1. Objective & Scope

• Define the desired outcome in one sentence.
• Identify the property, phase, unit count, use, and scope of work.
• Separate must-haves from preferences.
• Confirm who has final decision authority.

2. Site & Approvals

• Confirm site control and legal access.
• Verify zoning and entitlement path.
• Identify required studies, plans, permits, hearings, and agency approvals.
• Confirm utility availability and major infrastructure requirements.

3. Team & Responsibility

• Name the owner or project lead responsible for driving decisions.
• Identify required engineer, architect, surveyor, contractor, legal, lender, and specialty consultants.
• Assign clear responsibility for each major deliverable.
• Establish how decisions and changes will be documented.

4. Capital & Economics

• Confirm acquisition, design, entitlement, construction, carrying, and contingency budgets.
• Identify committed capital versus capital still to be raised.
• Confirm lender milestones, draw requirements, and timing.
• Model cost and schedule overruns.

5. Schedule & Decision Gates

• Build the critical-path sequence from due diligence to completion.
• Identify decisions that block downstream work.
• Set dates for go/no-go decisions.
• Track outside dependencies and agency review time.
• Maintain a current risk and issue list.