HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ATTRACT THE RIGHT TENANTS

A talk by David Lomas of Property Aspects Magazine

David Lomas will be hosting a discussion workshop for Landlords and property owners and helping them understand how social media can be used to improve both the way they find tenants and how they can generate introductions and referrals to others.

He will investigate alternatives to advertising and look at ways that social media and internet marketing may help with spreading your message.

Please visit www.landlordshow.info to register in advance for free at this useful event for anyone involved in letting property.

This Social Media Seminar is starting at 2.30pm at the Landlords and Letting Show – Event City Manchester Wed 27th June 2012

EventCity, Manchester, M41 7TB Wednesday 27th June 2012 10.00am-5.30pm Thursday 28th June 2012 10.00am-5.00pm

As the performance of private pensions continues to weaken and people lose faith in current savings plans, new research reveals more and more people are looking at property as a means of boosting their retirement income.

A recent study by The Equity Release Council (The Council) found more people (61%) considered property as a way of netting their biggest source of finance in retirement compared to an employer pension (44%), private pension (39%) and savings/investment (36%).

The research was carried out on almost 2,000 UK consumers of all age groups and highlighted the critical role property will play in the future generation of pensioners. Of those surveyed, 73% said they would consider using housing equity to fund their retirement income including accessing the value in their homes, downsizing or renting out a room. Those who already own a second property such as a buy-to-let investment or overseas property would consider renting out the property for income.

Commenting on the research, Chris Jones, Principal Advisor on overseas property investment for Positive Plus, said: “Property investment is increasingly becoming the favoured approach by those looking to save for a comfortable retirement and more and more people are appreciating the impressive returns such an investment can provide compared to those in the current private pension market.

Chris added: “Consumers are also more attracted to the overseas property opportunities on offer because the UK recession has led to unstable property prices. Places such as the Caribbean have not experienced a recession for more than 40 years and with the current offers available including 100% finance and lower than market value prices, these opportunities present considerably less risk.

“It’s never too late to seek alternatives so if you’ve been feeling anxious or concerned about the current performance of your pension, then seek professional advice for the solutions.”

For the Council’s full report, visit http://www.equityreleasecouncil.com/home/

You can contact Chris Jones at www.positive-plus.co.uk

All businesses are seeing their energy costs rise, but the smaller ones are being particularly squeezed and are expected to see price increases of 15 per cent by the end of 2012, according to research commissioned by Make It Cheaper from the Centre for Economics and Business Research.

On the positive side, however, The Carbon Trust estimates that SMEs could, however, cut their energy costs by 20 per cent through energy efficiency measures. And the Green Deal, being launched later this year by the Government, should help businesses realise these savings.

Potentially, the Green Deal could see 14 million homes and businesses retrofitted by 2020; a huge challenge, but also a big opportunity for accredited advisors, installers and the manufacturers of the materials that will be needed to bring poorly insulated and energy-hungry homes and businesses up to modern standards. To deliver at this level will require massive commitment from the supply chain, in particular those companies who are gearing up to undertake the retrofitting. The scale of the task is enormous and those involved will only launch themselves into it if they can be confident that the scheme will work.

The idea behind the Green Deal is to enable business owners – as well as homeowners – to gain access to upfront capital, expected to be capped at about £10,000, in order to complete energy efficiency measures, such as insulation, draught-proofing and lagging. Other measures such as green technologies and water efficiency are also likely to be funded with the help of the Green Deal.

However many people in the property and construction industry feel that the Government is very keen to support the Green Deal through a regulatory regime that makes life easier for itself , and harder for builders, plumbers and the construction industry all-round.

Peter Knight, director of Manchester-based property and construction management company Knight Site Solutions, said: “There is a huge amount of time, energy, resource and expertise being expended on the Green Deal both on behalf of the Government and the industry to get it into a position where as a concept and as a process, it actually works. This is not without difficulties because it is such an enormous task.

This is a flagship policy, and as such, the industry should really be behind it to support it and understand how to make it work to the best effect of not only the industry but, more importantly, the end-consumer.”

Property Aspects appreciate the assistance from Peter Knight of Knight Site Solutions in compiling this article.

There is a saying in business that says “location is everything”.

Business location is extremely important to any professional company, as it helps one to access the right market and customers. A company can very easily gain or lose customers by their choice of business location. A business location should be convenient for customers, employees, accessible and have all the appropriate utilities.

The location of a professional office can have a significant impact on the long-term performance of the company. A prime location that has been appropriately selected has the potential to boost the income capacity of any business. For example, an office space that is located in the heart of a city should be easy to reach and readily visible to potential clients as this aspect alone can increase the ability to gain new clients.

Peter Knight, a Property Consultant, who specialises in finding and creating the right environments for a wide variety of businesses said “An example of a fabulous city centre location that really could help a business make their mark on the city of Manchester is Greg’s Building. This building is in the heart of Manchester’s traditional prime office core on an island site with frontages to Booth Street, Chancery Place, Pall Mall and Tib Lane.”

“This prime office block is fascinating because it makes use of cast-iron columns and beams to cut down on fire risk. In the 1840s and 1850s most buildings preferred to use wood because it was cheaper. An historic Manchester landmark, Greg’s Buildings on Booth Street, was Manchester’s first fireproof warehouse, hailed in the 1840s as a world-beating design”.

He added: “Gregs Buildings is an excellent example of mid-19th century architecture offering exciting development opportunities. The city centre location really is attracting huge amounts of interest from a wide selection of professional companies”.

Please take a look at the Manchester – The ideal location video presentation

There is space available within Greg’s Building for professional companies who are looking to relocate and really be at the heart of the Manchester business community.

Please contact Property Aspects via david@m3publishing.co.uk for more details of this property

Typical UK weather is so inconsistent; you never know what is coming next. One minute you can be lying in your garden or on the beach soaking up the sun and the weathermen are preparing us for droughts, the next a big storm comes in and washes it all away. An unexpected flooding disaster can then cause chaos.

What plan of action would you take if you needed to react to a flooding disaster involving your business?

When it comes to insurance, it can get a little confusing – especially if you are making a flood claim.

Has your insurance company ever made you feel like you are the problem in all this? Possibly you may know someone who has experienced a massive loss when making a claim for something or who has been treated unfairly.

Making a claim on your home or business insurance is often not as simple as you would hope.

If you are in the unfortunate situation where you have to make an insurance claim, ensure you contact a Loss Assessor first to get insurance claim advice.

Geoff Williams, Director of Manchester-based professional loss assessors Cherry and Griffiths, said: “As a loss Assessor we know what evidence is needed to be gathered so as not to prejudice a policyholder’s position with their insurers. We know how to help policyholders deal with matters whilst waiting for the insurer’s loss adjuster. We take the lead and make sure everything we do cannot be criticised by the insurer because we were looking after their interests as well as those of our clients”.

Geoff adds: “With the current unpredictable weather it’s important to ensure you’ve got your business covered and protected against flooding. Will your policy cover you for storm damage or flooding and can you trust your insurer to give you what you are entitled to? Not necessarily! You should at least look at their suggested claims process – it’ll help you to make sure you don’t make any big mistakes.”

It is important to stress that you should think about your claim strategy before making any contact with your insurance company. Insurance companies are doing the best they can to pay out as little as possible for flood damage claims.

Contact Geoff about your flood claim at www.cherryandgriffiths.co.uk

There is now available, a range of wireless, battery-powered security devices that can be installed on consruction sites and empty properties without the need for mains power. The system works using combined movement sensors and battery-powered digital videos cameras. When a sensor is tripped the camera records a 10sec video clip, which is then sent to a keyholders smartphone using mobile phone technology.

The video is immediately received by a keyholder such as a security guard or owner who will decide whether to call the police, arrange to visit or take no action. The video can also be emailed to the site or property owner, for example, to keep abreast of all alarm activations. The system can include an audible alarm, or not, as required.

David Cole of The Alarming Man, who can supply these ‘hi-tech’ devices explains: “By having the video sent to a smartphone and date/time stamped, keyholders can decide whether the situation requires action or not.

For example if a passing fox trips off an external sensor then no action is required, but if an intruder is wandering around when no-one is on the site, then the keyholders can inform security of intruders and verify the incident with video footage.

“If the owner has left the site, set the alarm and then then it is entered, the police and the keyholders would be notified.

The system uses batteries which last between two and four years, 20 cameras can be included and the range is approx 700m from the sensor to control box. GPRS technology means the system can be used anywhere there is a mobile phone signal.

Thanks to our contributors for this article:

David Cole at The Alarming Man david@thealarmingman.co.uk www.thealarmingman.co.uk

Adam Pollard at www.keycontrolservices.co.uk adam@keycontrol.co.uk

Taking precautions to ensure the safety of your customers and staff makes moral, legal and financial sense. A poorly maintained piece of electrical equipment can seriously injure or at the very worse even kill a user. Therefore as an employer or the owner of a business – especially in the hotel or tourist trade – to ignore the risk of faulty appliances would be unacceptable.

As well as the risk to human life, there is also the risk of a hefty fine by the Health and Safety Executive.

Steve Loofe from Manchester-based PAT testing and electrical safety testing contractors, Patman, says: “As a business you could find yourself in court facing a fine or imprisonment of you do not take your responsibilities to protect staff and customers seriously. Of course the real cost of accidents is much higher than this; the pain and suffering, loss of reputation if you are in the hotel or tourist industry, damaged equipment, replacement staff costs, increased insurance premiums and the potential victim’s own legal costs will far exceed any fine you are given. Taking precautions to avoid it happening to you makes moral, legal and financial sense.”

You only need to watch the news or read the newspapers to find daily examples of staff or customers being hurt by a faulty electrical appliance. A recent HSE court case heard how one employee sustained a 240 volt electric shock that broke both shoulders whilst attempting to a test of newly manufactured appliance that had been incorrectly wired to the mains lead. It turned out there had been exposed metal in the test area and there had been no PAT test of the mains lead prior to the live test. The employers were prosecuted under The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (No 14), The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (No 3) paragraph 1 and received a fine.

Employers are required by the Health and Safety law to ensure that all of their electrical installations and portable electrical appliances are safe. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing) basically involves the periodic testing of electrical appliances within a commercial or domestic setting to identify any possible faults which could make the equipment unsafe.

For all your PAT testing needs contact Patman on 0161 643 1424 or visit www.patman1.com

With current mortgage rates, fuel costs and energy bills crippling British families, it’s perhaps not surprising that fewer people can afford to start investing early in preparation for their retirement.

But putting off saving for old age can substantially affect the kind of lifestyle you will lead in retirement and leave a gaping hole between your current earnings and that of your pension income, especially if you are intending to rely on the State Pension alone.

Saving just a little now can alleviate the hardships of a poor retirement income and enable you to continue leading a fun-filled life way into old age.

research shows one in six people planning to retire this year will depend on the State Pension alone to fund their retirement.

The figures, released by Prudential as part of its Class of 2012 research, also reveal women are more than twice as likely as men to have no pension, with 20% of women depending entirely on the State Pension this year compared to just 8% of men.

Meanwhile, the average person planning to retire this year will look to the State for 34% of their income and a further 26% have overestimated by more than £500 a year what the State Pension pays.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement income expert at Prudential, said: “While the State Pension is a safety net for pensioners in the UK, it should only ever be regarded as part of an overall retirement plan.

“For far too many people, the State Pension has become the default income option in retirement. Even those who have some private provision depend so heavily on the State that it makes up a third of their retirement income.”

Commenting on the research, Chris Jones, Principal Advisor with overseas property investment firm Positive Plus, said: “There are a host of ways retirees can help boost their income to ensure they maintain the standard of living they have becoming accustomed to during their working lives”.

He continues: “While it is always advisable to start saving early and anticipate the future, it’s never too late to look at the alternatives and make positive changes to your pension arrangements and it’s worth seeking the advice of a professional foe guidance.

“Overseas property investment is becoming a popular choice for pensioners looking to bring better returns on their pensions and savings.

Many people have funded an overseas investment property via an equity release scheme giving them access to the money tied up in their property to invest elsewhere and provide a real financial boost when needed.”

Property Aspects Magazine appreciate the contribution from Chris Jones at Positive-Plus towards this article.

Just open the property pages of any business magazine and you are bombarded by dozens of adverts for commercial property.

With so much on offer, you may think that acquiring property is very straight-forward. After all, for most businesses the catalyst for looking for property is to accommodate growth – so riding on that success and with a seemingly buoyant market, this should be one of the easier business decisions. As many companies have discovered, this is not the case.

According to independent research undertaken by leading economist, property is important to business and neglecting it could cost you dear. UK commercial property is worth over £400 billion and contributes 12% to GDP.

It generally represents over a third of a business’s total assets, and property running costs are the second highest cost after wages.

Property clearly has a major impact on the balance sheet. And according to the research, it is estimated that UK businesses waste £18 billion annually through inefficient use of property.

Of course, it’s not all about costs, there are distinct positives – the correct property can does make a real difference to your business and will bring bottom-line benefits. The right location may enable you to ‘steal a march’ on your competitors; the working and sales environment can result in improved morale amongst personnel, leverage your recruitment and increase sales; and the image and profile it supports can enhance your competitive status through more positive positioning.

Many businesses don’t know what sort of property they are looking for – they have ideas about the location, they know how many people they want to cater for and (in broad terms) they know the type of space required. However, there are so many variables involved that when it comes to matching the brief to the property available, problems can arise in defining what they want. Here are some points to consider.

Finding the right premises to suit my business needs • Deciding whether to buy or lease • Acquiring and negotiating a lease • Potential pitfalls when taking on premises • Building surveys – when they’re needed and how to get the best advice • Challenging dilapidation claims • Making alterations to a premises – what can and can’t I do? • Valuations – what’s the most appropriate valuation basis for my needs? • Getting planning permission • Renewing a lease • Negotiating a rent review

Peter Knight, director of Manchester-based commercial property managers and construction consultants Knight Site Solutions Ltd, said: “Property decisions, it seems, are indeed critical to business success. Property is likely to be one of your company’s biggest assets and you can’t afford to waste it. It is crucial that the process is managed effectively and profitably – acquiring property is not just about “getting the best deal”.

Using professional key holders for your business can often lead to a reduction in insurance premiums, it has been revealed. In fact, a number of leading insurance underwriters are now insisting upon professional key holders before cover is even given, especially if your business is deemed to be at increased risks. Some savings on insurance premiums amount to hundreds of pounds, which is a remarkable saving in an era when we are all looking to make our pennies stretch.

Adam Pollard, business development manager at Key Control Services Ltd, one of the north west’s leading security service, said: “More and more insurance companies are recognising the value of the key holder service and advocating the use of a professional alarm response and key holding company to remove implicit risks from personnel and to help reduce the number of false alarm activations. This in turn will reduce the risk of your police response being withdrawn due to inappropriate call outs. Employing a responsible key holding company can reduce insurance costs which in many cases can completely cover the cost of the key holding service itself.”

Key Control Services Ltd, one of the north west’s leading security service, offer key holding and alarm response services. If the alarm is activated, a security officer will be notified by a monitoring station and will attend to deal with the incident, check for intruders and re-set the alarm.

The company, which was set up 14 years ago by managing director Phil Thompson and works with more than 400 companies across the country, also offers a key holder escort service where a security officer can meet a dedicated member of staff at an agreed location in the event of alarm activation. The security officer will accompany the staff member to check the premises, carry out further action as required and re-set the alarm. Key Control will also compile an activation report which will be left on site and allows the client to know the detail of the incident and the time it took to deal with it.

For details of these services call Key Control Services Ltd on 01204 861331 or visit www.keycontrolservices.co.uk