All Forum Posts by: Kristi Kandel

 Agreed.  I've been fortunate to wear both hats as a civil engineer and developer as well.  My experience and network has helped me formulate and hone in my expertise in the development process, while at the same time giving me insight to where future developments are heading and areas that could be most developmentally advantageous.   This gives me a significant headstart over other developers / builders in my market areas.

While it's true, you won't typically learn much about zoning code, permitting processes, etc. through your degree, however you should gain this experience through your career.  The only aspect that I may contradict what's being said in this thread is that I strongly believe a civil engineer being involved in the entitlement / zoning procedures is imperative.  Although much of the decision making is based on concepts and attractive sketches / exhibits, the engineer is who makes it all work.  Nothing worse than getting a conceptual site plan re-approved because it doesn't function.

As far as cost control, unfortunately the civil typically only controls the cost of his/her fee, but you will have other consultants that will be part of the process - surveyor, geotech, environmental engineer, architect, landscape architect, planner, attorney, etc.  You could work on your network to see if these consultants would work on sweat equity with you to save you on cost.

The real worth is what you bring to the table - experience in the process, expertise in the market, and potentially a network that can make you successful.  Hope that helps.

For real estate investors, developers, and flippers, utility hookups can feel like a behind-the-scenes nuisance—until they delay your entire project. Whether you’re breaking ground on a new build or rehabbing a property with outdated infrastructure, navigating utility connections for water, sewer, electricity, and gas is critical to staying on schedule and within budget. Here’s how to get ahead of the game:

🕒 1. Start Early

📞 Call utility providers before closing. Utility installations often take 30–90 days and may require site plans, permits, and scheduling coordination. Early planning avoids costly downtime.

🧭 2. Know Your Jurisdiction

🏙️ Are you within city limits, a MUD (Municipal Utility District), or a rural co-op? Each has different rules, processes, and timelines. Call the planning office or look up GIS maps to verify.

💸 3. Budget for Fees

Fees vary wildly, but here’s what to expect:

💧 Water/Sewer Tap: $2,000–$10,000+

⚡ Electrical Service: $1,000–$5,000+

🔥 Gas Line Setup: ~$1,000+

Also factor in trenching, easement costs, or service line extensions. Always build a buffer into your rehab or development budget.

🛠️ 4. Coordinate with Your GC

👷 Your General Contractor should know the utility layout and schedule stub-outs early—especially before pouring foundation.

💡 Delays here often cause knock-on effects with inspections and progress milestones.

📄 5. Track the Permits

📝 Utility hookups often require separate permits, trench inspections, and 811 Call Before You Dig coordination. A missed permit or failed inspection can freeze your jobsite for weeks.

💼 Consider hiring a permit expediter if the municipality is slow or hard to navigate.

💡 Bottom Line:

Utility planning isn’t glamorous—but it can save you weeks of delay and thousands in carrying costs. If you’re a developer, flipper, or investor doing ground-up builds or heavy rehabs, include utility coordination in your due diligence checklist from day one. Check with your private money lender to see if they can offer any valuable insights for you!

Actually because I buy mobile home parks, so I put a mobile home park under contract in the same area and the owner mentioned he owns some land down the road as well that can be developed and gave me pretty favorable terms and price on it so I am exploring my options if it makes sense to close on the land as well or just the park. I am new to development but not to construction, I'm a GC in Tampa but I don't do any ground up projects. That is why I'm looking for a developer to JV on the deal with.

I currently have 10 acres under contract in Chattanooga that can be developed into apartments or mixed use commercial. I live in Tampa and I'm looking to JV with a developer in Chattanooga, I can offer favorable terms as well as a commission to a realtor that can connect us. Feel free to comment or message me if you know someone who may be interested.

Thanks so much for the very useful information.  I've engaged a broker and see where things lead me.  Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it.

Thanks for your reply.  This is commercial zoning.  You can open shopping centers, office buildings, restaurant, business and entertainment venues.  The only problem is the area needs investment and developement. 

Hi everyone,

I own a boutique motel with surrounding land that I’d love to develop to enhance its appeal and attract more business. I’m looking for an experienced real estate developer who can provide insights and ideas on how best to utilize the space.

Additionally, there’s a small commercial property next to the motel, currently vacant, but I’m unsure about the best approach to renting it out to a business. Before moving forward, I’d like a clear strategy for maximizing the potential of both the land and the property.

I’d love to hear any suggestions, and I’m also open to partnering with an investor who has experience in development and growth strategies. If you have any advice or know someone who could help, please reach out!

Thanks in advance!

Hi there! My wife and I recently purchased a single family home with a detached ADU outside the Sacramento, CA area. We just started medium-term renting the ADU through Furnished Finder and it's been an incredible experience. We barely notice our tenant and his rent covers about half of our mortgage. You might say I'm a little hooked and am considering other real estate investments. One idea would be to convert our attached 450 sq ft garage into an ADU to rent. It would cost around $100-120K and could rent for around $2K a month. This would be nearing the 2% rule which seems pretty good especially in today's market. Not to mention, we would be building equity into our house and it would cover the other half of the mortgage.

The other option would be to look for a property to purchase out of state to BRRRR. I would most likely try to find a multi-family to update, then hire a property manager to takeover. I wouldn't get near the rate of return as I would on the ADU, but I would be diversifying my housing investments.

Thoughts and comments would be much appreciated. Thank you!

This would be my first build. I have a seller who is right now seeking to rezone this lot to accommodate two Duplexes, so I'm waiting on the outcome. If course, I am building my team simultaneously so that I'm equipped and ready for demo, as soon as the contract is closed. My goal is to get the lot, seek No Doc financing for the balance of the seller-financed portion, then proceed without any liens or barriers. 

Plan B is if he doesn't get the desired rezoning, I'm ready to pivot to 1 Duplex and an ADU . I've ran the numbers both ways and I'm confident that this can be a win-win for all of us. I have done some due diligence within the scope and nature of my circumstances, therefore protecting my fiscal responsibility is paramount. Would you be interested in learn more?