Commercial Property Investor Podcast

As promised, we're back with another round of 10 unique customer stories! From the discovery of a container repurposed for illicit substances, to our interactions with an unconventional cleaning client plus a recruitment professional known for his colourful language. We really have seen it all over the years... But that's just part of the fun when dealing with the diverse and sometimes quirky clie...

I'm joined by Ross Smith from Anderson Smith Insurance Brokers to discuss recent changes in Scotland regarding fire safety regulations. It may not be long until the same changes affect the rest of the UK. We delve into the new process for getting the fire brigade to respond to fire alarms, which now involves contacting key holders instead of immediately alerting the fire brigade, and also highligh...

This time round, I'm exploring the famous mantra of "location, location, location" and questioning its significance in property investing. The concept of location can be misleading and oversimplified. It is super important to consider individual investment goals, investment style, and niche market.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The mantra of "location, location, location" is not the full picture when it comes to...

In this episode I discuss our occupancy rates. I'll share data from our own properties, revealing occupancy levels across various sites, and highlight the ongoing activity in the market, with multiple buildings being bought by our consultancy clients.  KEY TAKEAWAYS The commercial property market is still active and deals are happening, as evidenced by the three buildings that were recently bought...

I'm joined by Simon Green, the Head of Business Rates at Gerald Eve to discuss the complex world of business rates and the changes that have occurred since the recent revaluation. We talk about impact of the revaluation on different sectors, the tax take on business rates, and the direction of future changes in the system, and shine a light on the proposed rating bill and its implications, includi...

This time, I'm sharing some insightful numbers and data regarding the energy consumption and carbon emissions of our own estate. I talk about the progress made in reducing our carbon footprint over the past year and highlight the importance of striving for net-zero emissions. I'll be providing specific examples of different sites within the portfolio, detailing the electric usage and the correspon...

Bryn Walker joins me to delve into the world of SSAS (Small Self-Administered Scheme) pensions and their potential for investing in commercial property. We provide a recap on what a SSAS pension is and its advantages over other types of pensions, and discuss the flexibility and tax benefits of contributing to a SSAS pension, as well as the ability to transfer old pensions into a SSAS.  KEY TAKEAWA...

In this episode, I'd take the opportunity to share my love for older buildings and how they can be recreated to provide very inspiring workspaces. I talk about the controversy surrounding the Marks and Spencer building on Oxford Street in London, which was slated for demolition to make way for a new glass tower. There are arguments for and against preserving older buildings, but the super importan...

In this episode, I interview Mike Lawson, an experienced property investor based in Dubai. Mike shares his insights on scaling a property portfolio and the benefits of focusing on specific areas. He discusses his family's involvement in the buy-to-let market and their strategy of consolidating properties in two postcodes or Zipcodes. Mike also talks about his foray into commercial property and the...

Today we're diving into a less-than-odd comparison: What is the difference between WeWork and Premier League football clubs? Actually on some levels, not a lot. Think WeWork's all about tech? Think again. I'll unravel its serviced office reality, and talk about some of the financial challenges it faces – from wild valuations to debt struggles. But it's not all doom and gloom. We'll explore how WeW...

Today's Guest has worked with some hospitality and co-workings best known brands. I'm really excited to share my conversation with Ian Minor. I had so much I wanted to ask about Ian's experiences at NeueHouse, Ennismore and it's brand "Working From" plus his career within the hospitality sector. We discuss Brand, Vision, Lobby Culture, design and some of the inner workings of hugely successful bra...

A few weeks ago I want interviewed by Michelle Cairns for the Your Property Podcast. I am conscious that we have lots of new followers and some of you won't know much about my back story, so I'm excited to get the opportunity to share that interview with you. We discuss my personal journey into the dynamic world of commercial property, how we stumbled into commercial multi-let properties. From my...

In this episode of the Commercial Property Investor podcast, host Jerry Alexander is joined by his friend Steven Clark to discuss his recent Student accommodation project in Aberdeen. Steven shares his experience of transitioning from single let resi properties to bigger deals and commercial deals and explains why he was drawn to the student accommodation market. He details the process of finding...

Jerry discusses the process of vetting potential customers for commercial properties. He emphasises the importance of conducting background checks, such as company checks, credit information and references, to ensure the reliability and stability of the client. He shares a number of observations and ways to ensure a potential client is a good fit for your offer   KEY TAKEAWAYS Prioritise clients w...

Join me on this update episode of the Commercial Property Investor podcast, where I share the dynamic currents shaping our commercial property landscape. We explore the increasing appetite for sustainable properties and the pivotal role of energy efficiency. Uncover the ascent of therapy enterprises and the burgeoning care sector, shaped by an aging population. We talk about the ever expanding rea...

Picking the right commercial customers is critical for the longer term. We have been taught a few lessons over the years by customers that have not behaved so well. We learnt you are actually allowed to say no, can you believe it! In this episode of the Commercial Property Investor podcast I discuss the red flags to look out for when identifying potential problem clients, such as; insisting on pay...

Today I take a look at the ongoing expenses for commercial buildings and the importance of considering these costs when evaluating a new project.  I'll talk about how recent price increases are affecting things and what compliance stuff we should think about. I'll explain the costs for single let and multi-let properties in different scenarios. We'll go over expenses like energy, personnel, cleani...

Today I welcome back Jessica Morgan to talk about effective tips for pitching to journalists. Throughout our discussion, we underscored the crucial role of a well-prepared press release and shared a range of strategies to identify and connect with the right journalists. We dive into utilizing databases, staying updated with relevant publications, subscribing to email bulletins, and conducting thor...

Today I welcome Jessica Morgan of Carnsight Communications as we discuss how to utilise clever PR to reach the right audience for your commercial projects. Finding customers and garnering support or building a brand needs focus and concerted effort. While marketing allows for more targeted approaches, PR offers a broader reach. It's crucial not to be too narrow in targeting specific publications a...

Join me as I discuss the current state of the business environment and the challenges and opportunities it presents. The commercial real estate market is facing headwinds, such as rate rises and environmental impact, but I believe it will recover once the downturn passes. The residential market however, may take longer to bounce back. Despite the complexity of the economy, I stress the importance...

In this episode Gillian Green and I take a deep dive into the importance of taking action to achieve our goals. We reflect on past experiences of meeting individuals who didn't take action despite receiving property training and stress the need to avoid regret by investing our time and effort into what truly matters. We explore the tendency for self-criticism amidst demanding jobs and frustrating...

In this podcast, I dive into the factors that greatly impact the value of a lease, all from my perspective as a passive investor. It's crucial to grasp these factors to ensure smart investment choices. You'd be surprised by how much the quality of a lease can influence a property's overall value. Even two identical buildings can have vastly different worth based on the leases they hold. I'll be di...

In this episode Georgia Sandom from OSIT (Office Space In Town) joins me to discuss her important role as Operations and ESG director. This is an engaging conversation about a what is arguably the most important topic of our time. We talk about energy audits and sustainable building practices and the importance of bench marking your buildings so you can work towards your goals. By focusing on buil...

Today Stephen and I dive into the fascinating world of working with SSAS trustees in real estate investment projects. Our conversation centers around the essential elements of building relationships and trust with investors, as well as providing comprehensive project information and forecasts. We'll share our personal experiences, including Stephen's journey in finding investors and securing fundi...

In this episode, Noreen and I sit down to discuss her remarkable journey with industrial and office space. Noreen shares her firsthand experience and the benefits of transforming traditional long-term leases into flexible multi-occupancy units. More an more traditional landlords are now trying to work out how to respond to the continuing change of customer demand to more flexible and modern spaces...