12 Steps to becoming YOUR OWN neighborhood developer.

  • 1. FIND YOUR FARM

    WORK IT. COMMIT TO IT. MAKE IT YOUR LIFE. FOREVER.

  • 2. GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

    CULTIVATE LOCAL OCCUPANTS FOR YOUR SOON TO BE REVITALIZED SPACES.

  • 3. FIND YOURSELF SOME INVESTORS

    KEEP IT LOCAL. BANKS ARE A GOOD STARTING PLACE.

  • 4. LEARN THE LEGAL & ACCOUNTING PART OF OWNING REAL ESTATE

    GET A DAMN GOOD ATTORNEY & CPA. TRUST NO ONE (EXCEPT YOUR ATTORNEY & CPA). STUDY HOW TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP AND CLOSE A DEAL.

  • 5. FIND A PROJECT TO USE AS AN EXPERIMENT

    NO ZONING CHANGES (NOT YET AT LEAST). LEARN HOW TO DO A PROFORMA.

    ALREADY HAVE THAT DONE? DECIDE WHATS NEXT. KEEP IT MOVING.

  • 6. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, DEMO

    KNOCKING DOWN SOME WALLS WILL HELP RELEASE SOME OF THE STRESS THAT HAS BUILT UP SO FAR. THEN CLEAN SOME MORE. FINALIZING DESIGN AND ENGINEERING WILL BE A LOT EASIER WHEN YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU ARE WORKING WITH.

  • 7. BUILD YOUR TEAM / CREATE YOUR CREW

    YOU WILL NEED CONSULTANTS. YOU WILL ALSO NEED CONTRACTORS. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE WORKING SMALL SCALE INCREMENTAL DEVELOPMENT.

  • 8. DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR YOUR PROJECT

    LEARN TO PLAN IN THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY. BRING YOUR ENTIRE TEAM TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE.

    YOU ARE NO LONGER ALONE. CONGRATULATIONS!

  • 9. SET UP A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

    HIRE A GENERAL CONTRACTOR? DO IT YOURSELF?

  • 10. IT’S TIME TO MOVE - IF YOU HAVE A TENANT, MOVE THEM IN

    IF NOT, BE YOUR OWN TENANT, MOVE YOUR HOME OR OFFICE INTO YOUR DEVELOPMENT.

  • 11. LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR PROPERTY

    IT’S OKAY IF YOU AREN’T THE BEST AT THIS. DON’T FREAK OUT, HIRE SOMEONE.

  • 12. HELP OTHERS

    SHARE THESE STEPS WITH OTHER SMALL DEVELOPERS.