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PlotSlate articles

Plain-English explainers from the PlotSlate team.

PlotSlate article card: the headline “The construction change order process” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

The construction change order process

The construction change order process from the owner's side: how a change becomes an executed change order, what AIA G701 does, and when the budget moves.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “How a construction draw schedule works” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

How a construction draw schedule works

How a construction draw schedule works: the request and its backup, the lender's inspection, lien waivers, and why draws follow the schedule of values.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Construction contingency in a development budget” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Construction contingency in a development budget

What construction contingency is for, the published industry range and the base it is measured against, and the drawdown log that makes the buffer real.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Hard costs vs soft costs in development” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Hard costs vs soft costs in development

Hard costs vs soft costs in a development budget: where the industry draws the line, the items that genuinely straddle it, and why the lender settles it.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Real estate development costs: the five buckets” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Real estate development costs: the five buckets

Real estate development costs bucket by bucket: land and acquisition, hard costs, soft costs, financing costs, and contingency, and what belongs in each one.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “The real estate development pro forma, after closing” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

The real estate development pro forma, after closing

What a real estate development pro forma contains, and what happens to it after closing, when it becomes the frozen baseline that variance is measured from.

August 30, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Dealpath alternatives for CRE deal management” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Dealpath alternatives for CRE deal management

Alternatives to Dealpath for CRE teams: MotionCRE's published seat tiers, Northspyre and Rabbet for delivery, and spreadsheets. Verified August 2026 pricing.

August 20, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Northspyre alternatives for development teams” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Northspyre alternatives for development teams

Alternatives to Northspyre for real estate development management: Rabbet, Dealpath, spreadsheets, and what each is known to cost as of August 2026.

August 20, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Rabbet alternatives for development finance” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Rabbet alternatives for development finance

Alternatives to Rabbet for developers: Northspyre, Dealpath, and the spreadsheet, compared on scope, meter, and what is actually known about cost. August 2026.

August 20, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “How to track a real estate development budget” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

How to track a real estate development budget

How to track a real estate development budget: original budget, approved changes, committed costs, and forecast at completion, so drift surfaces early.

August 7, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Real estate development milestones to track” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Real estate development milestones to track

The real estate development milestones that carry consequences: closings, approvals, permits, and draws, and how to track them across a whole portfolio.

August 7, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Development tracking spreadsheets: the limits” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Development tracking spreadsheets: the limits

How to structure a real estate development tracking spreadsheet: the portfolio tab, per-project tabs, and budget columns, plus the three ways it breaks.

August 7, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “The phases of real estate development, explained” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

The phases of real estate development, explained

The phases of real estate development, from sourcing and feasibility through entitlement, preconstruction, and construction to closeout, and what each changes.

August 7, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “Real estate development pipeline management” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

Real estate development pipeline management

Real estate development pipeline management: every active project's phase, budget health, and next decision in one view, plus the cadence that keeps it honest.

August 7, 2026

PlotSlate article card: the headline “How to track real estate development projects” set in white type on a dark olive-green gradient, with the PlotSlate wordmark above itArticle

How to track real estate development projects

How to track real estate development projects from the owner's side: phase, budget health, and the next consequential milestone for every active deal.

August 7, 2026