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