Send auction letter 2 weeks, then put in newspaper 2 weeks, then auction 1 week. 

If you can't trust the contractor to buy the materials and/or have them put in the features you want, why are you hiring them? 

Once the architect is done with his/her drawing, the surveyor will put in the new outline of the building and make a site plan- Possible: depending on the size and complexity - and what the city requires - a civil engineer to design other things on the site.

And, for those people who have more time than money, they can put in sweat equity into directly owned real estate.

The best thing to do if this is a big concern for you IMO is put in the offer something along the lines of "Seller to provide Tenant Estoppal Letters for all Leases & Occupancies".

I'd like to have a general discussion about the steps in developing land, from identification of the property down to getting the stubouts put in.

Or put in the offer that the seller will have all utilities on for the inspection. 

Now he has to put in a lot of money each month to keep the loan serviced to save the second asset.

Theres alot of ifs here ill try to cover it as best I can.If you have a deal in mind already and want to put in an offer, or plan to put in an offer, AND your current rate is higher than your refinance rate then a cash out refinance is your best option. 

I just put in an offer and it was accepted.