Land development has a lot of opportunities in the United States. Although the rate of land development has decreased over the past several years, there’s no shortage of demand for new housing and commercial projects.
That’s why it’s no surprise if you’re interested in starting a real estate project. But without the right help, you may not be able to succeed.
Are you not sure if hiring a development consultant is worth the money? Read the guide below to learn why hiring a real estate development constant makes sense.
1. Deal With Regulations
You can’t just develop land however you want. Depending on where you own land, there are many laws and regulations that tell you what you can and can’t do.
The problem is that it’s hard for someone without experience to look through the rules and figure everything out. Unless you have years of experience, you may miss something critical with your project and get into trouble with the local government.
Working with a development consultant will help you in this situation. A local consultant will know the rules in your area and what you can do with the land you have. They will walk you through the process of verifying the legality of your project and helping you obtain the permits you need to develop your land.
2. Survey the Land
Even if you can get approval for your project, you also have to consider whether it’s possible to complete it. You won’t be able to do this without a survey of your land.
A development consultant can point you in the right direction. Your consultant will help you find a land surveyor to see what your land is made of.
You’ll find water sources, utility line locations, soil quality, and everything else you need to know. This information will let you know what you can build and where you can build it. Without this information, you may pick the wrong location to build and end up with a failed project.
3. Learn About the Environment
Environmental issues are a pressing concern these days. People don’t want land developers or companies to pollute the environment. On top of that, there are environmental protection laws you must contend with.
Take land that has a stream, for instance. You can’t just dump whatever runoff you want in the stream. You have to put systems in place to keep the water clean.
A development consultant can help you measure the impact of your plans on the environment. You’ll learn about any negative impacts you’ll see with your plan and learn how to mitigate any potential problems.
4. Take Less Risk
You’re taking many risks when you develop land without an assessment. You only make your best guesses about what you think is going on. If you make the wrong choice, you’ll ruin the land and waste a lot of cash.
But you can do better risk management when you hire a consultant. An experienced real estate consultant will help you determine the viability of your project. If they give you signs that something is too risky, you can avoid a lot of wasted money.
You can also work with a business consultant like Patch Baker Business if you want to make commercial use of your land. You can make a more informed and less risky decision with the information you receive from several people.
5. Save Time
It takes a lot of time to manage a real estate development project. You have countless moving pieces — everything from managing contractors to dealing with local officials. If you’re busy, you may not have the time to take care of everything.
An experienced development consultant can make a difference in this situation. If you hire an expert, you can rely on them to do some of the work.
This means you can turn to them to handle the work they are great at while you focus on the stuff that matters to you. You’ll end up with more accomplished each day and be able to save your precious free time.
6. Manage Quality
If you’re new to developing real estate, you may not understand what makes a good build. You can hire workers who say they do great work — but you may not be able to verify if the work is actually good.
You won’t face this problem when you work with a consultant. Your consulting partner will be with you through the whole development process.
You can count on them to help you vet the work being done to make sure it’s excellent quality.
7. Get Recommended Partners
If you hire the right development consultant, you’ll work with someone who’s been around for a while. This comes with more benefits than organizational development and advice. You can also access their network if you need more help.
This means you don’t have to rely on your gut when you look for people to help with your project. You can turn to your consultant to get advice on who to hire.
Using your consultant’s advice means you get vetted contractors to help with your project — and much less of a chance of hiring someone unable to complete the job right.
Don’t Wait to Hire a Development Consultant
Real estate projects can get complicated quickly — especially if you’re doing more than a single-family home. You must get the zoning right, get permits, and survey the land. If you aren’t familiar with real estate rules, you may not do things correctly.
That’s why it pays to get a real estate development consultant. A consultant can walk you through the right way to get things done to maximize the chances of your project’s success. Reach out for help with your real estate project today to find the help you need.
Do you want to read more tips that will help you navigate the real estate world? Check out more real estate posts on the blog to learn more.