The Complete Guide to Property Development for the Small Investor

by Catherine Dawson

ISBN: 978-0749454517

This book covers every stage of property development. Including both practical ‘how-to’ advice and important guidance on making a profit from property, this new edition constitutes an essential handbook that is both comprehensive and user-friendly. Containing practical checklists and extensive details on useful addresses and websites, the book also provides updates on essential legislative changes that will have an impact on both new and experienced developers.

This fully revised and updated third edition includes vital new information on changes to tax/VAT incentives; the impact of the credit crunch on the UK property market (and the potential opportunities if offers); the rise and fall (and potential rise again) of the buy-to-let market; the latest rules and regulations affecting both landlords and tenants.

Practical information includes a property viewing checklist, a risk assessment table, surveying prices, health and safety issues and knowing what to include in a tenancy agreement.

 

table of contents (click to expand)

The Complete Guide to Property Development for the Small Investor - Table of Contents

STAGE 1: PREPARATION

Chapter 1: Knowing how to invest successfully

  1. The economy and the housing market
  2. Understanding short- and long-term trends
  3. Assessing market conditions
  4. Should I invest in property development?
  5. Summary
  6. Useful addresses
  7. Useful websites

Chapter 2: Making decisions

  1. Refurbishing a property
  2. Renovating a property
  3. Property conversion
  4. Undertaking a new-build project
  5. Becoming a landlord
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses
  8. Useful websites

 Chapter 3: Preparing yourself and your family

  1. Developing your skills of reflection and analysis
  2. Assessing skills, knowledge and experience
  3. Developing skills
  4. Summary
  5. Useful addresses

Chapter 4: Sorting out your finances

  1. Assessing your financial circumstances
  2. Obtaining financial backing
  3. Knowing about mortgages
  4. Seeking advice from professionals
  5. Understanding tax implications
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses
  8. Useful websites

Chapter 5: Establishing your business

  1. Deciding how to trade
  2. Developing a business plan
  3. Producing a profit/loss plan and cash flow forecast
  4. Conducting a risk assessment
  5. Summary
  6. Useful addresses

 STAGE 2: PROGRESSION

Chapter 6: Doing your research

  1. Finding sources of information
  2. Conducting a price analysis
  3. Obtaining property information
  4. Conducting property searches
  5. Summary
  6. Useful addresses
  7. Useful websites

 Chapter 7: Recognizing potential locations

  1. Recognizing property hotspots
  2. Spotting areas of regeneration
  3. Spotting areas of degeneration
  4. Choosing suitable locations
  5. Knowing about Redfield, Brownfield and Greenfield sites
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses

 Chapter 8: Recognising potential for development

  1. Researching the development system and planning control
  2. Understanding restrictions on development
  3. Analysing the local market
  4. Analysing the competition
  5. Recognizing short- and long-term potential
  6. Finding out about ownership
  7. Summary
  8. Useful addresses
  9. Useful websites

STAGE 3: PROCUREMENT

Chapter 9: Viewing a property

  1. Organizing your viewing
  2. Questioning the vendor
  3. Using overt and covert observation techniques
  4. Developing a checklist
  5. Spotting potential for development
  6. Summary

 Chapter 10: Researching the neighbourhood

  1. Using government statistics
  2. Researching environmental issues
  3. Questioning the neighbours
  4. Observing the neighbourhood
  5. Summary

Chapter 11: Buying a property

  1. Knowing whether the price is right
  2. Negotiating and bargaining
  3. Making an offer
  4. Buying a repossession
  5. Arranging a survey
  6. Choosing a conveyancer
  7. Obtaining important documents
  8. Buying at auction
  9. Summary
  10. Useful addresses

STAGE 4: PERMISSION

Chapter 12: Obtaining planning permission

  1. Knowing what needs planning permission
  2. Obtaining outline consent
  3. Looking into change of use
  4. Finding out about permitted development
  5. Preparing and submitting planning applications
  6. Using building surveyors
  7. Making appeals in cases of refusal
  8. Summary
  9. Useful addresses

Chapter 13: Obtaining Building Regulations approval

  1. Understanding building control
  2. Knowing when approval is required
  3. Making a Building Regulations application
  4. Applying for a regularization certificate
  5. Working with an architect
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses

Chapter 14: Overcoming problems and avoiding disputes

  1. Understanding the Party Wall Act 1996
  2. Avoiding boundary disputes
  3. Obtaining insurance
  4. Summary
  5. Useful addresses

STAGE 5: PERSPIRATION

Chapter 15: Developing and managing your budget

  1. Planning your budget
  2. Knowing about the costs
  3. Working within your budget
  4. Controlling costs
  5. Summary

Chapter 16: Managing your project

  1. Appointing a project manager
  2. Managing the project yourself
  3. Understanding the skills and qualities required
  4. Preparing a management brief
  5. Summary
  6. Useful addresses

Chapter 17: Working with sub-contractors and builders

  1. Choosing builders, traders and service providers
  2. Spotting the cowboys
  3. Developing a contract and schedule of works
  4. Understanding the sequence of trades
  5. Supervising the work
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses

Chapter 18: Doing the work yourself

  1. Evaluating your skills and motivation
  2. Working within Building Regulations
  3. Working within the law
  4. Raising awareness of health and safety
  5. Planning your project
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses
  8. Useful websites

Chapter 19: Sourcing materials

  1. Hiring plant and tools
  2. Buying plant and tools
  3. Obtaining safety equipment
  4. Sourcing building materials
  5. Sourcing white goods
  6. Summary
  7. Useful addresses
  8. Useful websites

 STAGE 6: PRESENTATION

Chapter 20: Presenting your property to let

  1. Knowing your market
  2. Choosing to furnish
  3. Gardening and landscaping
  4. Decoration, fixtures and fittings
  5. Setting the rent
  6. Increasing your property’s appeal
  7. Summary

Chapter 21: Presenting your property for sale

  1. Deciding upon your market
  2. Producing a home information pack
  3. Selling tips
  4. Negotiating with buyers
  5. Summary
  6. Useful addresses

Chapter 22: Marketing and advertising your property

  1. Developing your marketing strategy
  2. Using estate agents
  3. Selling privately
  4. Avoiding marketing mistakes
  5. Summary
  6. Useful websites

SECTION 7: PRESERVATION

Chapter 23: Choosing tenants

  1. Using letting agents
  2. Arranging viewings
  3. Knowing what to ask
  4. Obtaining references
  5. Drawing up a tenancy agreement
  6. Producing an inventory/schedule of condition
  7. Summary
  8. Useful addresses

Chapter 24: Keeping tenants happy

  1. Knowing your obligations
  2. Knowing your tenants’ responsibilities
  3. Understanding your tenants’ rights
  4. Solving disputes
  5. Going to court
  6. Evicting tenants
  7. Summary
  8. Useful addresses

Chapter 25: Maintaining your property

  1. Using property management companies
  2. Conducting repairs
  3. Negotiating access
  4. Cleaning
  5. Replacing household items and furniture
  6. Summary

 

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