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Property Developer

Property developers plan or carry out the purchase, development and sale of new or existing properties or land.

 

Tasks & duties

Property developers may do some or all of the following:

  • identify and research development opportunities
  • calculate potential costs and compare with expected profit
  • prepare a feasibility analysis of potential projects (make sure the project is viable)
  • research land titles
  • obtain building consents and approvals from local council
  • present proposals to investors
  • ensure finance is in place to manage the development process to completion
  • work out how long the construction of buildings will take and create a timeline and project plan
  • consult with architects, engineers, builders and other project staff to ensure timelines are being met
  • ensure all legal requirements concerning a project are met
  • make regular progress reviews of the project and agree to any alterations
  • visit building sites and monitor the progress of tradespeople/sub-contractors
  • ensure the site manager is meeting all health and safety regulations on-site
  • explain projects at community or council meetings
  • undertake marketing to establish sales
  • sell or lease the property
  • hire management companies to manage the property if leased

 

Specialisations

Property developers may specialise in different types of development projects such as town houses, business parks or hotels.

 

Skills & knowledge

Property developers need to have:

  • knowledge of national and international property market trends
  • business, financial management and budgeting skills
  • understanding of property laws, such as the Resource Management Act and the New Zealand Building Code, and local regulations
  • knowledge of building methods and materials
  • knowledge of architectural and engineering plans
  • excellent negotiation skills
  • excellent communications skills, including good listening and presentation skills
  • writing skills
  • analytical skills
  • strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • planning, organisational and time management skills

 

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become a property developer, but employers prefer you to have a degree in property.  Law, commerce and business studies degrees are also useful. For further information contact the Property Institute of New Zealand (PINZ).

 

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is needed to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include accounting, economics, English and maths.

 

Training on the job

Many skills are gained on the job, and property developers can attend industry seminars to further develop their skills and knowledge.

 

Registration

Some property developers are registered with the Property Institute of New Zealand (PINZ). To do this you need to have an accredited property degree.

 

Useful experience

Useful experience for property developers includes work in:

  • property management
  • property valuation or real estate
  • the building construction industry, such as construction project management
  • quantity surveying
  • assessing potential risks to a project and developing stategies to manage them
  • financial negotiating
  • architecture, drafting or engineering

Experience running a business may also be useful.

 

Related courses

Project Management
Real Estate
Urban Design and Regional Planning

 

For more information, please refer to Career Services.

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