Shoregate Partners, LLC, an Easton, MD-based investment group is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 1,130-unit, 3-property self-storage portfolio for $11,400,000.
Shoregate was represented by Brandon Heaver of SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate, and the seller was represented by Mike Patterson of Commercial Realty Services of West Georgia. Initially, only two sites were marketed, but the buyer’s agent was able to procure a third, larger site through a creative structure that solved a financing issue encumbering the additional property.
Shoregate’s Principals have more than 20 years of combined experience managing more than 1,000,000 SF of commercial real estate between several states. The company’s hands-on approach to the evaluation, valuation, and management of assets throughout the country has led to its rapid growth over the past several years.
Shoregate is actively seeking to acquire scale in warehouse and self-storage assets throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, United States. Property owners are encouraged to reach out to Brandon Heaver at SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate if interested in selling. Brandon can be reached at brandon.heaver@svn.com or 443.214.6376.
About SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate:
SVN | Miller Commercial Real Estate, with offices in Salisbury, MD, Bethesda, MD, Easton, MD, Seaford, DE, and Onley, VA is a financial services firm specializing in commercial real estate. SVN provides advisory, brokerage, consultation, leasing and asset, and property management services to clients in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value with clients, colleagues, and our communities. The SVN brand is comprised of over 1,600 advisors and staff in more than 200 offices across the globe in six countries. Our brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation, and inclusivity that enables all our advisors to collaborate with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN advisors create amazing value with our clients, colleagues, and communities. For more information, visit www.svn.com.
All SVN offices are independently owned and operated. To learn more about becoming an SVN commercial real estate business owner, visit http://www.svn.com/franchising-opportunities/.
SVN International Corporation (SVNIC), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announces the addition of Mobile-based SVN | Toomey Property Advisors.
With over 12 years in the industry, managing director Justin Toomey has experience in every aspect of the commercial real estate business. As Justin’s client base and service offerings continue to expand, he has started to grow his team to maintain his high standards of service for his clients. SVN | Toomey Property Advisors specializes in tenant representation, landlord representation and investment sales.
Justin Toomey, Managing Director SVN | Toomey Property Advisors
“I joined the SVN brand for the culture, network and great reputation,” said Justin Toomey. “Having a strong national network for our tenant and landlord representation services is extremely valuable for our clients across the country.”
“Justin and his team are a great addition to the Mobile market and SVN as we share the same vision and dedication to the culture” said SVN’s Vice President of National Franchise Sales and Development Marc Seinfeld.
SVN International Corporation (SVNIC), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announces that it has added College Station, Texas-based Riverstone Commercial Real Estate to its franchise roster. Going forward, the new venture will operate as SVN|RIVERSTONE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.
Founded in 2017, SVN | RIVERSTONE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE is led by Founding Partners and Managing Directors Jim Jones and Jess Buenger. The rapidly expanding firm offers brokerage and advisory services to buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants across the central Texas markets. SVN | RIVERSTONE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE also provides consultancy services on investments and development projects. More information about the firm is available at svnriverstone.com
“SVN | RIVERSTONE’s top priority is getting the most value for our clients. With SVN, we gain expanded visibility and marketing dexterity to deliver the best value possible no matter the geography or asset class,” said Managing Director Jim Jones. “Now, we not only reach a business owner across town, but an investor across the globe.”
“Even prior to our official announcement of our partnership with SVN, we have collaborated on deals sourced through SVN offices in Las Vegas, Chicago, Florida, Austin, and the Northeast,” added Managing Director Jess Buenger. “This partnership has expanded our reach tremendously.”
“In SVN | RIVERSTONE, we have found a firm with a natural fit to our SVN culture that puts clients first, said Marc Seinfeld, SVN’s Vice President of National Franchise Sales and Development. “We are delighted to work with SVN | RIVERSTONE and increase our presence in Texas.”
About SVN International Corp.
The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value for clients, colleagues and communities. Currently, SVN comprises over 1,600 advisors and staff working in more than 200 offices across the globe. SVN’s brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation and inclusivity that enable all our advisors to collaborate effectively with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN Advisors create outsize value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.svn.com.
SVN International Corp. has expanded its reach across the United States with the addition of SVN | CompassRock, a leading national provider of institutional-quality property management services for the office, retail, industrial and multifamily sectors.
SVN | CompassRock, based in Denver, Colorado, is headed by Founding Principal David Woodward, Executive Managing Director Kevin Donahue and Director of National Accounts Tony Yousif. The leadership team have earned their reputation as industry leaders through commitment to excellence and high ethical standards.
“We are thrilled to have CompassRock join the SVN brand. David, Kevin and Tony are well-known and respected leaders in commercial real estate and they will play an instrumental role in providing comprehensive property management services to SVN clients.” said Kevin Maggiacomo, President and CEO of SVN International Corp.
By joining the SVN network of commercial real estate companies, SVN | CompassRock has tapped into its industry-leading technology and a global network of real estate Advisors. “Our mission will be to continue to provide the hands-on, focused level of service for which CompassRock has always been known and leverage the existing SVN network to access thousands of real estate professionals..” said David Woodward, Founding Principal.
“As a forty-year veteran of the industry, spent mostly on the client side directing property management firms, I am excited about the opportunity to create an organization that will provide a customized solution and level of service to a diverse client base that will hopefully become best in class.” said Kevin Donahue, Executive Managing Director.
We are happy to announce that SVN Smith Group Commercial Real Estate, located just outside Athens, Georgia, is one of our newest franchisees. Following is the press release that was published today:
SVN International Corp. Expands Presence in the Southeastern United States with SVN | Smith Group Commercial Real Estate Addition
Boston, MA (September 25, 2018) — SVN International Corp. (SVNIC) has expanded its reach in Georgia, and the Southeastern United States with the addition of SVN | Smith Group Commercial Real Estate, formerly known as Oconee Properties, based in Watkinsville, in the northeastern part of the state.
SVN | Smith Group Commercial Real Estate is headed by Managing Directors Bob Smith and Matthew Smith, who provide a combined 50 years of experience to the business. Situated the Athens market, the family-owned and operated real estate company conducts much of its business there and in the University of Georgia area.
By joining the SVN network of commercial real estate companies, SVN | Smith Group has tapped into its industry-leading technology and a global network of real estate brokers. “The technology that SVN provides is unmatched anywhere in the commercial real estate market. This gives us a competitive advantage, especially in a smaller market where we can offer local expertise and provide better quality tools for marketing and promoting our clients than our competitors,” said SVN |Smith Group Managing Director Matthew Smith. “The SVN network is beneficial for us as we refer customers to anywhere in the world and know that they will be in good hands with an SVN broker.”
Smith added: “We’ve received a great deal of support from SVN’s fantastic leadership team, and we look forward to a long and successful relationship.”
About SVN International Corp.
The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value for clients, colleagues and communities. Currently, SVN comprises over 1,600 advisors and staff working in more than 200 offices across the globe. SVN’s brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation and inclusivity that enable all our advisors to collaborate effectively with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN advisors create outsize value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.svn.com.
If you are interested in gaining access to the SVN network of commercial real estate brokers, and our top-notch technology, please visit our franchise opportunities page.
SVN|Latus is the latest woman-owned firm to experience the SVN Difference
Boston, MA (August 20, 2018)SVN International Corp. (SVNIC), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announces the addition of SVN|Latus, a woman-owned firm based in Harrisburg, PA, to its roster of affiliated offices. The new franchise, headed by Managing Director Laura Martin, CCIM, CPM, provides commercial real estate brokerage and advisory services to the central Pennsylvania market.
SVN |Latus has been serving the central Pennsylvania commercial real estate market since 2005. As a full service firm, SVN| Latus offers a gamut of customer-centric services including advisory services, sales and leasing brokerage, and property management. More information about the firm is available at svnlatus.com.
“Joining the SVN family has been a tremendous positive for us in terms of growth and national exposure,” said SVN | Latus Managing Director Laura Martin. “We’ve experienced the SVN Difference and benefit tremendously from SVN Live calls, and the cutting edge technology and branding available to us.”
SVN is the only major commercial real estate brand that proactively markets all of its qualified properties to the entire brokerage and investment community. Participating in approximately $11.1 billion in sales and leasing transactions in 2017, SVN Advisors shared commission fees with co-operating brokers in order to close more deals in less time and at the right value for clients. Advisors also reap the benefits of our SVN Live® Weekly Property Broadcast, cloud-based leading-edge technology, and national product councils. This open, transparent and collaborative approach to real estate is the SVN Difference.
About SVN International Corp.
The SVN organization is a globally recognized commercial real estate entity united by a shared vision of creating value for clients, colleagues and communities. Currently, SVN comprises over 1,600 advisors and staff working in more than 200 offices across the globe. SVN’s brand pillars represent the transparency, innovation and inclusivity that enable all our advisors to collaborate effectively with the entire real estate industry on behalf of our clients. SVN’s unique Shared Value Network® is just one of the many ways that SVN advisors create outsize value for all stakeholders. For more information, visit www.svn.com.
SVN opens first NH franchise office in Bedford, New Hampshire
Boston, Mass. (July 10, 2018) — SVN International Corp. (SVN), a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, announced today the addition of its newest franchise, SVN | Real Estate Solutions, based in Bedford, New Hampshire. Led by industry veteran Larry Pelletier, the firm specializes in assisting family offices, investors and developers nationwide in identifying commercial real estate opportunities and procuring targeted asset classes, as well as helping owners and operators to optimize investment returns on existing assets through repositioning or dispositioning.
Prior to joining the more than 200 global offices of SVN this year, Pelletier spent 18 years as a Principal with T-Rex Capital Group, a private investment firm, where he was responsible for acquiring, financing, managing and disposing over five million square feet of commercial assets nationwide. Prior to T-Rex, Pelletier was the founder and principal of Real Estate Solutions, Inc., a boutique consulting, brokerage and appraisal practice based in Boston and New York. Pelletier led valuation consulting assignments totaling over $25 billion of assets world-wide including such notable assets as the World Trade Center, Mall of the Americas, Rockefeller Center and a portfolio of 20 malls in Australia. Pelletier also created and conducted training seminars on the industry leading real estate valuation software, Argus, Pro-Ject and Dynamis and trained over 5,000 people nationwide.
Pelletier’s ownership and investment experience includes office, retail, apartment complexes, data centers, resorts and development. Previously held positions include acquisition manager for Boston-based Leggat McCall Properties and as real estate syndication associate for the public accounting firm of Kenneth Leventhal & Co.in New York.
“I am excited about joining SVN and taking a lead role in increasing our national engagements in the region. By combining my ownership experience and the networks I have built with SVN’s diverse portfolio that includes more than 500 domestic and international markets, I intend to provide increased visibility and new investment opportunities for the clients I serve. Additionally, the resources and flexibility that are built into the SVN model is truly unparalleled. I feel privileged to be a member of the SVN team.”
Combining SVN specialized product counsels which include office, retail, multifamily, hospitality, industrial, self-storage, marinas, golf courses and resorts along with property management, Pelletier and his team at SVN | Real Estate Solutions intends to utilize the SVN extended network and culture of collaboration to enhance its suite of real estate services.
Pelletier holds a Master’s degree in Finance and a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. He continues his educational pursuits in the Master’s in Financial Planning program at Bentley University. He is a licensed real estate broker in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Property Management can be very profitable — just ask Sperry Van Ness / First Guardian Group. The San Jose, California firm recently announced the successful close of escrow on University Fountains, a student housing complex that sold for $34 million. Receiving several offers, the property saw substantial demand and competition among buyers.
SVN/FGG undertook the property management over an 18-month period before beginning to market the Class “A” property. Under SVN/FGG’s management during the current school year, the property occupancy increased by 15% — crushing other years in comparison. SVN/FGG set aggressive weekly leasing goals which compared improvements in occupancy and income against all other competitive properties in the submarket. The leasing team was given incentives based on their progress in moving the performance of the property ahead of all other comparable assets. The hard work of SVN/FGG Advisors produced returns of over 100% of the original equity.
So how did they do it? Proactive asset management and collaborative marketing efforts can get the job done.
Proactive Asset Management
Established aggressive weekly leasing goals to continually improve occupancy
Strong incentives for moving property performance ahead of all comparable properties in the submarket
Annual competitive re-bidding of all significant ongoing services (landscaping, garbage, pool maintenance, etc.)
Monthly owner conference calls
Detailed monthly variance reports including cost ratio comparisons to similar properties
All Brokers requesting access to the property data vault were personally contacted and encouraged to provide a bid
All Brokers were treated with the same respect and courtesy regardless of affiliation
All questions and inquiries were answered 90% same-day
SVN/FGG participated in all property tours with Brokers
Following these guidelines which emphasize competitive and collaborative practices can lead to property management success. So take a cue from SVN/FGG and collaborate with your team members to achieve a profitable property management turnaround.
N.J. (Joey) Godbold | Managing Director and CEO | SVN/Percival Partners
What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market area?
Like many firms across the country, we contracted during that little downward cycle we experienced a few years ago. As activity has become much more robust, we have a goal to increase our staff by five Advisors by the end of 2015. We have found that the demand for sales people has increased significantly lately and we are competing with other industries for good folks. We have enrolled in SVN’s RPO Program which has been very helpful in identifying mid-career candidates. A significant portion of my time and energy is spent in recruiting, which will pay off in market share over the coming three years.
What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
We have always enjoyed a family atmosphere and that in itself goes a long way toward a positive, motivational office. As Advisors take advantage of technology to work more outside the office now, it has become more important to create opportunities for team-building and motivational activities. Annually, we participate in a large charity volleyball tournament. Monthly, our sales meetings are lunch affairs. We are now in the midst of a listing contest with the grand prize being a weekend at a posh hotel in Charleston, SC.
What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Our firm has been in the Charlotte, NC market for over 50 years. We have been blessed with long-serving, top-notch Advisors who have been with our firm for many years. The other side of that blessing is that we need to be attentive to bringing in younger Advisors – those who will become the next generation of performance and leadership. That was not our focus over the past few years because of the state of the economy. Thus, the need to re-focus on recruitment.
How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
For the past few years, we have refrained from growing our firm size. Upon joining SVN in June of this year, we have gone back on the recruiting path to increase from the current level of 7 Advisors. The SVN move has certainly created some interest in the market and I regularly interview 5 – 8 prospects per month. Some of the interviewing activity comes through the RPO program. To date, I have not found the right mix but with the current activity, expect to bring 2 to 3 new Advisors on board in the next few months.
Contact: N.J. (Joey) Godbold
Managing Director and CEO
Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC
Charlotte, NC
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate with offices in Salisbury, Annapolis and Bethesda, Maryland, and Lewes, Wilmington, and Seaford, Delaware.
Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM | Managing Director | SVN – Miller
What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
Our focus has always been to provide the best service possible to our clients, and we have worked to do this by growing our firm into a full-service commercial real estate company and by bringing on Advisors with unique specialties. Not only do we offer sales and leasing, but also property management and receivership/asset recovery.
In the past year we have taken our office to the next level by bringing on a Marketing Director to ensure consistent branding and to improve both our online and physical presence and also a Director of Business Development for Property Management.
We’ve expanded our market area to cover not only the Eastern Shore of Maryland but also Virginia, Delaware, Annapolis and Bethesda by recruiting Advisors to open satellite SVN-Miller offices. We have advisors in Annapolis and Bethesda that also do “boots on the ground” property management for us while we handle all of the back-office accounting and property management in our Salisbury office. We also offer the back-office property management service to other SVN offices that don’t have an established property management team but would like to provide full-service property management to their clients.
What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
SVN – Miller team participates in local Mud Run.
We do a number of team building activities each year, both for enjoyment and to give back to our community. These have included a Wicomico River cleanup, multiple Mud Runs, a Habitat for Humanity build, a Ropes Course challenge, off-shore fishing trips and more.
Each month I schedule one-on-one meetings with each of our Advisors to talk to them about their personal and business development. We also just held our Annual State of the Company Meeting this week, and we welcomed Solomon Poretsky, Vice President of Organizational Development for Sperry Van Ness International Corp., who gave a great all day training session to our Advisors and staff.
We encourage our Advisors and staff to engage in continuing education and professional development & affiliations (IREM, CPM, CCIM, SIOR), and we make a concerted effort to recognize their individual achievements.
What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
The great recession was a huge challenge for us and it significantly impacted the livelihood of our Advisors. We also literally weathered the storm when we were hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and consequently had to move out of our office for a month to remediate the flood damage. While this was a big challenge for us, the silver lining was that it cemented our SVN-Miller culture of working together as a united front.
How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
SVN – Miller Annual State of the Company meeting
We actually started as a commercial property management company which led to our move into commercial real estate. When we started SVN-Miller we had two Managing Directors, ten Advisors, one Property Manager and a Receptionist. Now, we have two Managing Directors, twenty-three Advisors throughout our main office and five satellite offices, eight Property Managers, one Virtual Assistant and six staff members, including our Marketing Director and support staff for brokerage.
Contact: Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM
Managing Director and Senior Advisor
Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate
Salisbury, MD
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
Ford Elliott | Managing Director | SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC
What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
From day one, our strategy at SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC has been providing premiere service to our clients. We always go the extra distance to satisfy their needs, making them feel they are getting more by working with us. Over time, we have built a nice reputation in our market. Our level of service has spread by word-of mouth and business has flourished as a result, garnering more referrals than by any other marketing means. We are generally a 100% referral program, though we are always looking to get new leads through additional avenues. Another strategy we utilize is staying informed, and on top of, trends in the market place. We try to be very innovative and think outside of the box, often presenting sites to our clients that most people may not know about, i.e. The city has plans to put a new park at a certain location. It is necessary that we have a pulse on our market in order to help our clients understand where the value is, and where it is headed. We also look to the Sperry Van Ness platform whose systems and name recognition have been extremely beneficial for business.
What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
Our number one motivation is helping our team understand and hone their respective talents. Once defined, we aim to help them stay focused and specialized by utilizing their best strengths. We hold a staff meeting every week where we collaborate and share ideas. On the horizon, we plan to have more team building activities.
What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
The biggest challenge has been recovering from the commercial real estate market downturn. It was difficult with banks not loaning money to investors and the market just not being where it needed to be. As the market has recovered, more and more opportunities have been presenting themselves.
How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
When we joined Sperry Van Ness we had a staff of 6: 2 Managing Directors, 3 Advisors and an Administrative Assistant. We recently added another Advisor, bringing our team total to 7.
Contact: Ford Elliott
Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC
Greenville & Columbia, SC
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
Karen Hurd, Vice President of National Franchise Development for Sperry Van Ness International Corporation, recently sat down with Laura Salome, CCIM, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness/Fortune Real Estate out of El Paso, Texas. Karen is the host of the Sperry Van Ness (SVN) CEO Roundtable Webinar and invited Laura to join the June Roundtable discussion as a guest speaker. Below is what Laura had to say about SVN.
Laura Salome, CCIM | Managing Director | SVN/Fortune Real Estate
Laura, Please tell me about yourself, SVN/Fortune Real Estate and how you came to Sperry Van Ness.
I joined Sperry Van Ness two years ago in December. My father has had Fortune Real Estate for 40 years and when I joined him full time, I knew we were was missing something….I was searching for something bigger than what our little local firm could accomplish. I wanted bigger and national deals, and I knew that an affiliation with a national flag was the answer. I spent 13 years in California and remembered that Sperry Van Ness was a well recognized brand among a few others. So I decided to call a few. In an exhausting interviewing process of several companies, I ultimately chose Sperry Van Ness because it was a national CRE firm where the people make the company.
What did you find different about our SVN Brand versus the other firms you were talking to, and what have you found since you joined?
The model and the culture is different than other models, in that the environment at SVN is much more entrepreneurial in nature. Of course, we want to stay consistent in our look and there are franchise policies to which we must adhere, but it is very much MY business. Being affiliated with SVN has empowered me to grow into the direction I want to go. I have felt empowered since the day I joined and continue to feel that way. There is a high level of professionalism that comes with the Sperry Van Ness name. There is a certain culture within this organization that is contagious. I joined the group shortly before a national sales meeting which was in Miami. That trip reaffirmed that I had made the right decision. The friends and colleagues I met on that trip I still talk to and work on deals together.
What do you find working with other SVN Advisors in other markets?
Collaboration is the key component to get the most you want out of this franchise. Each week I try to talk to at least one SVN colleague either by phone, text, or email…or personal visit, even when I travel. I am a bit of a generalist here in El Paso and partnering up with experts in other cities has most definitely won listings for me. Mark Alexander from Florida, who is on our Medical Product Council, and I joined forces a little over a year ago on a medical building. I would not have gotten that listing without Mark’s expertise in medical office. Mark prepared a colorful slide presentation showing the physician medical investment cap rates and the SVN national reach and we won the listing.
This week we just signed a new $2 million dollar listing for a NM Nursery and I partnered with Tim House in Albuquerque. It was my relationship with a banker here in El Paso that started the lead, but it was the fact that I told him I would partner with a SVN NM colleague that got us the listing. The client felt comfortable that he was getting a local boots on the ground with a national “army” behind me. It’s fun to partner, and clients feel that we have “reach” , “national appeal” and that we are a “unit”. This SVN fraternity is a very strong selling point to win listings.
I know you believe in the Compensated Cooperation model and actively participate in our National Sales Call each week. What do you find most important about these calls?
The National Sales Call is like the backbone of SVN — the SVN Difference. It’s a 30 minute national sales call held every Monday morning that highlights recent sales made, and Advisors pitch their properties for sale. Promoting a client’s listing on these calls is a key selling point when I compete for a listing. No other firm offers these calls! It’s rare that I don’t get on one of these calls.
How useful have you found the CRE tech tools, systems and platforms offered by SVN?
The tech tools within the company are efficient and streamline marketing efforts. Each time I need to do a proposal or put a new listing online, I jump on BuildOut which syndicates real time to multiple commercial search engines with a single point of entry automatically. Our brochures look consistent and professional. It’s very simple to use and my clients are happy.
Client Look I’ve used from the beginning. It has the ability to categorize your contact by type. This feature I find very useful. If I want to narrow my marketing efforts to “retail developers” or “multifamily”, I can do so. Virtual Assistant is another very useful feature of Client Look that enters contacts into the system. You can do this with a phone call while you are driving or even snapping a photo of a business card and emailing it to them. All of this syncs to your phone and iPad which is great!
SVN Resource Portal is the center of information gathering and posting. There I can blog on the SVN blog, create postcards for marketing, customize newsletters, see the calendar of events, or just log on to my email. It’s colorful and easy to navigate. In today’s world where speed and simplicity is coveted, this tool fits right in.
What SVN Product Councils do you participate in regularly?
There are 14 product councils within the company that are lead by veterans and experts in that asset class type and I am involved in several. Once a month or so, there are product council calls where ideas are shared, challenges are discussed, and deals are made. I make it a point to participate each week on the 15 minute Single Tenant Net Lease one that happens right before the Monday Morning Call. I like it because Peter Colvin creates an environment where everyone feels comfortable to share a quick thought and I always hang up learning something new and it helps create value for my clients, especially the 1031 exchange clients.
Bottom line, the tech systems and tools are some of the best available in the industry, and I leverage them all so I can be more efficient, visible and productive in my business.
What do you like best about SVN?
What I’ve realized is that it’s the people within SVN that make the company. I’m the kind of person that works best in a collaborative environment and I like to be known within in the company. SVN is a national CRE company where collaboration thrives — it’s like a family. Clients’ interests are ALWAYS placed above everything else and I like that because reputation is very important to me. If I can ever help anyone on the call, I’m available anytime for help, advice, deal making, market insight in El Paso or SVN. Happy to be a resource. I can be reached at laurasalome@svn.com or 915.474.0306.
To view the most recent Sperry Van Ness CEO Roundtable Webinar, click here.
1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
We do this by understanding our clients’ investment objectives and formulating strategies to achieve these objectives in the context of the current and anticipated market forces. Specifically, our clients will experience SVN-RICORE’s superior real estate investment modeling, strategic thought process, rent collection and operating expense escalation management, attention to detail, prompt and accurate financial reporting. We are enhanced by having the brightest and hardest working people join our firm who bring with them their expertise in the market and their specific disciplines. Having seasoned professionals, we are able to position ourselves as a full service real estate firm, where we can provide professional services for Receivership, Property Management, Investment Brokerage, Leasing and Construction Services, with “Maximum Value and Minimum Risk” for our clients.
We have also implemented the use of our website www.svn-ricore.com for marketing our services and staff along with our properties, and have complemented it with our daily postings of property sales and lease listings on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram and Tumblr. We also regularly advertise in the local Business Journals, Midwest Real Estate News and National Real Estate Investor publications. Our social media marketing initiative has opened up our client base to new avenues of advertising our services from listings to Property and Facility management. It allows our firm the ability to have interaction with clients in the ‘new media market’ and the property owners are ecstatic to see their properties appear in this medium, along with case studies, well researched market reports and client testimonials.
2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
We hold monthly birthday and anniversary cake tastings and go to and participate in events as a group. We recently held an open house for our new space and invited clients, past, present and future, along with public dignitaries for an evening of food, social time and entertainment. We have gone bowling, trap shooting, a vineyard and plan on attending a Cincinnati Reds games for team building events. SVN-RICORE is also pleased to corporately sponsor and participate in many civic, community and philanthropic organizations that make a difference.
3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
With the downturn then recovery of the Commercial Real Estate market, weathering the storm has been a challenge, however, with well positioned managed properties, accounting services, receivership services, along with a few good investment sales opportunities completed, we have been able to maintain and grow our staff in anticipation of the full boom currently beginning in our market. Bringing in additional staff in this economy for some firms could not have happened, but for us, it was a necessity in order to keep up with the business lines as they were expanding during these years.
4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
In the beginning of our SVN Franchise in 2010 we started with 3 Property Managers, 2 Property Services Administrators, 1 Facilities Manager, 2 Advisors, 1 Brokerage Administrator/Office Manager/Marketing, 2 Construction Staff, and 2 Accounting personnel.
Currently we have 4 Property Managers, 5 Property Services Administrators, 5 Facilities Managers, 9 Advisors, 2 Brokerage Administrators, a Marketing Manager, 3 Construction Staff, and 5 Accounting personnel. We also have a CFO & Controller to round out our services staff, in addition to the Executive Managing Director.
Increasing our staff has been an integral part to create an environment for well-rounded commercial real estate professionals the ability to provide services to clients that are world class in nature.
Contact: John Rickert
Executive Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness | RICORE Investment Management, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
This week, we turn the spotlight on SVN/HINT Advisors with offices in Houston, Texas.
1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
I focus on retail investments, retail stand-alone (NNN) and retail land. I have a focus in my practice where I go after markets first, then retail opportunities within. One of my best Advisors continues to emphasize the importance of discipline, and I have a daily discipline that extends to a weekly and monthly schedule, divided in blocks of time and activities. It is driven by a set goal but it comes down to execution. My weekly schedule includes daily follow-up calls, business development calls, and conference calls with clients or colleagues morning to noon, followed by emails and computer related tasks after lunch. Next, I do calls to West coast and Central time leads since I cover California and Houston, then I depart to business engagements in the evening or otherwise do research and plan an agenda for the next day. Just before going to bed I check emails for any last minute updates. Throughout the day I also read trade journals and news on relevant retail and check my social networks.
Libby Cadillo | Managing Director | SVN/HINT Advisors
2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
I believe in clarity and definition when it comes to relationships. Therefore I make an effort to communicate the goals upfront, to share the vision, and to share the expectations from each other. I use technology to send reminders, reconfirm agreements, and multitask as efficiently as possible.
3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Since starting my practice, the biggest challenge has been high productivity per hour. Sometimes I have been guilty of getting distracted by events around me, but I am learning to minimize my distractions as much as possible when I am to be focused on work.
4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
Right now just one, but I have a network of peers and three strong Board Advisory Members who assist me when I need something.
Contact: Libby Cadillo
Managing Director
SVN/HINT Advisors
Houston, TX
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
Walt Arnold | Managing Director | SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc.
1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
The strategy has been to create an environment for brokers to have the tools to compete, fulfill and win business, employing brokers and staff that are committed to showing up and working hard, hiring quality brokers that fit into the culture of Sperry Van Ness, whether new to the business, mid-career or established veterans. And to have fun in the process, realizing that so much of our careers and life is about the journey. Sperry Van Ness has provided an outstanding platform to recruit high quality individuals to SVN/WACB, Inc. and the Sperry Van Ness story has been instrumental in growing my company and market share.
2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
Almost every Monday is a “Lunch and Learn” and these sessions encompass not only title underwriters, attorneys, contractors, bankers and many other businesses associated with CRE, but we also work on sales skills and other activities that help us all grow in the CRE business. A recent series of Mondays involved going through Terri Sjodin’s tape series title, Small Message, Big Impact, which was about creating an elevator speech. We capped it of by bringing in a local expert on the subject and everyone developed a 30 seconds elevator pitch and presented it. It was a great exercise for everyone regardless of the years of experience. We also schedule events (baseball games, football tailgate, bowling, billiards, non-profit events, etc.) outside the office quarterly to get out and spend some time together.
3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Obviously on of the biggest challenges has been to manage cash flow the past several years, which hopefully is starting to improve as we come out of the pit of recession. Another is our goal of continuing to create an environment that’s a great place to work. I mention this as a challenge because it has to be top of mind and takes some detailed effort and energy to continue to improve and to ask how we can do things better for our clients, customers and each other.
SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. Staff at Halloween
4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
When I started with Sperry Van Ness 7 years ago, I had an assistant, a property manager and one broker. Currently now in the office are 8 brokers, a property manager, a property management accountant, a marketing director, and 3 part-time support staff in property management, brokerage and accounting.
Contact: Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR
Managing Director
SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
Tony Veldkamp, CCIM | Managing Director | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group
1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
We are very fortunate in our tertiary market to not have any other national commercial brokerage brands with a presence here. The big firms dabble in our market from Tampa, but our biggest competition is three strong independents and a Coldwell Banker firm. Commercial agents in our market were seeking a pure commercial real estate firm with national strength and power, but that was still very entrepreneurial and could adapt to the local market. So Sperry Van Ness was a great fit for them.
My advisors are my best recruiters. When they are out in the market they keep their ears open to hear of any agents with good talent, who might be looking to make a move. They all believe in synergy and “activity begets activity”. So they do not hesitate to bring someone of good quality, and reputation, to my attention. Reputation and dealing fairly are very important attributes at our office.
Our market area consists of three counties with ten different cities to work in. So while we have our main office in Sarasota and a branch office in Bradenton to show good market presence in those two counties, we will expand to add a branch office in our third county so no property is further than 30 minutes from any office.
2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
Well you have to be self-motivated to be in this business for sure. But I do believe in accountability. I’m constantly questioning my team on their deals, market area, and specialty to have them constantly thinking about how to improve their business. I also introduce “out of the box” ideas to get them thinking about alternative ways to seek new business. I make prospecting suggestions and show them potential holes in the market that they can take advantage of. But ultimately it is up to them.
3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
Since we are only in our 3rd year as a group working together, one of the biggest challenges has been budgeting. Determining what services we can afford to provide to our agents based on the split arrangement we agreed upon. We are now able to look back at the past two years and arrive at something everyone is comfortable with. Also since we only take on experienced agents, and we’ve had tremendous growth there in the past two years, a challenge has been trying to figure out how much coaching each agent will accept, what they need, and what they don’t need. Some folks you just need to stay out of their way, but be there when they need to bounce ideas off of you.
4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
When I joined the group there were nine advisors and two staff in one office. Now we have 15 advisors, with 3 staff, in two offices. Interestingly 4 of the original 9 left us due to poor performance. So we’ve recruited 10 new advisors in two years.
Contact:
Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group
Sarasota & Bradenton, Florida
The Sperry Van Ness Florida Team consists of experienced Commercial Real Estate Advisors in 22 offices throughout the State. For more information on Tony Veldkamp, CCIM and his team, visit http://suncoastsvn.com.
*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.
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the addition of its newest franchise, SVN | Real Estate Solutions, based in Bedford, New Hampshire. Led by industry veteran Larry Pelletier, the firm specializes in assisting family offices, investors and developers nationwide in identifying commercial real estate opportunities and procuring targeted asset classes, as well as helping owners and operators to optimize investment returns on existing assets through repositioning or dispositioning.
1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
