Along with personnel and IT, property is typically one of the three largest costs for a business.  Whilst it is often seen as merely a burden, property should actually be viewed as a potentially valuable asset, just like personnel and IT; one which can be proactively managed to increase efficiency, cost-effectiveness and profitability. As a major item on any balance sheet, whether owned or rented, an effective and proactive property strategy should be formulated, implemented and monitored by all businesses. However for many companies, and particularly SMEs, this does not occur.

Strategically and effectively co-ordinating a company’s property, and ensuring that it matches operational business needs, requires time and specialist, multi-disciplinary expertise.  Whilst the time and costs can be discouraging, the benefits of occupying space which is functional, efficient and fit for purpose can be huge in terms of reduced occupational costs, increased staff productivity, higher workforce retention and even market profile and image. Although the trigger for most companies seeking property advice comes with corporate expansion or acquisition, companies who occupy large single or multiple sites, or those feeling significant cost pressures should also consider the merits of a proactive property strategy.

Whilst for many, the need for specialist advice is a short-term, project driven requirement; when this advice is required, the benefits of good quality, strategic and practical advice, or the consequences of poor advice will have a long-lasting impact on the business.

Only the largest organisations are able to employ permanent property specialists in-house; and even fewer employ experienced property financiers, asset managers and developers at board level to ensure that corporate property needs are both identified and then met.  For most companies, property decisions are one-off projects that fall upon senior management, who can ill-afford for their attention to be taken from the important day to day running of the business.

Outsourcing this role will ensure that specialist resource can be called upon whilst maintaining cost efficiencies, allowing the company to bring on-board high quality expertise only when necessary.  An outsourced, experienced professional will have market knowledge, contact networks and specialist skills to ensure that strategic property decisions made respond to operational business need and are actually implemented to ensure best results.

For further information as to how Real Estate Director can benefit your company, please contact:

Graham Payne – 07817 477518 – graham@realestatedirector.co.uk

Patrick Neville – 07513 604961 – patrick@realestatedirector.co.uk