Developers and Builders are always on the lookout for their next deal, and if you are selling your land you do not want to be passed by. Generate interest by the most active builders in your area by getting decision makers the information they need, and here is how to do it:
Gather Property Data
Zoning
This is first question any builder or developer is going to ask, what’s it zoned? Zoning is crucial to developers because it is going to determine how many houses, units, or square footage (AKA “density”) the developer can build on the tract. Find out how many units per acre and of what type are permitted. You can find most city & county zoning ordinances online at http://www.municode.com, but details vary between municipalities. If you are not sure what your property’s zoning is, take a look at your tax bill. If you are lucky, it will be printed on the bill. If not, jot down your parcel ID number and call your city or county zoning department for this information. And don’t forget to check with them to see if there are any zoning overlays or future land use plans affect your property!
Utilities
Find out what utilities are available to your property, or located nearby. These include water, electricity, phone, gas, and especially sewer. Sewer access is golden, because it usually improves density and thus a developer’s bottom line.
Plat or Survey
Make sure to have a plat or recent survey handy. Builders and developers are going to want to see how the land is shaped in order to get a better idea of how a future development may lay out. If available, surveys with topography plotted are best.
Pictures
Pictures sell property! This goes for land, too. Try to get wide angle shots in good daylight with the sun at your back. If your property has unique features such as a lake, mountain views, a river/creek, etc., make sure to document them.
Maps & Aerials
It’s always good to have a bird’s eye view to put in front of interested parties. At the least include a map depicting the parcel’s location, and how to access it. There are a number of free or low cost aerial imagery applications out there including Google Earth, but high-resolution imagery is usually only available for larger cities and towns. Depending on size and price, you may want to contract an aerial photographer. Most aerial shoots cost between $300 and $600 depending on the work order and location.
Demographics
Can the local populace support a development at the price you have set for your land? Demographic data on a particular area can be used to set price points on a future housing development, and the most important two are population and household income. Try to include a one, three, and five mile radius if possible.
Area Highlights
Put a list together of area attractions, such as recreational lakes, beaches, parks, etc. Also, keep an eye out for favorable economic situations in the area. Anything that will build a job base such as a new plant opening, or corporate relocation is a selling point. More jobs means more housing demand, which means better development opportunities.
Make a Property Brochure
With the above information, you should be able to put together a professional brochure, which you can get in the hands of developers and builders that are active in your area. Make sure to produce a document that is printable and available in electronic format. Adobe PDF works best for property brochures, but MS Word should work fine too. Make sure to highlight the most desirable aspects of the property on the front page as well as the price. The cover should draw a reader in for further study, and if the property is priced correctly, you should not have to hide it. When printing, make sure to use a high quality inkjet printer or go to a local printing shop, the brochure must appear professional.
Develop a Mailing List
Yes, there are still some viable uses for snail mail. Most executives at best delete promotional email, and at worst may never receive it. Besides being highly likely that a decision maker will see it, putting a full color brochure in front of them says to them that you are serious, and you have got something that they need to see. First, you must develop a list of developers and builders that are active in your area. Visit or call the local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders, or see if members are listed on their website. Also, check with local business publications. Many of them publish lists of developers ranked by activity and size. A quick call to developer or builder can determine what kind of developments they are involved with (industry term is “product”), and who the point of authority may be. Mention that you are interested in sending a package to them concerning a piece of land, and you may even get that person on the phone! If you can’t determine who that may be, or the secretary is being difficult… send the package directly to president or CEO. Make sure to include a phone number and name that is easy to find, send them out, and be sure to follow up in one to two weeks!
Source by Wade Sonenberg
