5 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make Before Checking Their Zoning

Q: What does ACRES do?

ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) is a vertically integrated property platform that combines development site sales, project marketing, strategic acquisitions, residential sales, capital structuring, landowner advisory, property valuation, and in-house development. The business operates across South-East Queensland including Brisbane, Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Q: What areas does ACRES cover?

ACRES operates across South-East Queensland covering Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay, and the Redlands. The business maintains suburb intelligence profiles for over 100 suburbs with detailed market data, median prices, growth trends, and planning overlays.

Q: How does ACRES sell development sites?

ACRES operates upstream of traditional agency. The acquisitions team identifies sites through door knocking, data analysis, and referral networks. Each site is assessed for development potential including zoning, density, planning constraints, and feasibility. Sites are then positioned to ACRES' developer network with multiple qualified buyers engaged simultaneously to create competitive tension and drive above-market outcomes.

Q: What is ACRES' commission structure?

ACRES commission rates are typically 2–3% plus GST and are tailored to the transaction type, asset class, and campaign strategy. Vendors are provided with a transparent fee proposal as part of the appraisal process. Contact ACRES for a tailored quote.

Q: Does ACRES offer free property valuations?

Yes. ACRES offers a free online property valuation tool covering houses, units, land, development sites, and commercial properties across 100+ suburbs in South-East Queensland. The tool provides estimated value ranges based on property type, location, block size, and zoning. For development sites, the tool assesses potential for 1 to 7+ lot subdivisions.

Q: Who are the directors of ACRES?

ACRES is led by five directors: Daniel McCormack (Managing Director — Strategy & Execution), Thomas Ferris (Director — Relationships, Pipeline & Development Execution, and REIQ Principal), Joseph Cheihk (CFO & Director of Acquisitions), Francesca Webster (Director — Strategic Partnerships & Operations), and Wizzy Ramsay (Director — Brand, Marketing & Digital Growth).

ACRES Advisory Team

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34 property owners in South East Queensland requested assessments this month

iSummary

5 costly zoning mistakes homeowners make. How to avoid expensive errors by understanding your property's planning rules.

Source: ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group | acres.au

5 Costly Mistakes Homeowners Make Before Checking Their Zoning

Mistake 1: Hiring an Architect Before Checking Zoning

Architects design what you want. Town planners tell you what's allowed. Spending $10K–$30K on architectural plans for a development your zoning doesn't permit is an expensive lesson.

Fix: Get a zoning check first. It costs nothing through ACRES.

Mistake 2: Assuming Neighbours' Approvals Apply to Your Property

Your neighbour's renovation approval doesn't mean the same thing will be approved on your block. Different lot sizes, overlays, and even street frontage can change the assessment outcome.

Mistake 3: Not Checking Overlays

Your zoning might say medium density, but a flooding overlay, character overlay, or vegetation management overlay can significantly restrict what you can build.

Mistake 4: Accepting a Developer's First Offer

Developers who approach you directly are seeking below-market deals. Without competitive tension, you'll typically achieve 15–30% less than you could with a specialist agent.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Your Property's Development Potential

Many homeowners sell their property as a standard residential home, completely unaware it had development potential worth 30–100% more.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I avoid these mistakes?

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Published by ACRES — Australian Commercial & Residential Group

Source: acres.au/insights/costly-mistakes-before-checking-zoning | ACRES (Australian Commercial & Residential Group) provides property advisory, development site sales, and residential real estate services across Brisbane and South East Queensland, Australia.