The problem

"The industry has always assumed that if you're doing a development, you must already know what you're doing."

Traditional feasibility tools are designed for professionals. They output IRR, DSCR, margin on cost — metrics that only mean something if you already understand them. For someone approaching their first project, these tools don't lower the barrier. They raise it.

The novice developer isn't unsophisticated. They're motivated differently. They're building a home, solving a family problem, activating a block they already own. The numbers matter — but they're not the point. Most tools never ask what the point is.

Plota does.

The identity barrier

"Property development is only for experts." Most novices disqualify themselves before they start. The tools they find online confirm that feeling — dense, jargon-heavy, built for someone else.

The knowledge barrier

"I don't understand the financial implications." Even when someone finds a feasibility tool, the outputs don't translate. What does 18% IRR mean for someone who just wants to know if they can afford to live in what they build?

The loop

The two fears confirm each other. Not an expert → don't understand the numbers → must not be an expert. Plota is built to break that loop — by starting with why you're doing this, not what the numbers say.

The platform

Two tools. One platform.

Plota currently has two core products — a feasibility tool and a development journey guide. More will be added over time. Here's what you get from day one.

Feasibility tool

01

Model your project in full detail

The feasibility tool gives you a complete financial picture of your project — from land cost to end value, with every cost line in between. It's built for 2–3 dwelling residential developments and covers everything a developer needs to assess viability.

  • Full cost register — land, construction, professional fees, holding costs, contingency
  • Results including total return, margin on cost, and IRR
  • Finance modelling — site loan, construction loan, interest schedules
  • Cashflow and project timeline built from your inputs
  • Run up to 3 scenarios per project to compare decisions
Inputs
Cost Register
Assumptions
Results
Finance
Cashflow
Timeline
Total Project Cost
$1,240,000
incl. all costs & finance
Gross Realisation
$1,540,000
combined end value
Net Profit
$300,000
after all costs
Margin on Cost
24.2%
above 20% benchmark
IRR (annualised)
18.4%
18-month project
Net Housing Cost
$480,000
your goal metric
Land cost $650,000
Construction cost $480,000
Total finance cost $58,400
Cost register

02

Every cost line, under your control

The cost register is the source of truth for your project. Every cost is itemised, editable, and directly connected to your feasibility results. Change a number here and everything updates — results, finance, cashflow.

  • Pre-populated with standard cost categories for residential development
  • GST treatment calculated automatically for each line
  • Grouped by phase — acquisition, construction, professional fees, selling costs
  • Changes flow immediately through to results and finance tabs
Inputs
Cost Register
Assumptions
Results
Cost item Amount GST
Land purchase price$650,000
Stamp duty$35,070
Legal / conveyancing$2,200$200
Dwelling 1 — construction$265,000$24,090
Dwelling 2 — construction$215,000$19,545
Contingency (5%)$24,000$2,181
Architect / designer$18,000$1,636
Town planner$8,500$772
Total project cost $1,240,000 $52,480
Scenario modelling

03

Test decisions before you make them

Every project involves decisions where the right answer isn't obvious. Build-to-sell or build-to-rent? Three bedrooms or four? Passive house premium or standard build? Scenario modelling lets you run the numbers on both before committing.

  • Up to 3 scenarios per project
  • Each scenario has independent inputs, assumptions, and results
  • Compare key metrics side by side — return, margin, cashflow
  • Lock a scenario to preserve it while you keep experimenting

36 Smith Street — scenarios

Active
Build to sell
Net profit$300,000
Margin24.2%
IRR18.4%
Scenario 2
Build to rent
Gross yield5.8%
Annual income$89,440
Cashflow pos.Yes
Scenario 3
Passive house
Net profit$247,000
Margin18.9%
Premium cost+$53,000

Development journey guide

Know what's coming. At every stage.

The feasibility tool tells you if your project is viable. The journey guide tells you how to actually do it. Every phase of a residential development — from site acquisition to settlement — mapped out with tasks, warnings, and who you need in your corner.

For a novice developer, this is the thing that makes the industry feel less opaque. Not a glossary. Not a course. A phase-by-phase guide that stays with you as you go.

Phase 01
Site Acquisition
Due diligenceFinanceLegal
Phase 02
Planning Permit
CouncilDesignNeighbours
Phase 03
Building Permit
Working drawingsNatHERS
Phase 04
Demolition & Site
AsbestosServices
Phase 05
Construction
BuilderDrawdownsVariations
Phase 06
Subdivision
SurveyorNew titles
Phase 07
Sales & Settlement
AgentGSTContracts
Site Acquisition
Planning Permit
Building Permit
Demolition
Construction
Subdivision
Settlement
Engage architect / draftsperson
Concept design and feedback loop
Prepare and lodge planning permit application
Manage referral authorities — services, drainage
Respond to information requests (RFI)
Permit issued — review conditions carefully
Council assesses your proposal against the planning scheme. The process can involve neighbour notification, objections and appeals. A good town planner manages this and keeps things moving.
Neighbour objections — will extend approval time
Permit conditions that affect your design or budget
Design changes requested by council mid-process
Delays — build in buffer time to your programme
Town Planner Architect Council Referral Authorities Landscape Designer

The platform grows

More tools. Same platform.

Plota is a property development platform, not a single product. The feasibility tool and journey guide are the foundation. Additional features and tools will be added over time — available to subscribers on a pay-to-play basis as they're released.

📍

Project tracking

Track live projects against your feasibility model — costs, milestones, and variances as your project unfolds.

Coming soon
📦

Add-on features

Specialist tools built for specific needs — only pay for what you use, when you need it.

Pay to play
🔔

Stay notified

Subscribers are notified as new features are released. No hunting for updates.

Subscriber benefit

General Information Only

The content and outputs on this site are provided for general informational purposes only. They do not constitute, and should not be relied upon as, professional, legal, financial, investment, tax, or accounting advice. Any financial figures, projections, or estimates are based on user-provided inputs and assumptions — actual results may differ materially. Before making any investment or financial decision, you should obtain independent advice from a qualified legal practitioner, financial adviser, or accountant. Plota does not take into account your individual situation, financial position, or needs. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Plota and its officers disclaim all liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information or outputs on this site. While Plota's default assumptions reflect general Australian market conditions, all inputs and assumptions are set by the user and results reflect the user's own data. Plota is a generic feasibility tool — outputs are only as accurate as the information entered.