To be successful in property development it not only takes a lot of planning, but there is also a lot you need to know in terms of critical knowledge areas. It’s not just about what you know; having certain character traits can also prove extremely advantageous.
How many key property developer characteristics do you have? Find out below..
1. Focusing on the ‘big picture’
Professional developers focus on the big picture. They have a lot of patience with seeing their vision gradually till it becomes reality.
2. Decisiveness
The best property developers live by the old truism ‘time equals money’. They know that unnecessary delays are to be avoided at all costs, because even a small delay can have disastrous flown-on effects to the schedule and budget. Decisiveness, or the ability to make quick decisions, is therefore an important trait to have.
3. The ability to spot potential
When searching for a development project, great opportunities are typically few and far between. And when these opportunities do come along, they certainly don’t hang around forever. Successful property developers can spot a good opportunity very quickly and in a matter of moments a ‘quick feasibility’ to determine whether further investigation is warranted.
4. Deal making
So your looking to secure a development site, however it isn’t always that straight-forward, especially when negotiating with a seller. Sometimes the developer needs to think outside the box and come up with a solution that works for all parties – they need to get the right deal done. This may involve, for instance, securing an option to buy the property, buying the site outright, or even entering into a joint venture with the property owner.
The key to making some developments profitable can come down to something as simple as a long settlement or an extended due diligence period.
5. Solution oriented
In any development, problems will arise that can sap the motivation of even the most motivated developer. It’s the developers who don’t get bogged down with the problems and choose instead to focus on solutions that have a greater chance of success.
6. Understanding quality vs time
There is a constant battle all property developers face. It’s comes from the reality that producing a better quality product will generally cost more in terms of time and money. With any project, you need to find the right balance, which means carefully understanding the particular market you are targeting. There’s no point in spending extra money in a particular area of the project if the market simply won’t pay for it.
7. Great people skills
The best property developers have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They can relate to people from all walks of life and quickly build genuine rapport. Think about the variety of people a property developer might deal with, from property sellers, consultants, builders and tradespeople to neighbours and members of the local council. It takes leadership skills and sometimes a big dose of diplomacy to successfully get the most out of these relationships.
Overall this list provides a useful overview of the personal traits and characteristics that lend themselves to the property development arena, but it is by no means comprehensive.
A property development project is almost always a serious undertaking and not one to be faced unprepared. However, if it’s done right the rewards can be excellent.
For this reason, aspiring property developers without the necessary time and resources should always seek the help of a development manager or team, who can coordinate the entire process and provide valuable advice along the way.
BRIDGING LOANS
Bridging loans provide the borrower with short term finance secured against property assets.
DEVELOPMENT FINANCE
Available to developers and investors with a track record in residential development and / or refurbishment
JOINT VENTURES
We will consider putting up to 95% of costs for residential development of refurbishment and joint ventures.
