Real Estate Developers

Real estate developers are often highly visible individuals in the community. It is important that they have excellent communication skills, be able to work with all kinds of people, and enjoy the speculative nature of their business.

Developers spend a great deal of time negotiating with executives in banks and insurance companies, government officials, and private or corporate business investors. A certain professionalism and comfort in executive situations is necessary for success.

However, some developers report to the job site every day, don a hard hat, and oversee the work of roofers, plumbers, and electricians. The developer must be flexible enough to adjust to the job's varying demands.

In addition to staying in touch with investors and overseeing the project, developers sometimes may need to respond to the public and the media. Controversial, high-profile projects often put the developer under a spotlight, requiring excellent public relations skills.

Real estate developers, because of the complexity of their jobs and the often large sums of money at stake, work under a great deal of pressure and stress. While the level of risk and the potential profit depend on the developer's role in the development entity, those who like a steady schedule with a dependable paycheck may not be well-suited to this career.

Hours can be long and frequently vary with the type of project and stage of development. Developers may have to attend city council meetings or neighborhood meetings in the evening if they are seeking changes in zoning laws before applying for a building permit. In addition to having the potential to earn a large sum of money, developers enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a project evolve from its inception through various stages of planning and finally into a finished, usable structure.

Though their work depends on the cooperation of other individuals and organizations, developers also enjoy a certain level of independence and flexibility in their lifestyles. As entrepreneurs, they shoulder a lot of personal risk for their businesses, but this brings with it great opportunities to do creative work and positively influence their communities while potentially earning a handsome profit.