Project Management Pitfalls: What Every Land Developer Needs to Know

While many factors contribute to land development success, there are pitfalls that, if not avoided, can lead to costly delays and financial setbacks. According to the Project Management Institute, roughly 37% of projects experience delays due to poor planning, regulatory hurdles, and miscommunication among stakeholders. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a landowner embarking on your first project, optimally managing a development initiative requires meticulous planning, clear communications, proactive problem-solving—and an understanding of just what could go wrong.

Following are the top six project management pitfalls you may encounter, and the steps you can  take to keep them from derailing you.

1. Underestimating regulatory, zoning challenges. Navigating the maze of codes and permit requirements, and securing proper approvals, can overwhelm your already busy teams—and possibly threaten your project. Tapping a partner with the experience and bandwidth needed keeps you on track.
2. Failing to adequately assess your site. Assessment of the land you’re developing for soil condition, flood risk, and environmental contamination is essential. Augmenting your team with engineering, design, and survey professionals with track records of project management success working on projects like yours reduces your exposure.
3. Under-communicating to stakeholders. Avoid misunderstandings, errors and delays. Put a comprehensive communications plan in place to track and review progress. and address issues. Keeping your team, and your outside partners’ teams, all on the same page helps you achieve the win you’re looking for.
4. Not anticipating market fluctuations. Real-estate markets are fluid, as all developers know. Tapping a local partner upfront to better understand the supply and demand dynamics in the community where your project’s being developed is key.
5. Stretching your team too thin. Avoid asking too much of your team members. Augment your staff with the experienced, qualified, and local professionals (civil engineers, landscape architects, land surveyors, and architects) to ensure you have the bandwidth and skill sets you need to succeed.
6. Not sufficiently considering community, environmental impact. Make sure your project stands up to the scrutiny of those with a vested interest in its outcome from a social and ecological standpoint. Augment your project team to include all the expertise and capacity required.

Completing projects on-time, in-budget, with high levels of quality and safety, is every landowner’s goal. Doing what it takes to assure your project complies with regulations on every level, and assuring it meets local needs is in each developer’s best interest. To achieve these necessary goals requires a development approach that avoids common pitfalls and enables you to succeed.

“We connected with HRC Engineers through a mutual contact, and it’s been a great experience. Their team partnered with our team to provide the due diligence and design expertise we were looking for.

Kevin Hess, Vice President of Land Development at Chapman Communities

Don’t let project management pitfalls stand in the way of your land development wins. Partnering with a firm that understands the complexities of regulatory requirements, local market conditions, and environmental impacts can make all the difference. With a team of experienced HRC professionals by your side, you’re able to navigate challenges confidently–and complete your project on time, within budget, and to your high standards.

Contact HRC Engineers today. Or, reach out to me right now at (770) 942-0196. Learn more about how you can avoid project management risk, and most successfully drive your next land development project.