Ep. 237 – The Truth About Timeframes in Property Development

Introduction

In property development, the old saying “time is money” isn’t just a cliché—it is the difference between a profitable project and a financial disaster. With holding costs accumulating every single day, how do you ensure your project stays on track, or better yet, finishes early? In this episode of the Property Mastermind Podcast, Hilary Sacks and Bob Anderson dive deep into the critical topic of timeframes. They unpack the most common causes of project delays—from the “procrastination phase” before you even start, to the unpredictability of council approvals. Bob shares his strategies for managing consultants, explaining why choosing the cheapest surveyor might actually cost you more in the long run, and why you should treat your project management with the urgency of burning $50 notes. Whether you are battling council bottlenecks or managing frustrated investors, this episode provides the blueprint for keeping the ball rolling every single day.

Episode Highlights

01:17 – Bob’s Tip of the Week: Why the only thing faster than your Council approval is your expectation of it. 
02:28 – The #1 cause of delays before you even start: How “fence-sitting” and the “I’ll do it when…” mindset kills projects.
03:49 – The golden rule of project management: “Keep the ball rolling every day.”
07:56 – Price vs. Speed: Why paying a consultant slightly more for immediate availability is smarter than waiting weeks for the cheaper option.
11:44 – Managing Council: How submitting compliant applications and using well-connected town planners can speed up the “uncontrollable” approval process.
14:54 – The “hidden” timeframe: Why you must account for the 1–2 months it takes just to prepare your application before lodging.
16:07 – Fast-tracking strategies: Using Complying Development Certificates (CDC) and RiskSmart to bypass standard council queues.
24:21 – The “Simultaneous” Strategy: How to wear multiple hats (finance, marketing, construction) at once to slash holding costs.
25:37 – A critical mistake: Why waiting until construction ends to apply for titles burns money needlessly.
32:44 – The visual cost of delay: Imagine taking cash out of your wallet and burning it to understand the true cost of daily interest.