Making better use of your assets to create long term value
Commercial property owners are having to be more creative in finding ways to use their assets to maximise profits.
National property consultancy Bruton Knowles is working with private investors and major funds across the county to help them apply effective management and forward planning to better sweat their assets to maximise and protect return.
Dorian Wragg, is Head of Commercial, based at Bruton Knowles’ Gloucester office. He said: “Applying the right strategy can significantly enhance an asset’s performance and maximise the value of a portfolio or property.
“Bruton Knowles combines an exemplary property management service with the capability to identify and create strategic opportunities. Acting as trusted advisors, we completely immerse ourselves in our clients’ property investments, managing the portfolio as if it’s our own. That critical local knowledge, combined with an understanding of broader market dynamics, allows us to identify opportunities for properties at an early stage and to deliver our clients’ aspirations.”
How best to ‘sweat’ an asset
Consider motivation and drivers
Central to a strong asset management strategy is really understanding the clients’ motivations and their risk and reward profile. Bruton Knowles will go “back to basics’ with property owners to understand the ultimate aims for their portfolio such as capital or income growth.
Put in place building blocks
Identifying opportunities at an early stage is vital. When first instructed Bruton Knowles undertakes a thorough review of the occupational leases, income streams and holding costs to identify opportunities for change. These are the basis for effective asset management.
Cooperation not conflict
Traditionally, relationships between tenants and landlords or their agents have often been hostile. But avoiding confrontation is an important part of an effective asset management strategy, reducing conflict and its associated costs, such as legal fees. Enhancing assets is simpler and less costly if tenants have bought into improvements. Bruton Knowles seeks positive outcomes with tenants wherever possible.
Adding value
A good asset management strategy seeks to add value and reduce risks and costs. Key dates in leases such as rent reviews, lease terminations and break dates provide opportunities to do so. Buildings kept in good repair ensure that values aren’t undermined and identifying development opportunities early gives time to work up proposals to meet lease timeframes.
Simple wins
Simple, low cost ideas can often have a surprisingly large impact. Installing the latest fibre broadband will improve lettability and rental values. Satisfying the increased appetite of tenants to enhance green credentials, can allow you to install solar energy and generate new income by selling the power generated back to the building via the service charge or directly to tenants.
Ahead of the curve
In-depth knowledge of market dynamics on a national and regional level is essential to stay ahead of the curve. Bruton Knowles continues to look at ways to integrate new technology into buildings, introducing smart metering as well as the latest technology to analyse customer habits. For example, apps can be used to track footfall to a unit, or even monitor customer sentiment. This data promotes greater understanding of customer demographics, helping tenants enhance their business which in turn improves the rents and performance of the landlord’s asset. In today’s market, an effective asset management strategy should be an integral part of all commercial property planning.
For more information about how Bruton Knowles can create a bespoke asset management strategy for your property portfolio, contact: Dorian Wragg [email protected]
Meet the Bruton Knowles commercial team
Dorian Wragg MRICS RPR FNARA, Head of Commercial Property: Dorian specialises in the strategic management of property assets including retail, office, industrial, residential, roadside and leisure properties throughout the UK.
Dorian brings over twenty years of UK real estate experience to Bruton Knowles. Dorian identifies and implements opportunities to maximise returns through re-gearing, lease renewals, rental uplifts and lettings/disposals on the individual assets.
Dorian is experienced at coordinating specialist professional advisors to deliver complex strategies, driving income and capital growth. Recent projects have included work for Gloucestershire College, the Royal British Legion, London and Cambridge Properties Limited, IPIF and West Somerset and Taunton Council. [email protected]
Robert Smith, MRICS, Agency: Robert advises clients on acquisitions, sales and lettings and has over 25 years’ experience. He can provide detailed advice on all types of commercial property from industrial and office to retail and development. [email protected]
Richard Brogden MRICS, FAAV, RICS Registered Valuer, Planning & Development: Richard specialises in unlocking potential development sites and matching sites to individual developers. Richard acts as Expert for Arbitrations, Court Proceedings and Planning Appeals and he is an Independent Expert on the Presidents Panel. [email protected]
Angus Taylor FRICS FCABE MAPM, Building Consultancy: Angus delivers Building Consultancy, advising occupiers and investors from manufacturing to service industries as well as carrying out development monitoring on behalf of financial institutions. Angus provides expert witness in the Construction Courts and is a Historic Buildings Consultant. [email protected]
James Pullin MRICS, RICS Registered Valuer, Valuation: James specialises in asset valuations. He has extensive market knowledge of a wide variety of property types. [email protected]
John Williams FRICS, MCIArb, MEWI, Lease Advisory: John deals with rent reviews and lease renewals. With over two decades of experience, principally in the retail sector, John is a certified Expert Witness and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. [email protected]
Angus Jackson MRICS RICS Registered Valuer, Rating: Angus has a strong track record advising commercial clients using his local market knowledge and understanding of property issues. He has dealt with a wide range of rating cases, from individual assessments to large portfolio management. [email protected]
Peter Hadley MRICS, Management: Peter is leading Bruton Knowles’ initiative as a market leader in asset management services for owners, occupiers and investors. His wide sector experience enables him to provide a full management service from strategy formulation to implementation. [email protected]
