Successful vs Unsuccessful Development Projects

My name is Bobby Mink and I have the pleasure of being one of the instructors for RLI's Land University (LANDU) Education Program. Having been around the construction industry for over 40 years, I realize the need for great training sessions like Subdivision Development.  As a residential builder for the next area that creates a real challenge when buying and developing a subdivision has two parts that really impact the journey. Part 1 is the contract phase. In the organization that had a well-defined process, the company with good systems and processes created a relatively predictable timeline for the development. In other organizations, the “gut” process usually produced a timeline that was missed by a mile. I had the chance to see the impacts of both good, and not so good development planning. As I was promoted through the management ranks through the years, the importance of great planning and a really good land development processes became painfully clear. There are a few areas that are a part of our Subdivision Development class that make a huge impact on the success or failure of a Subdivision Development.

The Research and Analysis Phase

The first area is the research and analysis phase. I have worked with organizations where every detail was gathered, reviewed, and processed. Those developments generally turned out really well and extremely profitable. I have also worked with organizations where our “gut” says this is a good deal for us. In those cases, the lack of thorough and detailed analysis created for catastrophic subdivisions where profit margin, price and product missed by a mile.

The Contract Phase

Pitfalls To Avoid During The Contract Phase

• Not taking into consideration how long it takes to get all the site inspections done.
• Not knowing how long it takes to meet with city officials.
• Not knowing how long it takes and how difficult it is to meet with neighbors and Home Ownership Associations (HOAs).

This lack of process can create an ever-moving target for the investors, the builders, the sales and marketing team, and the community.

Development Phase

Part 2 of this challenge is the actual development or vertical construction phase of the process. In the organization with good processes, there was a defined and managed schedule with scopes of work that moved along relatively predictably. Knowing that unforeseen things can arise, and we can have bad weather, sickness, vacations, or supplier and trade contractor issues, a well-processed and well-scheduled subdivision development can have a somewhat clear start and completion time frame.

However, if there are not good development processes and schedules, this phase can drag on for months longer than planned. Once again, for a builder planning on new houses starts to hit his projected numbers for the year or for a sales and marketing company planning on new homes for an agent to sell, this type of unpredictability is catastrophic. You may not only lose your builder client, but you may also lose your sales and marketing team and risk changes in the development’s codes, inspections, municipality buy-in, and neighbor and HOA challenges all because of a lack of execution and process. And, it is super frustrating and costly for everyone involved.

So, my best recommendation is for land agents to join us for RLI's newly-updated LANDU Subdivision Land Development class that I teach so you are prepared to execute the best and most profitable developments you can!

About The Author: Bobby Mink is from Atlanta, Georgia and has been in business management for over 20 years. From Builder to Project Manager and General Manager to Vice President of Operations and Development as well as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Operations Officer. Mink has had the opportunity to manage all types and levels of the building industry as well as managing sales and marketing. Mink has managed and grown several startup home building opportunities using strategic planning, fundamental systems and tactics to achieve the desired outcome and turn around opportunities for struggling companies. He has also used his experience with land development to use great start up processes for new developments being acquired and being brought online. Through his corporate coaching, Bobby has helped solidify corporate structure, communication, accountability, clarity and teamwork for countless organizations. As the owner and Head of Coach for Choice Consulting and Management, LLC, Bobby has had the opportunity to coach business owners on how to grow their companies, set up streamlined processes, effective communication, accountability, increased profitability and customer service by putting in place good, fundamental proven business principles that help individuals and organizations to reach their full potential and inspire that change with passion. Mink has been an instructor for the NAHB for over 12 years. Bobby is the author of his new book “CHOICES’. He is also a John Maxwell Team Member, DISC facilitator, Certified Church Growth Coach and holds designations from the NAHB in CMP (Certified Marketing Professional), CGB (Certified Graduate Builder),  CSP (Certified Sales Professional), GMB (Graduate Master Builder), CAPS (Certified Aging in Pace), MIRM (Member of the Institute of Residential Marketing). If you have any questions on this topic or about this course's content, I can be reached at bmink@choiceconsulting,man.com or 678-561-2169.