Before You Build or Sell: Find Out What "Base" You're On
A Simple Way for Property Owners to Think About Development
If you own land or a building, you're already in the game.
The problem: most owners don't know what game they're playing, or what the next smart move is. They hear "potential" and see dollar signs… and risk.
At Facet Development, we use a simple picture to make sense of it:
Your property is on a baseball field. Your job isn't to hit a grand slam. It's to move from base to base on purpose.
Here's the quick version.
Dugout: "I Just Own This"
You're in the dugout if:
You own land or a building, but don't have a clear plan.
People say it has "potential," but you're not sure what that means.
You haven't spoken with the planning department yet.
You don't need drawings - You need orientation.
On our site, this is where the Property Game Plan™ starts: getting your arms around what's possible, what's not, and whether it's worth swinging at all.
Plate: "I'm Hearing a Lot of Opinions"
You're at the plate if:
You've talked to a broker, city staff, or a civil engineer.
You have one or two rough ideas.
You've seen zoning info… but don't fully trust it.
Everyone seems to have a different opinion.
You don't need more opinions.
You need a coordinated game plan—2–3 real options with rough costs, income ranges, and risks in one place.
We break down how that works on the Property Game Plan section of FacetDevelopment.com.
First Base: Fully Qualified Property
You're on first base if you have:
A clear concept and site/master plan
Planned locations for Buildings, access, parking, and stormwater for all phases of the property
Started result-making conversations with planning/zoning
Finishing with the Planning Dept Approval of your master site plan
Standing on first base, this is where your site stops being "just dirt" and starts being a ready concept that buyers, partners, and lenders can understand.
On the site, look for how we talk about entitlements and "Fully Qualified Property"—that's first base.
Second Base: Infrastructure & Shovel-Ready
You're near second base if:
You know how fire trucks and users access the site
You know where utilities come from (water, sewer/septic, power, data)
You know what kind of signage you are allowed.
You have rough pricing for roads, utilities, signage and site work
Now you're beyond paper. You're answering, "What does it really take to get this site ready to build?"
We go deeper on this on the Infrastructure / Shovel-Ready part of our services—how we map and cost the path from approvals to reality.
Third Base to Home: Build or Exit
You're between third base and home if:
You're in detailed design and preconstruction
You've talked with lenders or investors
You're deciding whether to build, partner, or sell
At this point, it's about stress-testing the numbers and aligning the team, so you don't run all the bases and trip at home plate.
Our Development + Architecture content shows how Facet Development and Facet Architecture work together at this stage.
Want a Fast Way to See Where You Are?
We put all of this into a simple, one-page tool:
Property Owner's Scorecard™ – What Base Are You On?
It's a quick checklist that helps you:
See which "base" you're actually on
Name the kind of help you really need next
Avoid skipping straight from dugout to "let's just build something."
We're giving it away as a free download.
Your Next Step
If you're holding land or a building and thinking, "I know this should be worth more… I just don't know what to do with it," here's what I'd do:
Use it to figure out where you are on the field.
We'll look at your property, listen to your goals, and outline whether a complete Property Game Plan™ (Development R&D Study) makes sense—or if there's a simpler move.
You don't have to become a developer. You just need a clear base to run to next.
Download the Scorecard and schedule your Property Game Plan Call on FacetDevelopment.com.
