One of the bonuses of my job.

One of the things I love about my job is that it allows me to get out and about to meet interesting people (and not stay chained to a desk all week). Once in a while I get a day where I visit a business that makes me realise why I enjoy doing what I do so much! Every so often I get to visit small businesses that punch way above their weight – last week I had such an experience.

I was in Retford in North Notts, not a particularly industrial town, in fact quite a small market town but home it transpires to a business that supplies 90% of the UK market it is in. What do they make? Wire and traditional ropes mainly for the theatre and entertainment market. And it is in this sector that they supply 90% of the UK market they occupy!

I get to meet some amazingly interesting and successful people in my jobs and it is amazing what businesses I discover in Nottinghamshire and the surrounding area that are national or even world leaders in their market place. For example did you know that we have the only UK manufacturer of cotton wool balls in Notts?

Nine times out of ten the people running these businesses are also extremely nice people as well – another good reason for having a job that keeps me out of the office as much as it does! We are often overlooked by London and the South (they don’t get the concept of the Midlands), but we have some great businesses – think Rolls Royce, Boots, Paul Smith just to name a few of the well-known ones!

So the East Midlands has a lot going for it – don’t forget it!

 

Yet more Windows issues!

I realise that I am in danger of becoming a bit of a bore here – but stay with me – the only way any firm manages to develop and improve is through feedback. This is what I am providing here for Microsoft – it’s just that it is all negative at the moment!

Sadly I can relate to this.....

At work we use an online system for managing our agency instructions and other areas of our CRM. I won’t name them here because it might be considered ‘unfair’, however it is fair to say that like many of the systems that we use it relies on Internet Explorer (IE) and the dreaded Active X. This means that we can’t run it on any non IE machines (so no Macs or iOS machines). Not a great start then.

It also requires Java to run – and here we come to the reason for my rant. It won’t run on the latest version of Java – that would be far too easy – no, it requires version 6 update 21. The current version is 31 (and version 7 is in beta). So we have to stop people updating, and if they do we need to ‘roll back’ to version 21. Quite why the developers haven’t managed to update their package to use the latest Java is another story!

But ‘updating’ the Java should be easy – yes?

In any world other than Microsoft’s it is – but not with Windows – let me explain!

We have a mix of 32 bit and 64 bit machines at work – so obviously when downloading Java one should download the relevant Java for that machine? Well no! Internet Explorer has a 32 bit and a 64 bit version BUT – and this is the ‘good’ bit – IE 32 will run on a 64 bit machine, and if this is the case you need the 32 bit Java NOT the 64 bit version on a 64 bit machine – so that is nice and straightforward then!

And people wonder why I complain about Windows so much!

 

Do I expect too much?

Now I would be the first to accept that I have the potential to be a ‘little obsessive’ when it comes to certain things – in particular I believe that expensive and relatively delicate items need to be protected and cared for by the user. By this I am referring to the likes of cameras, iPhones, iPads and similar items.

I always get a case for my iPhone as an example (I am a big fan of Noreve products) – and I am pleased to say that I have not had to replace any screens or similar on any of the iPhones I have had. However many of my work colleagues have (and it falls to me to sort them out), and it is this that forms the basis for my ‘rant’ today – for that is what this is going to be!

In fact all my tech items are always as good as new years after I get them – the first thing I got for my new iPad was a case. I don’t know if I am old-fashioned, but I believe you should look after expensive ‘toys’ and to this end I am the case manufacturers friend!

Unfortunately I do tend to find that there is not the same level of care or concern at work about the kit we use (although I would add that my colleague Tim Garratt is equally careful) and consequently I hate buying ‘quality kit’ for them to use – as they will always revert to type and damage it!

examples of earlier 'care' by my colleagues....

Against my better judgement I recently acquired a good quality camera for my agency colleagues to use for photos on our greatly improved property details. I ensured that a case was purchased to help protect it and then crossed my fingers – all has been well for around 6 months – until today!

The rear screen has been significantly ‘cracked’ – I am assured by the users that it was an accident (I am sure it was), and it happened in the case apparently (due to foreign bodies getting in there – a cable), but that is not the point. It is the attitude that I have issue with, the damage appears to be irrelevant to the users, and if it breaks we can buy a new one!

Am I expecting too much or do we now live in a society that really doesn’t care about things because they are so easy to replace? When I was a kid you cherished things that you purchased as you had saved hard for them – surely that is the correct attitude in relation to all things?

Rant over – for now………

 

You know how sometimes things can disappoint?

In my work I am fortunate in being able to visit and see inside many amazing buildings. This week I have been given access to the old Home Ales building in Daybrook. This is a building that anyone who knows Nottingham will be familiar with, it is a true ‘landmark’ property with a great deal of history behind it.

As a listed building it has many features that are quite impressive like its main staircase and external freezes. However, it also has a large clock on its tower which has been providing accurate time for Daybrook Square since it was built. I was quite looking forward to seeing the clock mechanism behind it – I expected it to be quite a monster with big cogs and wheels from an earlier age.

How disappointing therefore to find it is no bigger than a domestic toaster and basically an electric motor!

It was good to find the ‘Ales’ signage on the next floor down though which has been saved to go back on the building when the Council leave (it is part of the listing).

The reason for my visit? Preparing an EPC for marketing as we are about to offer the building to the market on behalf of Notts County Council.

 

Finally some common sense from our council?

I blogged a few weeks ago about the crazy change to the parking rates in Nottingham City centre. The council in their infinite wisdom had decided to start charging for evening parking (which had been free for years). This was not a popular decision from all angles, especially the traders who argued that the change would impact on their businesses and consequently reduce the councils income from parking and rates.

8pm is too late.....

I did not think this view was a particularly difficult one to see, but Nottingham City Council do appear to be somewhat ‘blinkered’ at the moment and are making some less than popular decisions. Now that is fine if it is necessary to balance the books in a sensible way. But if it bites the hand that feeds you it is just plain stupid!

To add to the local traders anguish at the same time Leicester were making more free evening parking available – and publicising it as a positive thing. It was commented on at our insite launch by the mayor of Leicester and was generally considered a good idea by all.

so it is good to hear that after having a meeting with traders the council in Nottingham are finally going to ‘consider’ their decision and initially suspend the Sunday charges. That is a step in the right direction, but lets see the 6 – 8pm charges removed as well, surely it makes sense?

 

Landlords can help tenants save energy

The traditional Landlord and tenant relationship is normally seen as a ‘them and us’ style relationship. Often there is little beneficial communication between the two sides, and invariably the only contact is around quarter days when rent is due!

However one of the UK’s largest real estate investment trusts (REIT) British Land have recently been trialling automated meter reading systems in some of their multi tenanted buildings with a view to sharing the findings with the tenants. In tandem with energy-saving initiatives, the REIT has introduced a six monthly energy consumption report for its occupiers. This shows each occupier’s use of energy and compares it to the same period in the previous year together with their performance against others in the same building.

Monitoring and good management are key factors in energy savings and the evidence shows what can be achieved with relatively low levels of capital investment, particularly in additional metering. The key finding has been that active and expert management of the building counts. British Land is in effect funding its own version of the government’s green deal, forward funding green capital investment and recovering the outlay at no additional cost to occupiers through guaranteed savings in energy, which are given by the supplier. This enables the landlord to recoup investment costs through an increased service charge on the back of reduced costs for occupiers.

So by helping tenants see what they are using in energy terms the landlord saves them money, makes them more comfortable and reduces his own costs. While at the same time he makes the building more attractive for potential tenants – simple but highly effective!

 

Is it really that difficult to pass legislation?

As a profession we have a vested interest in environmental matters, whether or not ‘green buildings’ are capable of attracting higher values is up for debate (see my colleague Tim Garratt’s recent research). But, one thing we can do is ensure purchasers and tenants of commercial property at least have an idea of how energy-efficient their buildings are. Enter the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), one of our industries most maligned pieces of paper!

How green is your building?

The residential market has been more EPC savvy than the commercial world for a while, the law has required all residential agents details to have the EPC graph displayed (and consequently the public have come accustomed to it). The Government however in their infinite wisdom decided that the commercial property market wasn’t ready for this level of enforcement (despite it being far smaller than the residential market) and consequently the requirements for EPC’s on Commercial property were ‘wishy washy’ at best, and easy to ignore at worst.

The upshot of this was that EPC’s are not generally prepared before marketing (which they should be) and tend to be prepared just as the property is in lawyers hands – once the deal has been agreed. Consequently the property decision has been taken without any view to the energy efficiency of the building – no wonder green buildings currently show no premium value over ‘ordinary’ buildings!

However, finally last year the Government announced their proposals to bring the Commercial Property world in line with the Residential market – through their proposals for the amendments to the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 – otherwise known as the EPD regulations.

But, (and there is always a ‘but’), the regulations were supposed to come into force in June 2011, but they were delayed until October 2011 – and now we are being told that they will be delayed until April 2012! We were only told this on Friday by the CLG, so most agents are already in the process of preparing for the changes, so why the delay of almost 12 months in total?

No one really knows, according to the CLG the proposals are still the same as they were at the start. What is clear is that the current situation will prevail until Easter 2012 at which point there will probably be a mad rush to comply by agents who no doubt currently feel ‘relieved’ that they don’t have to get their EPC’s quite yet!

I am still hoping that my work load on EPC’s (I am an assessor) will increase over the next 6 months as people get ready for the change (assuming it is not delayed again), but I am not holding my breath!

So thanks CLG for again being a great help on this!

 

Using social media to further your brand loyalty

I work in an industry that likes to think it is fairly forward thinking but is very often slow or sceptical of change. Many of my colleagues just ‘don’t get’ Twitter or Blogging and consider it a pointless waste of time.

But, in an age of massively increased mobile access to the Internet this is becoming one of the key ways that people interact both with each other and to companies. Much of what we buy now is through websites – the internet is King. We ignore it at our peril both on a personal level and on a from a business view-point.

This has been brought home to me recently through my blog. I would be the first to admit that I do not have a huge following on my blog – it is a way to express my views and I find it strangely satisfying! However I have had replies to complaints I have made from various ‘switched on’ businesses – John Lewis is the classic example. They are I think we would all agree at the top of their game, and they obviously watch the web.

Vodafone caught onto one of my Twitters some time ago about coverage on O2 and contacted me to offer an alternative service – great PR.

Both are excellent proactive ways of building the brand.

Which brings me back to my point – ignore your web savvy clients and perish – I have received nothing back from Virgin either via direct replies to their “customer care texts” or to my blog comments. What does this do to my view of them as a brand – nothing positive!

I am only a small fish in a very large pond, but there have been cases of Twitter or Blogging catching the public mood and causing firms to be crucified – worth keeping in mind!

 

We are up for an Estates Gazette Regional Award!

As a Chartered Surveyor I work in an industry which is possibly not seen as the most exciting to the outside world (although obviously I think it is). We do however have our moments of excitement!

The industry ‘bible’ is the Estates Gazette (EG), all properties of note are advertised in it, as are jobs in the industry, plus it is full of information and discussion around the market and our industry as a whole. Consequently any Chartered Surveyor, Developer or investor worth his salt takes the weekly publication and reads it from cover to cover.

So when the EG runs its annual competition to find the most active (and therefore best) agents in the regions within various sectors of the market, it is a feather in any companies hat to be nominated in the shortlist, even better to win!

I work for Innes England – we are a regional agent with 3 offices – Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Consequently we are fantastically placed to serve the East Midlands. Possibly because of this (and the fact that we are great!) we have been nominated every year in the last 6 and won the East Midlands Regional award 3 times – and we have been nominated again this year!

This is where you come in! Please vote for us – you can access the page here, scroll down to East Midlands and we are in the ‘Property Advisor’ section. There are some other names – don’t bother with them, its us you need to vote for – Please?

 

Strange happenings in the office – but with a good reason!

My colleague Tim Garratt recently blogged about our new office toy – a Dyson Airblade (actually a fairly ‘green machine’). But this is not the only thing to have made an appearance in the office. We now have ‘strange’ decals over light switches and on the toilet cisterns – the idea being to make people think before they switch on lights or flush the loo!

You are being watched......

Considering we spend half of our lives in the work environment trying to reduce energy use at work has to make sense on a number of fronts, but I do have to admit to finding the eyes on the toilet cistern rather disturbing!

After the recent Government spending cuts we are all going to be looking to save money, so perhaps it’s time for a reminder of easy ways to save energy (and money).

So how can we save money without changing our overall lifestyle?

Top energy-saving tips include:

• Insulate your home – Nearly half the heat of an average home is lost through the walls and roof; good insulation can reduce heat loss and the energy needed to warm your home.
• Turn appliances off. Leaving appliances such as TVs on standby rather than switching them off wastes energy.
• Buy energy-efficient appliances  – and look at updating your boiler, old boilers are appallingly inefficient!.
• In the kitchen, only boil as much water as you need, cover pots and pans when cooking and use a saucepan with a circumference the same size as the stove top element to reduce heat loss.
• Use energy-efficient LED bulbs (they are actually quite good these days – honestly), and switch off lights when leaving a room.
• Turn your thermostat back a few degrees – anything over 20 – 21 degrees is costing you!

I have also installed a smart meter which shows me how much energy is being used ‘live’ on a screen – quite scary at times, but a great way to see what difference switching off various things makes!