diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 03e43d245..4f5fc4ea0 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -26,9 +26,12 @@ Here's the process to make changes to the codebase:
 2. Review [open pull requests](https://github.com/spdx/tools-python/pulls) before committing time to a substantial
    revision. Work along similar lines may already be in progress.
 
-3. Create a new branch:
+3. Create a new branch and set up environment:
    ```sh
    git checkout -b fix-or-improve-something
+   python -m venv ./venv
+   ./venv/bin/activate
+   pip install -e .
    ```
 4. Make some changes and commit them to the branch:
    ```sh
diff --git a/spdx/parsers/parse_anything.py b/spdx/parsers/parse_anything.py
index 329ea6944..906337fff 100644
--- a/spdx/parsers/parse_anything.py
+++ b/spdx/parsers/parse_anything.py
@@ -21,10 +21,11 @@
 from spdx.parsers.builderexceptions import FileTypeError
 
 
-def parse_file(fn):
+def parse_file(fn, encoding="utf-8"):
     builder_module = jsonyamlxmlbuilders
     read_data = False
     if fn.endswith(".rdf") or fn.endswith(".rdf.xml"):
+        encoding = None
         parsing_module = rdf
         builder_module = rdfbuilders
     elif fn.endswith(".tag") or fn.endswith(".spdx"):
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ def parse_file(fn):
     p = parsing_module.Parser(builder_module.Builder(), StandardLogger())
     if hasattr(p, "build"):
         p.build()
-    with open(fn) as f:
+    with open(fn, "r", encoding=encoding) as f:
         if read_data:
             data = f.read()
             return p.parse(data)
diff --git a/spdx/writers/write_anything.py b/spdx/writers/write_anything.py
index 5e479ef6e..63a4f4c3b 100644
--- a/spdx/writers/write_anything.py
+++ b/spdx/writers/write_anything.py
@@ -18,11 +18,12 @@
 from spdx.parsers.builderexceptions import FileTypeError
 
 
-def write_file(doc, fn, validate=True):
+def write_file(doc, fn, validate=True, encoding="utf-8"):
     out_mode = "w"
     if fn.endswith(".rdf") or fn.endswith(".rdf.xml"):
         writer_module = rdf
         out_mode = "wb"
+        encoding = None
     elif fn.endswith(".tag") or fn.endswith(".spdx"):
         writer_module = tagvalue
     elif fn.endswith(".json"):
@@ -34,5 +35,5 @@ def write_file(doc, fn, validate=True):
     else:
         raise FileTypeError("FileType Not Supported")
 
-    with open(fn, out_mode) as out:
+    with open(fn, out_mode, encoding=encoding) as out:
         p = writer_module.write_document(doc, out, validate)