Becoming a property developer can be an exciting and fulfilling career. You’ll be your own boss and you’ll be working on plenty of exciting and creative projects as you look to flip properties. But before you leap in, it’s best to come up with a plan. Below, we explore how you can become a successful property developer.
How to become a property developer?
Buy-to-let vs buy-to-sell
Your first decision will be whether to be a buy-to-let or buy-to-sell property developer. The former gives you a stable long-term income: you’ll be able to use rental property payments to pay off the mortgage and add to your disposable income. However, the latter can allow you to make money and quick profit before moving on to the next property.
Purchase a property to renovate
One common strategy is to buy a property at a low price before renovating it. This can allow you to sell at a higher price or increase its rental value. This requires careful planning, expertise and the use of quality materials such as pressure treated timber to help you make it financially viable.
Research the market to find good locations
Location is key. It’ll be much easier to sell or rent properties at a higher value if they’re in a place homeowners want to live. Before any purchase, you should be absolutely sure that you’ve researched the market to find a good location.
Specialise in one sector
Building the knowledge needed to make a profit in property development can be time-consuming and difficult. As such, it can work best if you pick one sector to dominate. By specialising in this sector and putting in the time to learn its secrets, you can become a successful developer.
Build a solid network
Networking can help too. By building a group of reliable industry experts you can trust, you’ll have a sounding board for big decisions and a useful place to turn to for advice.
Be aware of the risks
It’s worth being aware that property development won’t provide you with a guaranteed profit though. From making mistakes to sudden changes in the property market, you’re at risk of losing your capital. By understanding this threat, you’ll be better placed to make good business decisions.
Becoming a property developer can provide you with many opportunities. And by preparing with the guide above, you should be ready for success.