Uncategorized — Comments Off on Scandal in Scanlan?
25
Apr 24

Scandal in Scanlan?

This was one of about a dozen 2/3/4 level terrace home developments throughout Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Parnell where I was tasked with reclaiming the retentions from buyers.

Yes back in the day -and I can’t recall if other developers were doing it, or if it was our marketing strategy- the sale and purchase contract included a buyers retention. Say the sale price was $750,000 well the buyer might be entitled to withhold say 2% (I can’t remember the exact %) until any defects were agreed completed.

I don’t think this clause/concept has been around, certainly for off the plan (pay on settlement) purchases ,for 20 years.

I wonder if anyone will read this post and then try to utilise this idea as a buyer incentive to help move their housing stock? If so feel free to donate some sales proceeds! – I have a tonne more tested ideas!

In this particular development they all HAD fantastic views…….look in the comments to see what happened…basically a forerunner to the NPS-UD….

Uncategorized — Comments Off on Who forgot the power?
25
Apr 24

Who forgot the power?

On the former Auckland Carter Holt Harvey plywood factory site, grew the mega mixed use project that was named Eden. Residential, commercial, retail, the whole shebang.

This particular building was the only full structure retained. A renovation job, where as much of the original New York Loft Style timber and brick structure was retained as possible . I was the assistant development manager/project manager looking after landlords works for tenants and making sure they got what we had promised in their various agreements to lease. A cafe/coffee roaster, a small warehouse and retail shop front and office tenants.

Some lessons.

1. Be crystal clear with photographic examples what ‘renovated character condition’ (or something similar wording- its been a while) actually means. Lots of debates over what should have been enclosed or exposed!

2. Split system air-conditioning system is different to a VAV system. Just fyi for young players interpreting outline specs with a tenant – after installation.

3. Red: The colour of my face when I embarrassingly got told by the main contractor that the power transformer was not in his contract and my problem.

4. White: The colour of my face when the power company informed me that lead times for generators are indeed not a week or two like I pleaded, but six months after the lease is scheduled to start with late occupancy LD’s….

……Let’s just say the tenants moved in on time and I used the longest fattest extension cord you can imagine.

Uncategorized — Comments Off on Shot through the ….
25
Apr 24

Shot through the ….

This was another commercial building at Eden and the top floor home to our new offices that I acted as assistant dev mgr pm. The bottom warehouse structure was existing and everything above a new build. Much easier than a historic reno!

I recall this one went pretty well but there are two stories.

One: Metal grate decks seem like a good idea on paper. But are annoying to woman in two ways – please guess in the comments:

Two: Ok, I will have to set the scene, Across the busy Normanby road was someone’s small single level office with a window facing our building under construction. Beneath that window was a mans desk. Behind the desk was a wall with a glass covered painting on it.

From level 2 of our building under construction you could see when he was sitting there the mans head in the middle of the window. Clear line of sight.

Ok, so one morning..a carpenter was using a nail gun …with a purple charge… to attach timber frame to a steel post.

That afternoon I had to reglaze a painting, replace a window and dispose of a single nail. Thankfully, the chap was on a break. No pun intended.

Uncategorized — Comments Off on Landowner turned developer ? Need help?
25
Apr 24

Landowner turned developer ? Need help?

A number of landowners looking at developing small to medium sized residential projects for the future have been contacting me for development financial feasibilities. Bread and butter for me. When 50% of your time over the last 2 years has been to interrogate and crunch the numbers to bid on development sites – it becomes almost second nature.

Of course, what you don’t see is that it’s a little more involved than just throwing some numbers around. The numbers are the result of investigating, coordinating and juggling infrastructure, geography and topology (and about ten other’ologys), planning, product type/demand, constructability of homes & civil works, architecture, urban design, the foibles of council, sales (pricing & velocity) and programme timing that represents reality. Then you can assess the costs with a developer mindset (which can differ from a QS) and of course throw in some financing.

Finally, you are well advised to wrap everything up in risk identification and management blanket.

Xpect and our business partner at PJM Project Management Ltd have been working on standardising our approach today and we have now packaged up a comprehensive fixed fee service – well really it’s a series of products (that you progress through step by step) that given our joint experience is going to be the best money you will ever spend to assess your site’s development potential and start delivering.

http://aenspire.com/xpect/XpectDeveloperAssist.pdf

Uncategorized — Comments Off on Xpect Remediate
25
Apr 24

Xpect Remediate

Xpect Remediate: Connecting body corporates and residential asset owners with maximum value. Xpect is partnered with PJM Projects to solve body corporates and residential asset owners most difficult remediation problems.

http://aenspire.com/xpect/xpectremediate.pdf

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