Creation Homes is one of the biggest builders in Queensland, finishing 6th in the recently released Top 25 Queensland Builders Half Time Report with 253 builds underway in the first six months of the 24/25 Financial Year.

So where do they get their land in this tough market? The Good Builder went to Creation Homes’ Home and Land Acquisitions Manager in Queensland Shaun Parsons who gave us his top three tips for getting land when there doesn’t appear to be any.

Top 3 tips to get land

1. You definitely have to develop a relationship with the developer or land sales agent, whoever it might be that’s dishing out the lots. I’ve worked for land developers in sales, I’ve done traditional real estate, I’ve done new home builds, and worked in display homes, so I have a bit of experience across the industry, but honestly, the biggest factor is wholly and solely relationships. You know your net worth is your network, to use a cliche, and it’s more a matter of who knows you. There’s a lot of instances where we will actually get first bite of the cherry before stock even goes to market.
2. It’s not easy. It’s a repetitive sort of a job. You’ve just got to be relentless and in people’s faces consistently, just so you’re front of mind and your brand awareness is out there. So when they do have lots available, you’ve been in their face long enough that your brand awareness is there, and they think of you.
3. You’ve got to have a product that works for their estate. Like a lot of major developers are very anti wholesale builders and very particular about what product goes in their estates, which is fair enough, they’re hanging their reputation on what’s going in the estate. So, you’ve got to have the product behind you as well – facades, inclusions, that sort of thing. And obviously a big enough product range that you can cater to a multitude of markets.

Creation Homes moves to developing its own land supply pipeline

One of the decisions Creation Homes has made to ensure a steady supply of land is to become a developer.

“We’re now looking at actually doing our own developments to help feed our own business,” Shaun said.

“We’ve recently acquired a couple of sites across South East Queensland to keep our business fed.“

“We’ve recently purchased one in Logan, one in the Ipswich corridor, and one on the north side in Morton Bay Council area.

“We will do the developments and sell the blocks to our own clients and build our own homes on them. 

“We’ve done that for our wholesale business, but we also have our retail business, which operates on everyone else’s land. 

“But that gives the retail business the credentials that we’re backed by a large business. 

“We’re now doing our own developments, so we’re not sort of a small fry in the industry anymore, and it gives the retail buyers the confidence to go with us.”

Author: The Good Builder

The Good Builder is a media platform that provides news and insights for Australia’s home building industry. From exclusive stories and curated insights to bold industry perspectives, we deliver the news and updates that keep builders, suppliers, and the entire home building industry inspired and ahead of the curve.