day, which is… suspicious.

So do this: 

Stand on the section.

Stop talking.

Listen.

If you can hear it now, you’ll definitely hear it when your windows are open in summer and you’re trying to convince yourself you’re relaxed.

Design can help - glazing, layout, room placement - but it’s always better to know what you’re dealing with before you buy.

Pro tip: If it’s dead quiet, you’re probably gonna be the noisy neighbour 😅 So keep that in mind when planning your layout.

4. Privacy: will you feel relaxed, or mildly exposed?

A section can be flat, sunny and easy to build on… and still feel like you’re living in a fishbowl.

Before you fall in love, look at:

• neighbouring windows

• nearby two-storey homes

• sightlines from the street

Then picture real life:

• sitting on the couch

• opening the curtains

• hanging out in the backyard

If you already feel a bit on display, that feeling doesn’t magically disappear once the house is built. 

Privacy isn’t about hiding from the world. It’s about not feeling like you’re in a display home 24/7.

5. Bigger isn’t better if it’s cold and miserable

Here’s something people don’t like hearing: A smaller, well-oriented section often beats a massive one that never sees the sun.

If your choice is:

• more land, less light

• or less land, better sun

Take the sun.

You live inside the house. Not along the boundary fence with a tape measure.

6. The boring checks that save future regret

This is the bit people skip because it’s not exciting.

Don’t skip it.

Have a look at:

• where water goes after heavy rain

• how busy the street gets at peak times

• what’s zoned or consented nearby

• whether that “peaceful outlook” is about to become a construction site

That empty section next door might not stay empty forever - and living beside a two-year build gets old fast.

7. Bring your builder in early (it’s literally their job)

If you’re building Design + Build, you don’t have to play land roulette on your own. A good builder can help you assess:

• whether the site’s cheap for a reason

• how complex (and expensive) the earthworks will be

• how to place the house for sun, shelter and privacy

• what design tweaks will make the section work harder

In other words: fewer surprises, fewer regrets, better outcomes.

That’s where Classic Builders comes in - this stuff is part of the process, not an afterthought.

The one question that actually matters

Before you buy, ask yourself: “Will I enjoy living here, day to day?”

Not just:

• Can I build on it?

• Will it sell well later?

But:

• Will the house feel warm?

• Will I want to sit outside?

• Will this place feel calm… or quietly irritating?

Because the right section isn’t just buildable. It’s liveable - through winter, through summer, and through all the boring Tuesdays in between. And yes, investors - this will help your tenancy rates.

Want a second opinion before you commit?

We’re very good at spotting the stuff that doesn’t show up in listings or glossy brochures.

If you’ve got a section in mind, we can help you sense-check it and talk through design options that make the most of sun, shelter and privacy.

👉 Talk to your local Classic Builders team

FAQs

Can a builder help me choose land?

Absolutely. Especially in a Design + Build process — a builder can help you understand site costs, orientation and what’s realistically achievable.

What matters more: section size or orientation?

Orientation. Every time. Light beats land.

Can design fix a noisy site?

Sometimes. But it’s always better to know upfront so the design can work with the site, not fight it.