Residential developments – Why doing things right matters

You’d be forgiven, as a layman, for seeing residential developments as a fairly straightforward process.

Identify land for development, build properties, realise a profit for stakeholders and move on to the next project.

Yet any developer worth their salt would struggle to identify with this description – because the realities are, or at least should be, so much more visionary, nuanced and aspirational than that.

And at Zunikh, they are. Rather than bricks and mortar, we’re about places. Clients and stakeholders are people. Our purpose is to leave the land we develop in a better place than when we found it – building communities in the process.

Here are six key considerations that all innovative, value-led residential property developers should be considering ahead of any proposed development.

In residential property development, the project is always greater than the sum of its parts.

From boots on the ground, legal experts, development funders, local authorities and community residents, a superb development is created when the best people come together and combine skills, experience, and expertise to create something truly outstanding.

A silo mentality is restrictive and limiting. True collaboration, joined-up thinking, shared goals, a desire to do good and the utilising of myriad of skillsets can help create something which is ultimately truly outstanding. Zunikh’s business centres around building relationships that in turn build developments.

There are many sectors and industries which are intrinsically value-led. We take it as read, for example, that the health sector is driven by leaders and individuals who genuinely care about what they do, and the people they are doing it for.

This same ethos should apply to property development and, specifically, residential spaces can have an overwhelmingly positive and life-affirming effect on end-users.

Developers should be a force for good – enhancing spaces and creating communities. These values should run through the entire operation; the project will benefit immeasurably from them.

People make places – both literally and metaphorically. Investing time and energy in the people who will come together to make a scheme truly great – from investors, land owners, agents, construction workers, stakeholders, end-users and wider communities – elevates any project.

When people work together, great things undoubtedly happen.

Developments shouldn’t be seen in isolation. Putting the same level of commitment and pride into a small-scale development in Yorkshire as a large-scale, multi-million-pound development in the South East should be a given.

All developments are connected by a vision to create better and enhance the lives of people. If a site has the developer’s name on it – they should be proud of it, no matter its scale or scope. Every development is a flagship one and a great litmus test for Zunikh’s developments is that all its team members can see themselves living there.

Considering the bigger picture and having a strong, aspirational set of values are critical to success.

However, this should be complimented by a sharp, unwavering focus on delivering set outcomes and this is done through having the right people who are truly best-in-class at what they do.

By being able to call upon the best in the business to work on all aspects of development, you’ll deliver – and over-deliver – time again, ensuring that targets are met and commercial ROI and capital growth are realised.

The legacy from a development project doesn’t end once the last spade leaves the ground, or when the last plot of a development is sold– on the contrary, this is the start of the legacy as people and families begin the next phases of their lives. The bigger picture is important. Identifying a site for development can have far-reaching positive impacts. It encourages employment, can aid the regeneration of an area and stimulate the local economy. Any investment – whether working independently or alongside partners – must also realise commercial profitability.

Whether it’s residential or commercial properties; large-scale or small in scope – if we see investment potential which will deliver real capital growth, above market yields and benefit the communities they’ll serve, we’ll always be interested.

Because when Zunikh completes a development or takes on an investment, everybody prospers.

Creating genuinely best-in-class residential property developments that stand the test of time and deliver on every objective – both commercially and for the end users – should be the bedrock of any developer.

It’s why Zunikh has a reputation not just for excellence, delivering results and achieving objectives, but for its commitment to fairness and good business practice.

We’re trusted by our wide-ranging corporate partners, and trusted by those who make their homes and live in our developments too.

If you would like more information about Zunikh or anything featured in this article, contact us now.

By Lily Martin
Chief Operating Officer