Investors see 50+ deals a year – here’s what makes them write checks:

Last week an investor told me something that stopped me cold…

“Eugene… you’re the first developer who showed me a real feasibility study. Everyone else just sends pro formas and pretty pictures.”

Here’s what separates amateurs from funded deals:

The Due Diligence Package Investors Actually Trust:

What most developers show up with:

• Zillow comps
• A contractor estimate
• “Trust me, bro” spreadsheets

What professional developers show up with:

1. Third-Party Market Analysis

→ Not your realtor’s opinion.
→ Real reports from:

CoStar (commercial)

Local appraisers (with 90-day comps)

Absorption + vacancy analysis for your micro-market

Cost: $2K–5K
Value: Proves demand exists — beyond your opinion.

2. Independent Cost Validation

→ Multiple contractor bids
→ Plus a third-party cost estimator (we use RS Means + local data)

Investors love this:
→ You’re not guessing at $300/sq ft.

3. Environmental Phase I Report

→ Always. No exceptions.

Catches things like:

Wetland restrictions

Soil contamination

Stormwater issues that kill density

Cost: $3K–8K
Alternative cost: $500K+ in delays or site remediation

4. Utility Infrastructure Report

→ Critical for suburban and rural deals

Real costs investors need to see:

Water + sewer connections

Electrical service upgrades

Road access improvements

Pro tip: These “small” costs can add $50K–200K fast.

5. Regulatory Risk Assessment

→ Permitting timeline reality check based on:

Local jurisdiction history

Similar project approvals

Political climate for your project type

Investors hate surprises more than they hate high costs.

6. Financial Stress Testing

→ Show three scenarios:

Base case (your projection)

Conservative case (15% cost increase, 6-month delay)

Disaster case (bad absorption, rising rates, or both)

Proves you’ve planned for turbulence — not just blue skies.

→ This isn’t paperwork.
→ This is how deals get funded.

Show up with real due diligence…
You instantly stand out from 90% of developers.