Are you looking to purchase land but struggling with the unappealing and complicated process of obtaining a property report? The Victorian government’s online land report webpage resembles a high school group project from the early 2000s, and the NSW database is a confusing hyperlink maze. Fortunately, property developer and architect Will Leaf took advantage of the government’s push for open data to create a consolidated, user-friendly platform that integrates Victoria’s scattered property data.
Leaf believes that the government had foresight in empowering its departments to pursue open data initiatives. The purpose of these initiatives is to stimulate innovation, which is precisely what LandChecker does. LandChecker is an online platform that allows potential buyers, both in the commercial and residential space, to quickly determine a property’s zone and whether there are any restrictions in place.
While government platforms charge users for access to certain data, such as property reports detailing the dimensions of a block of land, LandChecker offers this data for free. According to Leaf, this model encourages people to educate themselves prior to making one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives – purchasing property.
Leaf’s goal with LandChecker is to bridge the gap between buyers and the confusing world of planning zones and overlays. Many people are unaware of these concepts or reluctant to question them, but LandChecker aims to create awareness and facilitate the buying process.
Leaf, who has worked in the property industry for several years, used to access the government’s property database on a daily basis to help his clients and search for properties for himself. However, he found the experience to be frustrating due to the website’s frequent crashes and various issues. This prompted him to develop an interface that would be more user-friendly and easier to understand. Leaf believed that the “education” aspect was crucial in preventing individuals from making uninformed property purchases that may be hindered by regulations.
Leaf shared a story about one of his clients who purchased a property with a public acquisition overlay without realizing that a third of the property couldn’t be developed due to potential government acquisition for road widening. This experience highlighted the importance of understanding the various restraints or opportunities that could impact a property’s value in the present or future.
Landchecker, Leaf’s startup, allows users to enter an address and receive a cadastral map interface that shows the approximate size of the land. The interface also includes overlays to show different zones and any land protections, such as vegetation or heritage protection. Landchecker provides property reports free of charge through email, which would typically cost around $5.50 on government platforms.
Leaf revealed that the startup has closed a funding round of $1 million, which will be used to develop a new tool for the platform. This tool will provide a “matchmaking service for property” that enables users to search for properties based on specific criteria such as location, land size, and zoning. The tool aims to target developers and agents who can use the platform to support their roles. According to Leaf, the search engine will sort through Victorian properties using accumulated data. Vendors and agents can access data on the number of buyers who have searched for a particular site by typing in an address, and this data will be available for payment. Landchecker’s unlocking process is said to be faster than the four to six weeks taken by property group Domain. The startup will also explore selling site data to financial institutions as a revenue model. Landchecker plans to release the new tool this year and expand its offering beyond Victoria to the rest of Australia. BeforeYouBid, a Sydney-based startup in the property inspection space, focuses on delivering reports about the physical property, such as strata and pest inspection, rather than the land itself. The startup aims to raise additional funds once it achieves its targets.
