Self Storage Review

Real Estate Consulting

Real estate consulting covers a breadth of areas including market rent study, market study, feasibility study, highest and best use analysis, cost segregation and analysis for an under performing asset. Clarifying the client’s objectives and expectations is the cornerstone of a successful real estate consulting engagement.

Real estate consulting begins with a detailed discussion regarding the concerns, constraints and time frame related to an assignment. Through a series of interactive questions regarding relevant topics the scope of work and reporting requirements can be developed. Real estate consulting could include the following:

Highest and best use for 5,000 acres in a metropolitan area;

Highest and best use for 3 acres on a major thoroughfare in a metropolitan area;

Highest and best use for 40 year old office building in an area of regentrification;

Market rent study on a floor-by-floor basis for 50 story office building;

Market rent study on a floor-plan by floor-plan basis for 256-unit apartment complex;

Evaluation of efficacy of leasing effort for industrial building;

Evaluation of management for an office building;

Review of level of operating expenses for an apartment complex;

Evaluate whether proposed scope of work to renovate an upgrade an apartment complex is appropriate;

Develop scope of work to renovate and upgrade an office building;

Confirm whether a retail strip center is the highest and best use of a site; if yes, develop highly detailed design characteristics including building dimensions, type of materials, number of parking spaces, layout, ideal tenant for end cap, level of tenant improvement to provide first generation tenants, elevation, type and quality of signage, type and amount of landscaping, etc.;

Review real estate portfolio and suggest changes based on market conditions, market trends, and the investor’s objective;

Prepare an evaluation of market status and likely trends for an individual asset to provide guidance regarding whether or not to sell;

Due diligence regarding a pending acquisition;

Due diligence for a contemplated disposition.

Real estate consulting includes many activities. Clearly defining the clients’ objectives helps generate an appropriate scope of work. Engagement agreements should require consultants to call the client during the assignment if certain conditions occur (i.e. initial analysis indicated proposed property is not likely feasible).

O’Connor & Associates staff complement of over 50 real estate professionals can handle any real estate consulting project. These professionals are supported by a support staff of over 100 who is accustomed to complex assignments. Out team has experience in market rent studies, market studies, feasibility studies, highest and best use analysis, cost segregation, and analysis for an under performing asset. Reduce your risk and stress by utilizing O’Connor & Associates’ breadth and depth of experience to evaluate your real estate investments.

To obtain more information on O’Connor & Associates real estate consulting services, call or email George Thomas or Craig Young at 713-686-9955 or fill out our online form.O’Connor & Associates is a national provider of commercial property real estate consulting services including cost segregation studies, due diligence, insurance valuations, abandonment studies, business valuations, commercial real estate appraisal, market studies, feasibility studies, financial modeling, highest and best use analyses, and lease audits.

Our services benefit owners of all commercial property types including multi-family housing, retail stores, hospitals, hotels, industrial properties, manufacturing facilities, medical offices, commercial offices, restaurants, self-storage units, shopping malls, shopping plazas and warehouse/distribution centers.

Whenever you are planning to go on an extended trip, relocate or change the location of your office, and are in need of a clean, secure and easily accessible space to store your personal belongings, extended archives or other goods, a self-storage unit represents an excellent solution, one that saves you both time and money and gives you peace of mind. Many self storage centers offer a series of benefits, including self storage units of all sizes to meet your specific needs, month to month rental agreements, easy access seven days a week and free of charge, clean units, convenient locations, cooled and heated spaces if needed, computer controlled access, as well as electronic and video surveillance. In other words, a self storage center is the best solution when you need to come up with a modality to store things safely, securely and in optimal conditions.
Everyone who has ever needed to store goods or belongings in the past will agree that using today’s self storage centers comes with a whole lot more benefits than the traditional storage methods. Large storage companies and removal companies were the only providers of storage services in the past, and their services usually came with high charges, no flexibility, limited access and long term contracts. Fortunately, things have completely turned around with the advent of self storage centers. A self storage center has all the benefits that storage facilities did not have in the past, namely easy access, short or long term contract (according to your needs), cost-effectiveness and flexibility.
Self storage centers have emerged to cater to various needs that individuals and companies alike have. Self storage units are available for rent in all sorts of sizes, from units as small as a closet all the way to three hundred and sixty square feet units, large enough to store a boat, for instance. In order to make sure that you benefit from high quality services, you should base the choice of a self storage unit on some basic criteria, namely convenience of location, safety and security, easiness of access and cost-effectiveness.
As has been said before, self storage is a relatively new concept, but one that was embraced very quickly due to its obvious benefits. If you are interested in Fort Worth self storage, you will probably be happy to learn that all the advantages listed above are available in certain self storage units in the area. We are talking about high quality units, where safety, accessibility and cleanness are not an issue. You can choose from a variety of sizes of the self storage units, which are located in one-story buildings, with easy roll-up doors and ceilings that exceed eight feet. If you happen to have some specific demands, you will probably be glad to learn that some Fort Worth self storage centers provide cooled and heated spaces for storage. 
The self storage industry has evolved considerable in recent years, which has led to an increase in the range of available services. And to your convenience, such Fort Worth self storage centers can also be found and contacted online.

Property investors have now turned their attention towards the lucrative deals presented by the commercial properties. This sudden interest is the result of the option to diversify your property investment portfolio, along with a high income and tax breaks. However, it is advisable to conduct a research before taking the plunge.

Commercial properties include hotels, malls, medical centers, retail stores, business and industrial property. These are operated for a profit from rental income or capital gain. Some common commercial property types are:

- Apartments and multi family units: These are the first choice of investors. Apartment financing and management is very similar to that of residential properties.
- Mobile home parks: These can be a profitable investment option especially if you own the land and sell the mobile homes.
- Retail properties: More than one tenant occupies the premises and it is utilized for retail transactions.
- Offices: This category includes suburban garden offices, suburban high-rise offices, medical offices and central business district offices.
- Mixed use properties: These properties are a combination of all the above property types.
- Health care units: They include assisted living centers and congregate care centers and nursing homes.
- Hotels: The properties are categorized as either limited service or full service.
- Industrial premises: These properties can be used solely for industrial purposes.
- Self-storage units: The consumers use them for personal storage or for lease.
- Other specialties: These include oil change facilities and gas stations.

According to a reputed New York based real estate research firm, the price of apartment complexes rose by 26%, retail properties by 14%, industrial properties by 21% and office buildings by 6%, in 2004. Commercial property investment is very profitable but it is a complex business, as compared to investment in residential properties. There are number of factors that affect the property evaluation of commercial premises. It pays to study the market and tread cautiously.

Boom in commercial real estate property:

Commercial real estate includes, but is not limited to, properties used for educational, medical, commercial or industrial purpose. The properties are usable in business or trade and can be sold or bought in the real estate market. The improvement in the economy and growth in business ventures are responsible for the revival of commercial real estate. Another important reason has been the continuous flow of new investment capital. This capital is sourced from people who seek higher returns from large investments. The areas that come under the category of ‘commercially profitable’ carry a higher evaluation, as compared to other properties in developing areas. The rates for commercial real estate properties are calculated differently from the method adopted for residential properties.

The rental yields are better for commercial properties and the monthly cash flow is more than that of residential property investment, in the same area. The quoted expectation of returns depends on the kind of business that would be transacted on the premises. The profit from commercial real estate investments is definitely much higher than profit generated from investments in residential properties. Investment in commercial real estate is as lucrative as investments in stocks and bonds.