Property development is a popular and ever expanding field, with more and more people giving up their day jobs to follow their dreams, with an opportunity chance to watch your hard work turn into reality and ultimately make serious profits. However balancing cost, quality and a reasonable time frame is important if you are going to avoid your dream turning into a nightmare, so following these simple rules will ensure that your project comes off without a hitch.

Build the Vision

Before you buy any land or property, or even embark upon the planning stages, every property developer should have a clear idea of their goals and why exactly they are choosing a specific plot. Are you renovating a period property to its former glory, or building a modern home in a kid-friendly area that’s perfect for families? Remember that at the end of the day you need to be able to sell your house, so avoid indulging in personal taste and have a specific market for your development.

Plan and Budget

It seems like an obvious thing to say, but you would be amazed at how many people underestimate costs and time frames in their enthusiasm to get started on a project. One of the most important things that can make or break a property developer is planning, and failure to take account for every expense, delay and potential problem might give you a nasty shock later down the line.

Budget your project and leave a contingency fund in case of emergency, and that way you will already have factored in any unexpected costs in case they do arise. Make sure that you have all of the necessary planning permission, and where possible get quotes before you start for jobs such as stonework, scaffolding, architecture and electricity work. Have a clear vision of what you want, and know exactly what needs to happen to achieve it.

Outsource to Reputable Traders

They say that if you want something doing, do it yourself. But when it comes to property development, outsourcing is essential. However it’s also the area where you’re most likely to slip up if you don’t do your research. Whether you’re looking for a stone mason, electrician, plumber or other professional, make sure that you choose a reputable company with the necessary accreditation, a sound portfolio, and a few good references before you go ahead. Getting the best quote and the most convenient schedule might seem like a priority, but if the end result isn’t up to scratch then it could compromise your whole development.

The success of a property developer doesn’t just depend solely on hard work and determination. Of course, planning, budgeting and a vision is key, but you also need to remember that you are reliant on the market wanting to buy your house. And the construction workers who will make it happen. However if you keep your mind on the end goal and an eye on quality workmanship, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t succeed.

Article written by freelance copywriter Kelly Gilmour-Grassam, who loves fine food in interesting places. Follow her on Twitter at @KellyGGrassam. This article was written with helpful information from Henley Stone.

Over the past couple of years the demand for electricians has increased steadily. However, finding a good electrician is till like finding a needle in a haystack and this is despite the fact that these services are popping up almost everywhere. In most cases the electricians you encounter are either not qualified enough or they are not certified or don’t have enough experience so either way hiring them is not a good idea. That said more qualified and experienced electricians tend to be expensive. Sometimes as much as 50% more expensive but you don’t have to pay that much for their services if you know how to negotiate and understand the quote they give you. Expect to save around 30% off what is quoted if you are prepared to do some work on your own.

Get multiple quotes

To start off with you should first get an idea of what the cost will be for that given job. Visit a few nearby electricians and don’t worry about their qualifications. Just ask them to take a look and give you a quote. Even though you may not have any intention of hiring them the quote should tell you a little of what you can expect in the way of work and costs. Also ask them to break up the quote to clearly outline things like labor charges, installation costs and replacement costs. If they are going to for instance replace switches or fuses then ask them to detail what types of fuses they will use and what switches they are going to use. These are very important factors to consider because the quality of these items vary and installing low quality may in fact end up being cheaper but they will not last you as long as properly manufactured and warranty backed replacements. The more you know about what they will install the better position you will be to judge if the electricians you’ve consulted are any good.

Compare quotes

Compare the quotes that you’ve received from the electricians you’ve consulted. Compare labor costs and replacement costs. Ideally, you will want a good electrician to use high quality parts and charge you little in the way of labor. However, as mentioned earlier you’ve gotten these quotes simply to get an idea of what you’ll end up paying. This will also help you negotiate with an expert electrician.

Negotiate with comparisons

An expert electrician is obviously going to be more expensive to hire than the ones you’ve consulted. It is assumed that you’ve verified that they are experts and experienced because everyone will say that they are. The best way to negotiate is to ask the electrician to lower their labor costs by around 10% and not charge you for replacement parts. Rather offer to buy the parts yourself. He should provide you with a list and you can search for these parts online which are often available at way lower prices than what the electrician may offer them to you for. However, keep in mind the fact that you should always buy replacement parts backed up by a warranty. If it does not have a warranty then there is a good chance it will fail and ruin the job the electrician did.

A complete quote

Many expert electricians may charge you by the hour. The quote will reflect their hourly labor charges. You can reduce the cost to some extent by asking them for a complete quote. Ask them to charge you based on the work done and not the hours it takes. The upside to this is that the electrician will work faster and take fewer breaks which results in an overall saving for you. Hiring an electrician can often be a rather stressful decision. The best way to do it is to hire a known and established expert electrician service like the one offered by Electrician to the Rescue. The service backs all their jobs with a solid warranty and they have been around for ages. If you are in a hurry you can simply visit their website and fill out the online request for an electrician and get a response almost immediately this helps you save time.

Citations:The Best Way To Choose the Best Electrician

Mark is a certified and experienced electrical engineer. He has been working as an electrician in Sydney for well over a decade. A keen eye for detail and an interest in all things electrical is what has made him one of the leading electricians in the country. He is also the author of various how-to publications