If you’re considering buying a commercial property it’s important to assess the best means of doing so before you start your search. Such a purchase is a massive investment and hugely important to the future of your business; it is therefore not one to be taken lightly. You could rent, of course, but if you have the funds available to you... Read More
Buying and selling commercial property for profit – can it be done? In the past few years we have all seen how easy it is to make money on residential property by simply buying a run down property, fixing it up and reselling it. Countless television programmes have spent many hours showing us how it’s done. We have also seen how easy it... Read More
I have just returned from a business trip to South Africa where I Was carrying out research into their commercial property and serviced office market and I must say that it was a real eye-opener. I had never been before and I must admit, I was expecting a typical ex-colonial country. Slightly tired buildings and an obvious third world feel.... Read More
London Commercial Property One of London’s most prominent commercial property’s has been subject to unexplained paranormal activity. At times during daylight hours, strange 'ghoul' like figures can be seen shimmering across the 6th floor office, which houses the head office of Farrington Plastics Europe. Mrs Sherry Glass, the... Read More
What, if any effect, will the terrible disaster that has befallen Japan have on the demand for commercial property and serviced offices in Britain and the rest of Europe? Firstly we need to look at the effects on the general economy. It is still too early to tell what the full impact of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami, and growing nuclear... Read More
When landlords face the prospect of their commercial property being vacant, security issues are usually one of their top concerns. Managers of vacant commercial property report that squatting, arson, vandalism and graffiti seem to be on the increase. And, while the Ministry of Justice is considering new measures to tackle the problem of... Read More
Latest reports seem to suggest that the US commercial property market is starting to climb. The US economy grew at a 2.8% annual rate in the fourth quarter, helping boost demand for serviced offices, retail and industrial space. However, some fluctuations will remain as the share of troubled transactions continues to be elevated. WE must... Read More
I met an interesting pair of entrepreneurs last week. They had just purchased a residential house in the Canterbury city centre and were in the process of converting it into a suite of serviced offices. The services that they planned to include were; Dedicated Receptionist, Administrative Support, Telecom service, IT infrastructure and... Read More
Serviced offices – are they the answer for small businesses? Well, let’s first look at what serviced offices are. A serviced office also known as an "executive suite" or 'executive space' is an commercial property or office or office that is fully equipped and managed by a facility management company, which then rents individual offices... Read More
Buy or rent? It’s the age old question. And I am talking renting or buying commercial property or office space for your own use, not as an investment to rent out to others. Both paths have their advantages and disadvantages, the major ones being; you will tie capital up if you purchase your commercial property or office and you are open to... Read More
Gordon Ramsay has successfully marinated his profile with a number of reality TV projects including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares and the F-Word. These shows, together with his Michelin-littered restaurant empire, have enabled him to build up a multi-million pound commercial property portfolio. Hell, nightmare and F-words are... Read More
Is the double dip recession upon us, has it passed or are we still waiting for it? And are we going to see a corresponding double-drop in the values of commercial property and rental on serviced offices and shops? A couple of years ago, governments and their central banks managed to forestall a financial crisis from becoming a fully... Read More
If you own a commercial property of any kind and it’s currently sitting vacant – beware of the squatters. Serviced offices, with their plush lobbies, comfortable break-out rooms and kitchenettes are obvious targets for this most costly of infestations. So what can you do to prevent your serviced offices from such a human... Read More
I was looking at a property investment article in the Financial times regarding Commercial property, shop units, serviced offices and the like. It was dated 1995 and the headline reads – “Commercial property is RED HOT!” They were dead right – I know because I burnt my fingers on the commercial property market. But the article went... Read More
Interest rates are set to rise if Central Banks maintain the ultra relaxed monetary policy currently being pursued. Rates are likely to be raised within the year in Western economies, with the Euro zone seen as the most hawkish, and the first to nudge rates higher. If rates are not altered for a year to eighteen months, which most... Read More
What’s the catch? Well none really! We are giving away the super cool ipad2, the must have gadget of today. Oh, here at the office we’d love to unpack this beauty and try all the fab features. But no, can’t do. It will stay fresh in the box for its lucky new owner. So what do we want in return? Well, a little bit of your time but... Read More
The question being asked is, ‘during the worst financial crisis in living memory, why has the commercial property investment market within London, remained so robust’. Of course there are many factors which are unique to this well established and respected market. 1. London is considered a stable and safe environment from a... Read More
New property development firm Almacantar have proved they plan to hit the ground running in 2011, by netting their second commercial property deal in as many months. The firm, which only started trading in 2010, already seems to have a penchant for investing in ‘iconic’ London landmarks. In February, Almacantar’s first commercial... Read More
According to Jones Lang LaSalle’s 2011 Lenders’ Expectations report, lending for commercial estate sales is still limited by banks. The current financial and debt crisis in Europe is taking its toll on the commercial market. Investors are still optimistic that the market will turn around and lending will become more readily available.... Read More
There’s no doubt that the economic climate has affected the way we all approach marketing, whether we’re talking about a retail business, a professional consultancy or even the promotion of serviced office space. Our audience has become thriftier, watching every penny with hawk-like attention, more savvy to the market and the amount... Read More
As expected, the Chancellor, George Osbourne has announced twenty one new Enterprise Zones across the UK. These zones will have a rate free period to further encourage development. Enterprise Zones have been tried before, with some success, especially in the commercial property market London. This was back in the late eighties, but has led... Read More
When you are looking to rent or buying a commercial property, one of the most important factors to consider is that building’s ‘use class’. Whether a commercial property can be used as premises from which to sell food or as office space, for curing fish or to conduct financial services from, is governed by its ‘use class’. This... Read More
