The Complete Guide to Property Development for the Small Investor: How to Identify the Best Opportunities in a Volatile Property Market - Softcover

Dawson, Catherine

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0749446358 ISBN 13: 9780749446352

Publisher: Kogan Page, 2006

Synopsis

In recent years property development has become a business that all types of people, with a reasonable source of finance can get into. The media is flooded with property investment success stories so it is not surprising that there is a host of wannabe property investors champing at the bit. Unlike other property books, this book addresses the practical, how-to aspects of property development as well as how to make a profit from your investment.

This user-friendly new book covers every stage of property development from preparing and arranging your finances, obtaining planning permission, working with contractors right through to marketing your property for sale or rental. Also includes an extensive list of useful addresses, websites and further reading.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Catherine Dawson has been a researcher specialising in educational research, as well as a tutor working with adults, for over twenty years. She has written extensively for academic journals and popular magazines, and is passionate about providing information to help under-represented groups enter further and higher education.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Stage One: Preparation

1 Making decisions

Refurbishing a property; Renovating a property; Property conversion; Undertaking a new-build project; Becoming a landlord; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

2 Preparing yourself and your family

Developing your skills of reflection and analysis; Assessing skills, knowledge and experience; Developing skills; Summary; Useful addresses

3 Sorting out your finances

Assessing your financial circumstances; Obtaining financial backing; Knowing about mortgages; Seeking advice from professionals; Understanding tax implications; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

4 Establishing your business

Deciding how to trade; Developing a business plan; Producing a profit/loss plan and cash flow forecast; Conducting a risk assessment; Summary; Useful addresses

Stage Two: Progression

5 Doing your research

Finding sources of information; Conducting a price analysis; Obtaining property information; Conducting property searches; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

6 Recognizing potential locations

Recognizing property hotspots; Spotting areas of regeneration; Spotting areas of degeneration; Choosing suitable locations; Knowing about redfield, brownfield and greenfield sites; Summary; Useful addresses

7 Recognizing potential for development

Researching the development system and planning control; Understanding restrictions on development; Analysing the local market; Analysing the competition; Recognizing short-and long-term potential; Finding out about ownership; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

Stage Three: Procurement

8 Viewing a property

Organizing your viewing; Questioning the vendor; Using overt and covert observation techniques; Developing a checklist; Spotting potential for development; Summary

9 Researching the neighbourhood

Using government statistics; Researching environmental issues; Questioning the neighbours; Observing the neighbourhood; Summary

10 Buying a property

Knowing whether the price is right; Negotiating and bargaining; Making an offer; Arranging a survey; Choosing a conveyancer; Obtaining important documents; Buying at auction; Summary; Useful addresses

Stage Four: Permission

11 Obtaining planning permission

Knowing what needs planning permission; Obtaining outline consent; Looking into change of use; Finding out about permitted development; Preparing and submitting planning applications; Using building surveyors; Making appeals in cases of refusal; Summary; Useful addresses

12 Obtaining Building Regulations approval

Understanding building control; Knowing when approval is required; Making a Building Regulations application; Applying for a regularization certificate; Working with an architect; Summary; Useful addresses

13 Overcoming problems and avoiding disputes

Understanding the Party Wall Act 1996; Avoiding boundary disputes; Obtaining insurance; Summary; Useful addresses

Stage Five: Perspiration

14 Developing and managing your budget

Planning your budget; Knowing about the costs; Working within your budget; Controlling costs; Summary

15 Managing your project

Appointing a project manager; Managing the project yourself; Understanding the skills and qualities required; Preparing a management brief; Summary; Useful addresses

16 Working with subcontractors and builders

Choosing builders, traders and service providers; Spotting the cowboys; Developing a contract and schedule of works; Understanding the sequence of trades; Supervising the work; Summary; Useful addresses

17 Doing the work yourself

Evaluating your skills and motivation; Working within Building Regulations; Working within the law; Raising awareness of health and safety; Planning your project; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

18 Sourcing materials

Hiring plant and tools; Buying plant and tools; Obtaining safety equipment; Sourcing building materials; Sourcing white goods; Summary; Useful addresses; Useful websites

Stage Six: Presentation

19 Presenting your property to let

Knowing your market; Choosing to furnish; Gardening and landscaping; Decoration, fixtures and fittings; Setting the rent; Increasing your property's appeal; Summary

20 Presenting your property for sale

Deciding on your market; Producing a home information pack; Selling tips; Negotiating with buyers; Summary; Useful addresses

21 Marketing and advertising your property

Developing your marketing strategy; Using estate agents; Selling privately; Avoiding marketing mistakes; Summary; Useful websites

Stage Seven: Preservation

22 Choosing tenants

Using letting agents; Arranging viewings; Knowing what to ask; Obtaining references; Drawing up a tenancy agreement; Producing an inventory/schedule of condition; Summary; Useful addresses

23 Keeping tenants happy

Knowing your obligations; Knowing your tenants' responsibilities; Understanding your tenants' rights; Solving disputes; Going to court; Evicting tenants; Summary; Useful addresses

24 Maintaining your property

Using property management companies; Conducting repairs; Negotiating access; Cleaning; Replacing household items and furniture; Summary

Edition details

• Publisher: Kogan Page
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0749446358
• ISBN 13: 9780749446352
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224