Archive for the ‘Property’ Category

A Guide to Office Space Rentals

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies. Rapid growth and development are paving the way for some countries in the region to imitate the success of the Asian “tiger economies” like Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. One such country is the Philippines; and according to a recent study, it is well on its way to becoming one of the largest economies in the world. All this potential for growth in the country is the cause of steadily increasing office space rent in Manila. Businesses that are looking to invest in and establish a presence in the country should be aware of the options they have.

Business in the Philippines is booming because it is one of the few countries that sustained economic growth despite the global recession. It continues to be one of the most vibrant markets in the world, and outlook from different global financial agencies remain positive. Some of the thriving industries include business process outsourcing (BPO), tourism, mining, and infrastructure. When it comes to setting up an office in the country, the Central Business District of Makati is your company’s best option.

About Makati

Makati is the Philippines’ financial hub, and most major companies and multinational corporations operate out of the city. Some of the companies that occupy the numerous buildings in Makati include Standard Chartered, Shell, Chevron, Ernst and Young, and a number of other financial institutions. The cost of office space rent in Manila can be expensive because of the presence of these companies. It is important that businesses look through all their options before settling for one. If you want your company to project professionalism and an image of success, consider renting out or leasing an office space located along Ayala Avenue.

Why Ayala Avenue?

Ayala Avenue is the Philippines’ answer to Orchard Road in Singapore or Wall Street in New York City. It is the country’s most in demand stretch of real estate and most high-rise buildings in Makati are located here. It is an ideal place to establish your enterprise because of its proximity to other organizations and institutions, commercial establishments, and its easy access to other parts of Metro Manila.

What should you look for in an office space?

One of the first things to look for when renting out a space in the country is accreditation from and membership with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. This is the government agency that facilitates the business operations of investors in the country, and it should play a major factor in the decision you make.

Cost-effectiveness is another thing you should be looking for. You might be surprised to learn that some buildings in Makati charge more than a building located in the same area for nearly the same services. Look for developers that will offer you more than just an office space, but services that will get your business up and running at the soonest possible time. Keep in mind that some buildings offer basic fit-out packages. This includes the customization of the space with ceiling, carpeting, or other construction services. These services may seem basic, but these go a long way. Dealing with them earlier reduces the hassle of starting operations.

Office space rent in Manila can be pricy, so exhaust all your options before making an investment. Look for a building that is in a strategic location and has access to transportation and all the best that the city has to offer.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Commercial Realtors – Earn More Commission With a Great Database

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

In this commercial real estate market, there are challenges for real estate agents in finding buyers, tenants, and landlords. Property enquiry is more difficult and selective; hence the time on market with listings is commonly extended beyond that which we experienced a few years ago.

One of the most important tools for you to use in this property market to solve these marketing and negotiation problems is an accurate and up to date database.

Regrettably a lot of salespeople struggle with keeping a database to support their property enquiry and listings. Given that salespeople work from the commissions of closed contracts and leases, you would think that this database problem should be a rare event, however it is very common. The reality is that a good database requires diligent process and data entry.

The database is your road to better prospects, negotiations, and commissions; why would you delegate that to someone else or put the process off? When you take personal ownership of the database, you know just how important it is to your business opportunity; you will commit to its accuracy and daily maintenance.

On a personal basis a database system is critical to the listings that you achieve and the contracts or leases that you convert and negotiate. When a database works well for you, it is much easier to find the right buyers and tenants for the listings that you are working with.

So here are some key rules regards using a database as a business tool in commercial real estate:

The software that you use does not have to be expensive or complex. Find a database program that is comfortable for you and easy to access. Information is what the database is all about. If you can put the information in and get it out with ease, then the database will serve your purpose. Make sure that you can easily export the file in some common version (eg use CSV or tab delimited files) that is compatible with normal spreadsheet formats. That will allow you to back up all the hard work and effort you have put into the program and database.

It is best to enter all contact activity from the working day into the database at day end. In this way you will not take up precious prospecting and networking time. Capture all information from your meetings and conversations into the program.

You should have the facility for backup of data. The backup should be done daily or at the very least weekly onto a separate data storage device. You may also want to synchronize the data with your mobile phone and carry it with you.

The object of a database is to stay in regular contact with qualified parties. By regular contact I mean each 90 days or less. Any contact point beyond 90 days is usually irrelevant and the client or prospect will have forgotten you.

Today we need to capture not just the names and telephone numbers of our contacts, but also their e-mail address, website, and property needs. Details of the last conversation you have with them will also be relevant and assist you when you make the next telephone call.

A good commercial real estate business is built around personal contact and regular contact at the individual level. The prospect needs to know you as the expert in the local area; this can be achieved through regular database contact. As part of the process you can be providing property market updates and listing details to your prospects.

If market share is important to you then a database will be essential as a business tool. The process requires discipline but the rewards are many.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com