Avery, Forward Planner at D.R. Horton: Advize Career Interview
A career as a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton offers a dynamic and fast-paced environment where a passion for home building translates into a rewarding profession.
Starting with an agricultural business degree and internships at Meritage Homes and Brand on Development, this individual's path demonstrates the value of diverse experiences and active career exploration.
Daily responsibilities include entitlements, land acquisition, and managing multiple projects simultaneously, requiring critical thinking, strong communication, and organization skills.
The work is challenging, demanding versatility across various disciplines like civil engineering, architecture, and city planning, but the constant learning and opportunity to contribute to creating thriving communities are highly rewarding.
Entry-level positions like assistant forward planner or land acquisition analyst provide excellent starting points, and informational interviews are encouraged to learn more about this exciting field.
Success in this industry depends on being a good listener, a team player, and possessing confidence.
The interviewee's experience highlights the importance of internships for career exploration and emphasizes the value of effective communication to navigate the complexities of working with city officials, neighbors, and consultants.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Avery Jones
Forward Planner
D.R. Horton
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Environmental & Related Sciences
Real Estate
Real Estate
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path Of A Forward Planner At D.R. Horton
Avery's career path started with an agricultural business degree at Cal Poly, but a childhood fascination with home building, spurred by their father's work, led them to pursue a real estate property development minor and internships at Meritage Homes and Brand on Development. This experience culminated in Avery's current role at D.R. Horton as a Forward Planner, where they now focus on "the front end of development," encompassing land acquisition and entitlements.
Main Responsibilities of a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton
Avery's main responsibilities as a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton center on "entitlements," working with "city staff and city politicians" to secure project approvals by altering zoning and land use designations, such as changing a site from business park to residential. This role has also expanded to include land acquisition, identifying and vetting potential residential development sites, demonstrating a career progression involving both project management and strategic planning.
A Day in the Life of a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton
A forward planner at D.R. Horton works on "five to seven projects at any one time," juggling tasks such as permit pulling, attending meetings, preparing plans, and managing consultants, making each day unique and filled with new challenges while also building upon prior experience. The fast-paced environment allows for continuous learning and skill development across multiple projects, as Avery notes that "no day is the same."
Most Important Skills For A Forward Planner At D.R. Horton
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, emphasizes the importance of "critical thinking" in a role where there are no easy answers, requiring one to consider "what is gonna be the best result for my team and the company," while also highlighting essential skills such as organization, professional communication (including "professional email writing skills"), and effective meeting management.
Favorite Parts of Being a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, finds the constant learning aspect of the role most rewarding, stating, "I'm still learning every single day." This continuous learning is fueled by the diverse challenges of each project, from navigating varying city permit regulations to understanding market-specific home product needs, making the work engaging and developing Avery's skillset.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton
Avery's biggest challenge as a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton is the need for "a lot of knowledge in many different categories" of home building, requiring a versatile skillset encompassing aspects of civil engineering, architecture, and city planning, rather than expertise in a single area. This necessitates constant adaptation, requiring them to be "an architect one day and having to be a city planner the next day."
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Home Building Industry As A Forward Planner
Avery enjoys the "fast-paced" and "always changing and developing" nature of the home building industry, finding it rewarding to contribute to building homes for families. The personal connection to creating communities, as evidenced by their childhood experience in a similar development, further fuels their passion for the work, leading to pride in projects that will last "for decades to come."
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Home Building Industry, According To A Forward Planner At D.R. Horton
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, identifies key traits for success in home building as being "organized, confident, really good listeners," and possessing a "team mindset". This collaborative approach, and the willingness to seek help when needed, are highlighted as crucial for project completion.
What a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Real Estate Industry
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, learned that the common industry advice to "wear a lot of hats" means adapting to diverse tasks and interactions daily—from serving as a 23-year-old HOA president to negotiating with mayors and handling emails. This requires a dynamic approach, changing one's demeanor and presentation to effectively connect with various stakeholders, such as neighbors, city councils, and consultants, in rapidly shifting meeting contexts.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Forward Planners At D.R. Horton
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, suggests that entry-level candidates explore "assistant forward planner," a role similar to their own, or "land acquisition analyst," which involves market research and seller information analysis. These positions, while not the most common, offer valuable entry points, and informational interviews are recommended to understand specific job duties across different home builders.
Significant Career Lesson From a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, identifies "being a good listener" as a crucial career lesson, emphasizing that a successful meeting involves listening more than talking to acquire necessary information. This active listening prevents project derailment by ensuring alignment with stakeholders' goals, highlighting the importance of effective communication in their role.
College Experiences That Helped A Forward Planner At D.R. Horton Succeed
Avery, a Forward Planner at D.R. Horton, emphasizes the importance of internships in career exploration, stating that internships should be viewed as opportunities "to explore what you think you might wanna do." The experience of completing internships in home building, despite an agricultural business undergraduate degree, solidified Avery's career path and provided valuable real-world knowledge.
Advizer Personal Links
N/A