SVNIC Archives - Page 2 of 3 - SVN® International

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC in Greenville, SC

Posted on July 24, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness/BlackStream Commercial, LLC with offices in Greenville and Columbia, South Carolina.

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.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | July 9 – July 23, 2014

Posted on July 24, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

July 11, 2014
Sperry Van Ness Gryphon Parker and Parker Kruse Asset Management Open For Business
Advisor: Richard Kruse & Shawn Parker
Office: SVN/Gryphon Parker (Columbus, OH)

Albany Park Apartments Fetch $1.7 million
Advisor: Dawn Overstreet, Ph.D.
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Packaging Properties For Profit
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

July 12, 2014
Strawberry Fields For Sale
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

Peek Honored with Wicomico Executive’s Fitness Council Award
Advisor: Chris Peek, CCIM
Office: SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 14, 2014
Self-Storage Brokerage Firm Sperry Van Ness Adds Franchise in Greenville, SC
Advisor: Ford Elliott & Carlos Salgado
Office: SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC (Greenville, SC)

Real Estate Deals
Advisor: Angela Varga
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Bradenton, FL)

Developers Circling Around Last 1,500 Undeveloped Acres in Carolina Forest
Advisor: Joe Garrell & Andrew Vicens
Office: SVN/Founders Group (Myrtle Beach, SC)

July 15, 2014
Rosemont’s Sycamore Office Plaza Listed for $8 million
Office: SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

July 16, 2014
BB&T Sells Foreclosed Offices to Kislak
Advisor: Caroline Camus, MBA
Office: SVN/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Nearly 500 Apartment Units Planned in Firestone
Advisor: Bill Reilly
Office: SVN/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

Sperry Van Ness Reports Recent Summer Transactions
Advisor: Mary Ridberg, Rommie Mojahed, Judy Jones, Erin Schrauth, Peter McQuaid, Greg Vanierberghe, Barbara McKenney, Ryan Mojahed, Beau Flahart, Justin Horwitz, Nicole Ridberg, Neil Sherman & Michael Gaida
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

July 17, 2014
Why is Content Marketing Important for B2B Marketers? Part 4
Advisor: Diane Danielson
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

SVN | Chicago Commercial Welcomes Tim Franz
Advisor: Timothy Franz
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness Launches Greenville CRE Franchise
Advisor: Ford Elliott & Carlos Salgado
Office: SVN/BlackStream Commercial, LLC (Greenville, SC)

July 18, 2014
Denver Couple Buys Full Circle Ranch B&B in Cave Creek
Advisor: Carrick Sears
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

July 19, 2014
Achievement Park Leased in Easton
Advisor: Bradley Gillis, CCIM & Joey Gilkerson
Office: SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 21, 2014
SVN Auction Services Expands Presence in Midwest with Addition of New Office in Ohio
Advisor: Richard Kruse & Shawn Parker
Office: SVN/Gryphon Parker (Columbus, OH)

Office Market Vacancies Leap Higher in Q2
Advisor: Patti Peixotto
Office: SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

July 23, 2014
Undisclosed Bank May Enter Valley Market on Airport Property
Advisor: Chris Baj, CCIM, CPA
Office: SVN/Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

All Sperry Van Ness^® offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness/Fortune Real Estate in El Paso, TX

Posted on July 11, 2014 by SVN

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.

To learn more about franchising opportunities, or to join an existing SVN Team, please contact Karen Hurd at karen.hurd@svn.com or 781.812.4272.

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | June 26 – July 9, 2014

Posted on July 9, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

June 26, 2014
Former Seahawk Brady Quinn Helps Wounded Iraq Vet
Advisor: Tom Hoban & Blake Stedman
Office: Coast/Sperry Van Ness (Everett, WA)

June 30, 2014
SVN Sells Multifamily/Mixed-use Building for $1.7M in Offmarket Deal
Advisor: Dawn Overstreet, Ph.D.
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Longtime San Mateo Chili’s Becoming Retail Store
Advisor: Rusty Lober
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

Leases & Sales: Week of June 30, 2014
Advisor: Martin Perlmutter
Office: Sperry Van Ness/MG Property Advisors, Inc. (San Rafael, CA)

July 1, 2014
Percival McGuire Joins Sperry Van Ness, Rebrands as Percival Partners
Advisor: Joey Godbold & Bob Percival, SIOR, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Retail’s at a Crossroads in the Recovery
Advisor: Shari Tucker-Gasser
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction to Auction New Homes, Lots & Gulf Shores Beach House for New Orleans Bankruptcy Case
Advisor: David E. Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

July 2, 2014
BB&T Sells Miami Lakes Office Condos at 18% Discount to Foreclosure
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Adds Franchise in Charlotte, NC
Advisor: Joey Godbold & Bob Percival, SIOR, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Percival Partners, LLC (Charlotte, NC)

Presbyterian’s North I-25 Move Bumps City’s Office Vacancy
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

July 5, 2014
Doing Business: Movers & Shakers
Advisor: Will Moore, Bob Rich & Chris Peek, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 6, 2014
Bulk Office Condo Portfolio Trades For $6,200,000
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR, Eric Amat & Caroline Camus, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Optimism On the Rise for Buzzing Nokomis Strip
Advisor: Brad Lindberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

July 7, 2014
CSP Dance Studios Boogies into Former Laffs Space
Advisor: Glenn Wright
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

Real Estate Deals
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

July 8, 2014
Bob Rich of Sperry Van Ness-Miller Earns Real Estate License for Delaware
Advisor: Bob Rich
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

July 9, 2014
Office Still Lags Outside Energy, Tech Markets
Advisor: Albert Lindeman
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

In Focus: Four Tips for Renewing Your Office Lease
Advisor: Stephen F. Graw
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

Former Marigold Indian Restaurant Could Be Replaced by Ramen, Comfort Food
Advisor: Tim Rasmussen
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

All Sperry Van Ness^® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® | In the News | June 11 – June 25, 2014

Posted on June 26, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news.

The following is a list of recent media coverage.

June 11, 2014
Sperry Van Ness Brokers Sale of Development Site in Chicago
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Commercial Corner: What is Placemaking?
Advisor: David Wilk, CRE, MAI & Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate (Wilmington, DE) & Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

June 12, 2014
Bank-Owned Property Sales Increasing
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corp. Adds Franchise in Holland, Michigan
Advisor: David de Maagd & Peter Colvin
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investment Property Advisors (Holland, MI)

June 13, 2014
Dormant Office Building Sees Fresh Activity with Renovation Project
Advisor: Tom Skeans, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness | Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

Hundreds Expected For Realtor Event
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

June 14, 2014
Sarasota Investor Buys Bradenton Cardiology Building
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

June 17, 2014
How DTZ’s $1.2B Sale Could Shake Up Chicago
Advisor: Jeffrey Baasch
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

DealPoint Merrill Closed Escrow on 325,500 SF for Redevelopment in Columbus-Ohio, Tucson-Arizona and Saginaw-Michigan
Advisor: Mike Gustafson & Mark Mimms
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ) & Sperry Van Ness/DealPoint Merrill Property Corporation (Fresno, CA)

Leases/Leasing Contracts
Advisor: Ben Andrews
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

June 18, 2014
Done Deals: Dirt and retail in Brandon; new restaurant lease in Carrollwood
Advisor: Enon Winkler, CCIM Jad Richa, Deucie Bies & Brian Hunsicker
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Boynton Beach, FL)

Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Appoints Diane Danielson Chief Operating Officer
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

NAIOP Arizona Reports Philanthropic Efforts, Achievements
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

June 19, 2014
DealPoint Merrill Targets Redevelopment Properties
Advisor: Mark Mimms
Office: Sperry Van Ness/DealPoint Merrill Property Corporation (Fresno, CA)

June 20, 2014
Business briefs: BB&T selects clubs for Lighthouse project
Advisor: Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Candelaria Business Center For Sale
Advisor: Joel White, MAI, Patti Peixotto & Hunter Green
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)

June 21, 2014
Heron Mural Makes Second Landing
Advisor: Rick Tilghman, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

The Ticker
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation (Boston, MA)

June 22, 2014
Wesley Cox of Sperry Van Ness-Miller presented with Humanitarian of the Year Award
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

Walworth County Subdivision, Condo Project Revived After Bank Sells Land
Advisor: Jay Hintze
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Hintze Group (Glendale, WI)

June 23, 2014
Apartments: Watch the Numbers in Jobs and Units
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM, Angela Varga, Linda Emery & Bruce Dilges
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Historic Brennan’s Trade Name, Registered Service Marks, Wine Collection & Remaining Assets to be Auctioned July 9
Advisor: David E. Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auctions & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

All Sperry Van Ness^® offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Bill Menish of SVN Auction Services

Posted on June 20, 2014 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Bill Menish, CAI, AARE, BAS, Senior Advisor/Real Estate Auctioneer with SVN Auction Services out of Louisville, Kentucky.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Through SVN Auction Services, we are capable of conducting auctions coast to coast, but our office focuses on the five-state region of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Our specialty is auctions but we execute them in many ways. In fact, we are about to roll out the brand new SVN Auction Services proprietary online bidding platform for timed and simulcast auctions. We also offer live onsite auctions, ballroom multi-property auctions and sealed bid auctions for all property types.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
“Use the media to your full advantage. Don’t worry, they realize they are being used.” I can say that with confidence having been a broadcast journalist in 4 states over a 20 year period with my final stop in San Diego where I was the morning anchor of the top rated morning news cast for 7 years. The walls of our SVN office are covered with framed newspaper articles and we have plenty of newscast footage saved that shows our success at inspiring the media to cover our auctions. They will cover your listings too “IF” you can find the story that their viewers and readers want to hear or see. You can load every listing platform ad buy every ad you can afford, but that free media is what is really going to help you get the word our about your property and why they should buy it. Every property has a story to tell, you just have to find it.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
In a word, it is Technology. It is not a bad word. In fact, we embrace the technological changes the industry is seeing. I heard someone the other day say that nothing has changed in the way we sell real estate or conduct real estate auctions since the economic downturn. I don’t think that could be further from the truth. So much has changed! How we get the listing, how we promote the listings and the sale, how we close them and especially how we turn that success into the next success has absolutely changed. I do believe that face-to-face time is invaluable, but with the clock moving faster than ever before, clients don’t feel they have the time, so you have to be able to connect and inspire even when you are not face to face, and often, that is through the proper use of technology.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
I don’t have a business book recommendation, but rather just one word: Auctions! SVN Advisors don’t realize the powerful tool that could be in their toolbox, that if used, would deliver more checks and create extremely satisfied customers. We know why they are not using it. It is that darn word AUCTION. People have a pre-conceived notion of what it means and most of the time, they have the wrong pre-conceived notion. We are selling a c-store / gas station now with a 60 day listing that transitions into an absolute auction after the listing period. That is what this seller needed and we created a solution set that fit their needs. They can test the traditional waters, and if we cannot produce the buyer, the absolute auction will absolutely produce the buyer. Auction clients are easy to spot if you listen to them. Every seller wants top dollar, but auction clients have a need to sell in a time defined manner, or they need the kind of exposure that auction marketing produces or they have a product that will glimmer in the spotlight of national exposure with an event surrounding their sale. I promise that you have talked to a client who would have considered an auction. Maybe you just didn’t hear them asking for it, but hopefully you will now. I promise it will help you sell more properties and close more deals.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I have run 5 marathons and my wife has run 6. If someone ever claims I cheated, it would mean that I ran a marathon without her knowing so I could catch up with her. On a serious note, I am very proud of my accomplishments in my former career where I awarded 15 Emmy’s and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award. I tell people often that I was training to be an Auctioneer the whole time I was a newscaster, I just didn’t know it. The broadcasting business helped me hone skills that I use every day to succeed in commercial real estate.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness l RICORE Investment Management, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH

Posted on June 20, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness | RICORE Investment Management, Inc. with offices in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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.

5 for Friday with Mark Alexander of Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander)

Posted on June 13, 2014 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Mark Alexander, CCIM, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) based out of Ft. Myers, Florida.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
I specialize in NNN medical office sale/leaseback closings and have been the National Director of MOB sales for SVN for many years. I currently host the SVN National Medical Call where I teach fellow Advisors how to work with doctors and list their MOBs. I have closed 87 MOB sales in my career to date located in six different states. Due to working with such a specific product specialty, I do not have a ‘defined’ geographic market, but rather work nationally across the United States, though most deals are in my home state of Florida.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Get involved, both in communication and collaboration! First, no one will hear from you, and subsequently think of you, if you do not reach out. If you are not comfortable with that, than I suggest you get comfortable. My two recent listings came about from me sending monthly post cards and a monthly e-newsletter called the “Alexander Medical Report” to my database of doctors who own medical office buildings. To collect additional content for my e-newsletter, beyond my own closings, I set-up a Google alert that sends me links each day to articles published with keywords “Medical Office”. Due to my research, I am able to share news of MOB closings from around the country, in addition to my own, each month. Second, get out there and collaborate with your fellow Advisors! The sales of my two recent listings (in Sebring and Bradenton totaling over $11 million combined) closed due to collaboration with SVN advisors who provided the buyers in each case. For additional information on those deals, see here and here.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I joined Sperry Van Ness eleven years ago. When I first joined I had a 2000 SF office where I managed multiple Advisors (including the former Mayor of Ft. Myers) and personally did a good amount of office leasing and property management in addition to working on my MOB sale/leaseback specialty. I was spread too thin, in too many directions, all at once. At one of my first SVN national conferences I was attending a session on “How to grow your SVN business” and I happen to sit next to Mark Van Ness. I mentioned to him that I did a little bit of leasing, property management and sales. Van Ness said, “Property management can be a decent profit center if you have critical mass”. In other words, you need a lot of it to make money. I realized that my dabbling in property management and leasing was eating up my most important asset – my time. It had created an artificial income ceiling for me. Shortly after that national conference I started outsourcing my leasing and property management to focus on my specialty and passion…which is medical office sale/leaseback.

Before joining SVN, I had been so busy running my business as a small independent boutique firm, I had really not taken the time to look back and analyze my business and how I might improve it. Over the past ten years, thanks to things I learned from SVN, I slowly phased out my office and now work out of my home and focus solely on MOB sale/leasebacks. My model of business in not for everyone but it works for me. I am more happy now and making more money than I ever did in the past. Thanks to coaching from SVN at national conferences, I had finally realized that I had been a reluctant manager of sales people in my office and my true passion was just working on deals. SVN gave me the national network and support to compete on the national stage to provide the best possible service for my doctor clients.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
It can never be just one book. Our business is constantly evolving with changes in the economy and technology so it is important to consistently read as much as you can to keep your finger on the pulse of our industry and your specialty. Earlier this year, I helped an SVN Advisor in Milwaukee list a $35M MOB solely because I had recently attended two national conferences (one in Scottsdale, AZ and one in Miami, FL) on the medical office market. During a conference call, when the Wisconsin MOB seller started telling me what he thought was the state of the MOB market, I was able to correct him and quote national speakers (who were CEO’s of National Health Care firms) from both conferences on topics that countered this seller’s pre-conceived opinions. The seller grew suddenly quiet, and shortly after we signed the listing. That deal is under contract now with a 1031 buyer and due to close near the end of June for $33.5 million. Interestingly, after we signed the contract, the seller admitted to us that every other competing broker who had pitched this listing before SVN had said it would never sell over $30 million.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
As a shameless sharer of news and family pictures on Facebook, there is probably little that people don’t know about me already. But I can say, the best part of my day is taking our dog buddy for a walk out our front door along the Miami Beach Marina each morning. I enjoy looking at boats while Buddy intently studies the bushes. The picture to the right shows the view from the 17^th floor condo where I live and work. I moved here in April after spending the previous 33 years in Ft. Myers. My daughter Lauren starts college in the fall at FIU in Miami.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty with offices in Ft. Lauderdale and Hialeah, FL.

Keith Kidwell | President | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
For over the past 11 years our strategy has not been to grow the firm, it has been to keep the firm small with seasoned commercial brokers and to run a highly efficient office to better serve our clients.

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
We have goal challenges with rewards. If agents meet their goal challenges we will offer free or discounted trips to our state and national conferences, gift certificates, etc. In addition, we sponsor golf and sporting clay teams for charity fundraisers.

3. What’s been the biggest challenge in running your business in the last few years?
The biggest challenge has been in ensuring our agents have all the tools necessary to be as productive and as efficient as possible. This includes keeping up with the latest in technology, social media, etc. and training them to use these tools.

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
We started the company 11 years ago with 5 agents and 1 staff member and currently have two offices, 6 agents and 2 staff members. Small and efficient.

Contact:
Keith Kidwell, SIOR, CCIM
President
Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Sperry Van Ness® In the News

Posted on June 12, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of recent media coverage.

May 28, 2014
Jonathan Levy Joins Sperry Van Ness
Advisor: Jonathan Levy
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

People on the Move – Professional Recognition
Advisor: Rommie Mojahed
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 29, 2014
Four Multi-family Transactions in Metro Phoenix
Advisor: Neal Sherman & Carrick Sears
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 30, 2014
Delayed Recovery
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

June 1, 2014
H&R Block Leases Former Quiznos Building in Salisbury
Advisor: Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

June 2, 2014
MF Buyer Inks Healthcare Triple Net Sale-Leaseback
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL)

Business Winners
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

The Wood Shed Restaurant Coming to Central Station’s Retail Space in Evanston
Advisor: Ben Andrews
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Big Deals: CRE leaders Talk Key Transactions at OBJ Industry Outlook
Advisor: Miguel de Arcos
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Orlando, FL)

June 4, 2014
Industrial Trends: E-commerce, Reshoring, Post-Panamax
Advisor: Matthew Rotolante, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

Verizon Effect: 5 Businesses Coming to Lake Mary
Advisor: Miguel de Arcos
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Orlando, FL)

Group Buys Windsor Tract for Development
Advisor: Craig Hau & Robert Hau
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

Sperry Van Ness South’s Harrison Klein Earns CCIM Designation
Advisor: Harrison Klein, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

June 5, 2014
Sperry Van Ness International Corporation Adds Franchise in Oklahoma City, OK
Advisor: Johnathan Russell, CCIM & Drew Dozier
Office: Sperry Van Ness/LandRun Commercial (Oklahoma City, OK)

Sign(s) of the Times as Bank Banners Compete at Chantilly Office Building
Advisor: Kayvan Mehrbakhsh, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/SVNMA (Herndon, VA)

June 6, 2014
Investor Buys Bradenton Cardiology Building
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Storage Firm Buys Vacant Parcel for $1.2 million
Advisor: Wayne Caplan
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

June 10, 2014
Done Deals: A Big Lease in St. Pete; Retail in Wesley Chapel; Prime Dirt in Clearwater
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM & Bob Morris
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL) & Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Wesley Cox Named Sperry Van Ness’ 2013 Humanitarian of the Year
Advisor: Wesley Cox, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

June 11, 2014
New Medical Look for SW 17th Street
Advisor: Bartow McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

All Sperry Van Ness^® offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: SVN/HINT Advisors in Houston, TX

Posted on June 5, 2014 by SVN

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.

Sperry Van Ness® In the News

Posted on May 28, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness® offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of recent media coverage.

May 1, 2014

Awards and Accolades
Advisor: Justin Horwitz, Neal Sherman, Danny Lee, Rommie Mojahed & Mary Ridberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Deli 620 moves to PNC Center in downtown Fort Wayne
Advisor: Whitney Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

Deal Makers
Advisor: Ryan Imbrie, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness /Imbrie Realty, LLC (Portland, OR)

Done Deals: Apartments sold for $12.3 million
Advisor: Larry Starr & Brad Lindberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Tomorrow’s Leaders in Retail
Advisor: Rommie Mojahed
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 5, 2014

Broward Bank of Commerce Invites Small Business Owners to Learn, Grow and Prosper from Complimentary Event Series Celebrating Small Business Week 2014
Advisor: Les Byron, SIOR, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Realty (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Hot Real Estate Office Notches $43 Million in Sales
Advisor: Tony Veldkamp, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Sperry Van Ness Welcomes Sayavedra
Advisor: Jimena Sayavedra
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 6, 2014

Sperry Van Ness sells 26 of 49 condo units in Evanston development
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 7, 2014

Local Sperry Van Ness® Office Ranked #3 in the Nation
Advisor: Larry Starr
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

$7.25M Evanston Illinois Bulk Condo Sale
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Sperry Van Ness® Announces Property Management Survey Results
Office: Sperry Van Ness International Corporation

The Deal Sheet
Advisor: Jim Sears & Reid Bennett, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 8, 2014

Why Illinois Leads In Sustainability
Advisor: Jimena Sayavedra
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

Providing Value and Increasing Income Through Corporate Real Estate Services
Advisor: David Wilk, CRE, MAI & Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate (Wilmington, DE) & Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.

May 9, 2014

Commercial real estate transactions
Advisor: David Dunn, CCIM, SIOR
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Dunn Commercial (Arlington, TX)

May 11, 2014

Sunday’s real estate roundup
Advisor: Mark Alexander, CCIM
Office: Sperry Van Ness (Mark Alexander) (Ft. Myers, FL)

May 12, 2014

MiBiz Growth Report
Advisor: Peter Colvin
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investment Property Advisors (Holland, MI)

The Deal Sheet
Advisor: Jacquelyn Faranso
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 13, 2014

A Trail Helps Open Up a Dallas Neighborhood to New Development
Advisor: Todd Franks
Office: Sperry Van Ness/TJF Investments (Dallas, TX)

Real Estate Briefs
Advisor: Stan Snipes, CCIM, David W. Creed & Stephen F. Graw
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Nashville, TN)

Sperry Van Ness Advisors Close Several New Retail and Office Transactions
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Positive First Quarter
Advisor: Mary Ridberg
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

May 14, 2014

Golden Hill apartment on A Street sold
Advisor: Jim Taylor & Shelly Bird
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Finest City Commercial (San Diego, CA)

May 16, 2014

Family farm expands to Caroline
Advisor: Ben Alder
Office: Sperry Van Ness – Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

May 17, 2014

Scene: Budding musicians celebrate at CMS brunch
Advisor: Deborah Skeans, CCIM, MAI
Office: Sperry Van Ness | Imperial Realty (Allentown, PA)

May 18, 2014

Rangers owners buy more land near ballpark from Tom Hicks
Advisor: Clint Montgomery, CPM, RPA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Visions Commercial (Ft. Worth, TX)

May 19, 2014

USDA to Auction Nine Michigan Apartment Complexes
Advisor: John Johnson, CCIM, ALC & David Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Interstate Auction Management (Atlanta, GA) & Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

May 21, 2014

Vacant industrial building in Alsip sells for $1.1 million
Advisor: Beverly Hayes
Office: Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial (Chicago, IL)

May 22, 2014

Add Value by Using 1031 Exchanges
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA
Office: Sperry Van Ness/ Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

May 23, 2014

Cobblestone Inn & Suites going up in Eaton
Advisor: Cobey Wess & Dan Leuschen
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commerical, LLC (Ft. Collins, CO)

May 27, 2014

AuctionWorks to Host Real Estate Auction June 23-25
Advisor: Diana Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/AuctionWorks (Chicago, IL)

May 28, 2014

Bankruptcy Trustee Files Motion to Sell Brennan’s Trade Name, Seek Competing Bids
Advisor: David Gilmore, CCIM, CAI, AARE
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Gilmore Auction & Realty Co. (Kennar, LA)

All Sperry Van Ness^® offices are independently owned and operated.

Top 5 Things That Keep Property Management Executives Up At Night

Posted on May 13, 2014 by SVN

Running a business can often be a thankless job. When you couple that with the business being a property management company, the things that can keep you up at night are endless. In January, the Sperry Van Ness® property management team conducted a survey of 100 commercial property management executives across the country to identify the issues with which they were struggling in their business. The results overwhelmingly identified 5 issues that challenge property management executives in 2014. Overwhelmingly, the executives surveyed stated that:

We need a better pipeline for future business.
We lack referrals for new business.
We are not considered a preferred provider for larger or institutional landlords.
We need more/better access to larger or institutional landlords.
We lack marketing.

At Sperry Van Ness International Corporation our independently owned and operated Sperry Van Ness® franchisees tackle these issues and are able to sleep better at night knowing that they have a national brand with tools, resources, training and an entire community of real estate advisors standing behind them. Not only is Sperry Van Ness® a nationally recognized brand[1] with over 40 million square feet and 22,000+ multifamily units under management, our property management franchisees integrate seamlessly with our brokerage platform, which in 2013, participated in over $8 billion in transactions. This national platform provides our franchisees with multiple opportunities for:

Costs savings through our Master Insurance Program and other discounted services;
Unique offerings for your prospects and clients like SVNGreen for energy efficiency;
National account business; and
Expansion into brokerage through our SVN System for Growth™.

Download the “Top Five Things that Keep Property Management Executives Up at Night” white paper for free by clicking on the image below and take the next step in a better night’s sleep.

Want to learn more about Sperry Van Ness® property management franchises? Visit https://svn.com/cre-franchising-opportunities/ or contact us at pmfranchise@svn.com.

[1] Sperry Van Ness® brand was ranked the 12th largest Property Management firm for 2013 by Commercial Property Executive magazine.

Relating “The Extra Mile” by Glenn Morshower to the SVN Core Covenants

Posted on May 12, 2014 by SVN

How does “The Extra Mile” by Glenn Morshower correspond and relate to the SVN Core Covenants?

We had the distinct pleasure of being exposed to an outstanding keynote speaker, Glenn Morshower, recently at our SVN National conference in San Antonio. As always our Executive team, Advisory Board and conference team hit a home run in my opinion with Glenn; certainly entertaining, definitely memorable and hugely credible. I think he hit on all facets of our SVN life, our business and our sense of community. For fun, I overlaid his “Extra Mile” concept over our Core Covenants. See if you agree that they line up very well.

[slideshow_deploy id=’5754′]

Cooperating proactively with all brokers and agents and always placing my client’s interests above my own.

“Do unto others as you would have life do unto you”.

Showing respect and support to my clients and colleagues.

“Who I am anywhere is who I am everywhere”.

Honoring my commitments.

“There is no boundary on good or truth”.

Personifying and upholding the Sperry Van Ness® brand.

“We are winners by design”.

Creating tangible benefits for my clients, colleagues and community.

“It’s not I’ll believe it when I see it, but rather I will see it when I believe it”

Resolving conflicts quickly, positively and effectively.

“I am no longer disposed to be in conflict with myself or anyone”.

Taking personal responsibility for achieving my own potential.

Like the “Circle of Habit” for Gill in the Fish Bowl…we know how to find and fill a bathtub…no limits.

Excelling in my market area and specialty within the firm.

“What do I want to do most?”

Focusing on the positive and possible.

“Impossibilities become possibilities; possibilities become probabilities; probabilities become inevitabilities”; it is up to you.

Nurturing my career while valuing the importance of family, health and community.

The balance of life is Spiritual, Emotional, Financial and Physical. Is what you are doing a “contribution or a contamination?”

5 for Friday with Jimena Sayavedra of Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial

Posted on May 2, 2014 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Jimena Sayavedra, an Associate Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Chicago Commercial based out of Chicago, Illinois.

Jimena Sayavedra | Associate Advisor |SVN Chicago Commercial

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My geographic focus is Metropolitan Chicago industrial corridors and my product specialty is Industrial sales and leasing.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
I believe that targeted well-planned networking is a very powerful tool to grow connections not only for career advancement but especially to grow our real estate practice. Either face-to-face networking or via social media, It creates opportunities to initiate conversations to connect with people and discuss problems and solutions with sellers, buyers, landlords, and tenants.

Another foundation of any real estate practice is cold calling, which goes hand-and-hand with networking, since both require excellent communication skills, industry knowledge and confidence. Tackling these two tasks I think are fundamental steps to develop and maintain a strong database of clients, which is the groundwork for my practice as a commercial real estate advisor.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
Since I am newer to the brokerage business, I would say definitely social media is a game changer in all that we do. It makes us more efficient because it allows us initiating or following up on connections and relationships with more people. For us in the commercial real estate business, it is a great advantage to connect digitally with members within companies, groups, associations where we can start conversations and find leads. I think it is a great complement to the permanent cold calling that is part of our daily practice.

I am now focusing on prospecting and will follow with developing my “presence.”

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. I think Sandberg with this book has opened up so many issues related to women and work and how women tend to hold back when we actually have everything to succeed in the business world and bring more women to leadership positions. I think a lot of what she says in her book is very applicable to women in the male dominated real estate sector, where we women bring skills that add great value to this profession.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I am a marathon runner, I have completed 18 marathons, including 2 Boston, 10 Chicago, 1 New York among others. I just finished Boston.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: SVN/Walt Arnold Commerical Brokerage, Inc. in Albuquerque, NM

Posted on May 1, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on SVN/Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc. with offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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.

Sperry Van Ness In The News

Posted on May 1, 2014 by SVN

Many of our Sperry Van Ness offices and Advisors are regularly appearing in the news. The following is a list of some recent media coverage.

April 30, 2014

Deli 620 moves to PNC Center in downtown Fort Wayne
Advisor: Whitney Peterson
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Parke Group (Ft. Wayne, IN)

April 29, 2014

Broker: ‘Distressed’ Silver Springs hotel sold
Advisor: Bartow McDonald
Office: Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Ocala, FL)

Extraction Oil & Gas leases property in Greeley
Advisor: Dan Leuschen & Steve Kawulok
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Fort Collins, CO)

Premium Valve Services takes space in Loveland
Advisor: Craig Hau
Office: Sperry Van Ness/The Group Commercial, LLC (Fort Collins, CO)

April 28, 2014

Firm gets new $4M home, complete with big rig in the sky
Advisor: Mark Motley
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Motley’s (Richmond, VA)

Justice Brandeis’ boyhood home auctioned for $880,000
Advisor: Bill Menish & Don Erler
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 25, 2014

SVN Sarasota Office Receives Award
Advisor: Larry Starr
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

Sperry Van Ness brokers deal for Midtown Title, INETCO
Advisor: Stan Snipes & David Creed
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Investec Realty Services (Brentwood, TN)

People On The Move
Advisor: Alex Ruggieri
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc. (Champaign, IL)

Timeco Systems moves to downtown office
Advisor: Angela Varga & Debra Cooper
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

April 24, 2014

SVN Awarded at Conference
Office: Sperry Van Ness, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

Sperry Van Ness closes deals
Advisor: Brad Lindburg, Larry Starr & Gail Bowden
Office: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group (Sarasota, FL)

April 23, 2014

Brandeis childhood home up for sale to highest bidder
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

NNN Burger King Trades for $1.65 Million in South Carolina
Advisor: Adam C. Wells
Office: Sperry Van Ness/South Commercial Real Estate Advisors (Miami, FL)

April 21, 2014

Brandeis home being sold at auction
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 20, 2014

Louis Brandeis Boyhood Home Up For Auction
Advisor: Bill Menish
Office: SVN Auction Services | ErlerMenish (Louisville, KY)

April 18, 2014

Kevin Maggiacomo, Sperry Van Ness CEO, Delivers a Diversity Idea Worth Spreading at TEDx Orange Coast
Office: SVNIC

April 17, 2014

Sperry Van Ness Pushing Auction Services Program
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services

Sperry Van Ness ramps up auction program
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services

April 16, 2014

Patty McClimmans Named as a ‘Top Achiever’
Advisor: Patty McClimmans
Office: Sperry Van Ness Real Estate, LLC (Naples, FL)

Sperry Puts Foot on CRE Auction Pedal
Advisor: Jerry Anderson
Office: SVN Auction Services

April 15, 2014

Sperry Van Ness advisors and staff attend national convention in Texas
Office: Sperry Van Ness/Miller Commercial Real Estate (Salisbury, MD)

5 For Friday with Gail Bowden of Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group

Posted on April 21, 2014 by SVN

Gail Bowden | Senior Investment Advisor | Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group

This week, our 5 for Friday features Gail Bowden, an Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group based out of Sarasota, Florida.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My major geographic market is Florida, with Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties being my sub-markets. I have also co-listed with other SVN Advisors on various projects outside of Florida. My specialty is in coordinating and completing complex commercial transactions with multiple players and many moving parts, such as when dealing with a 1031 exchange. I find this type of transaction interesting and challenging at the same time. It is always very rewarding to bring a complicated deal together for my clients. I have a significant amount of experience in dealing with venture capital, project finance, construction, and development.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
My best practice tip for Advisors is to utilize innovative thinking and collaboration. From a client relations perspective, I would recommend finding ways to nourish your relationships through embracing all the tools technology has given us, such as social media as a means for establishing greater relationships with existing clients as well a strong web presence for attracting new clients. If you are not very tech savvy, outsource it. You have to be where your clients are, and the importance of making yourself visible on the web will only increase with time.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I would have to say technology has had the biggest influence on how I run my business as well as being a great contributor to my success. In fact, technology is changing the way everyone does business and has become a driving factor behind the shifting landscape of the commercial real estate industry as a whole. Technology has caused a major paradigm shift in regard to just about every aspect of our lives.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”, by Susan Jeffers

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
Not everyone knows that I am a grandmother of two amazing grandchildren in Utah. They are an absolute joy and I frequently travel to see them just about every two months. It may also come as a surprise to most that I recently completed a 120-mile ride from Orlando to Sarasota on a Tandem bike with one of my SVNCAG coworkers, Bruce Dilges. I like challenging myself and trying new things. I always say that I will try just about anything at least once.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group in Bradenton & Sarasota, FL

Posted on April 18, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on Sperry Van Ness Commercial Advisory Group with offices in Bradenton and Sarasota, Florida.

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 3^rd 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.

2Q Self Storage Market Update by Nick Malagisi, SIOR

Posted on April 14, 2014 by SVN

Self storage fared better than every other commercial real estate sector during this past recession. However, the sector was not recession-proof, rather it was recession-resistant. After two years of losses (nine consecutive quarters), the four publicly traded REITS turned the corner and now have reported eight consecutive positive quarters. Occupancies are up; concessions are down; and rental rates are finally climbing back to pre-recession levels. REITS, in general, have outperformed the S & P and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) for all of 2011 and 2012.

The self storage industry has finally begun to consolidate as the number of new construction starts diminished each of the last five years from their peak in 2006. The industry doubled in size from one billion to two billion square feet from 1995 to 2006. The top twenty operators in the USA control less than 20% of the total market. That will change as the REITS, flush with investment cash, acquire and increase their market share in select markets. Similarly, other new sources of institutional monies have been watching the sector and have concluded that self storage returns are as dependable, or even more secure, than the other traditional commercial real estate asset classes. These new funds/buyers are very competitive with the REITS and have forced Cap Rates down to the 5.5-6.5% range for stabilized, class “A”-good quality facilities located in the top 10 markets. Cap rates in secondary and tertiary markets remain in the 7-10% range depending on the age of the facility, location of the property and its demographics.

In terms of financing, self storage continues to enjoy the lowest default rate of any other sector in the CMBS market. While banks and life insurance companies are more conservative in their underwriting than they were pre-recession, interest rates for refinancing are in the 4.50% to 5.75% range, with an expected 30-35% equity contribution.

Banks and Special Servicers are beginning to foreclose on borrowers that can’t make their mortgage payments or meet new debt/equity requirements. We should see more lender sales of under-performing assets and notes later on in 2013. Or, the lenders may decide to package their bad loans and sell them via auctions to get them off their books and leave the buyers of the notes to proceed to foreclosure and/or re-sell the notes to the original borrower or the open market. At the end of 2009, the Sperry Van Ness National Self Storage Team participated in a bulk sale when Key Bank was selling a construction loan portfolio with a face value of $32M.

As we look ahead to the remaining half of 2013, we should see industry performance continue to improve; increased consolidation from the larger operators; and financing from the CMBS market become an option for smaller deals; all factors which will narrow the spread between the amount buyers are willing to pay and the amount sellers are willing to accept.

Prepared by:

Nick Malagisi, Self Storage Council ChairContributed by:

Nick Malagisi

Chair of the Self Storage Product Council

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Mary Ridberg of Sperry Van Ness, LLC

Posted on April 11, 2014 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Mary Ridberg, an Advisor with Sperry Van Ness, LLC based out of Phoenix, AZ.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My product specialty is Retail Leasing, Tenant Representation, and Investment Sales in the Phoenix market with a special focus on my own backyard in the East Valley including Gilbert, Chandler, Ahwatukee, Tempe, and Mesa.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
The power of team work. My partner Rommie Mojahed and I have found that team work extends our business plan beyond where we could reach as individuals. We have found that the male/female team has allowed us to serve the needs of many of our clients’ communication styles. We collaborate, continuously cross check, divide and conquer when necessary, and gain strength from each other’s prospective. We serve as Directors of Leasing for Sperry Van Ness, LLC in Phoenix. We use team work within our office and meet to collaborate twice each month as a group. We find these group meetings a great strategy for producing results internally.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
The past decade has presented the greatest dichotomy to our industry. There was a time of what seemed to be limitless potential followed very closely by a time of great challenge. Survival and compassion for those around us gave way to navigating strategies with colleagues, clients, institutions, and asset managers. Collaboration with individuals we may never have had the chance to serve in such a powerful way took place and as we look back we cherish the place we are today in the journey and the contribution we were able to offer.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. I find this extremely helpful especially when working in teams to identify individual strengths and how to complement one another. I also recommend The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I traveled for a few years at the beginning of college performing with a group that toured with Doc Severinsen, Sergio Mendez, and Carlos Santana. I was in two T.V. commercials in New York and modeled in Chicago. I lived in Wisconsin at the time and all travel for our performances was by bus. After two years on the road I welcomed the chance to go to college and live in a dorm.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

2013 Sperry Van Ness® Specialty Award Recipients

Posted on April 9, 2014 by SVN

If you missed the 2014 Sperry Van Ness® National Conference held in San Antonio, TX, you missed all of the incredible individuals and teams who received a 2013 Specialty Award.

The Specialty Awards were given to those who far exceed the everyday commercial real estate responsibilities. These recipients are nominated by his or her peers and are considered leaders within the organization and contributors to the community. As an organization it truly is amazing to see all of the knowledge, character and drive that Sperry Van Ness Advisors possess. Please find below a list of this years recipients.

SVN l Chicago Commercial, Firm of the Year

Nicole Abresch, Collaborator of the Year (Kassandra Bruhn not shown)

Firm of the Year: SVN Chicago Commercial
The Firm of the Year Award is given to the SVN office that goes above and beyond to help fellow SVN offices and Advisors. SVN Chicago Commercial has been the host, promoter, and hospitality provider to new recruits, business owners and more. SVN Chicago Commercial always says ‘yes’ to anyone who asks for assistance.

Ambassador of the Year: Alex Ruggieri – Champaign, IL
The Ambassador of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embodies the SVN culture and helps contribute to the success of the company. Alex is not only a top producer, but he authors articles for major publications, hosts podcasts as well as radio shows. He is a model SVN Advisor.

Team Player of the Year: Doug Wilson – Columbus, OH
The Team Player of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who collaborates in a significant way with other SVN Advisors or offices across the nation. Doug contributes throughout his Mid-West region and assists fellow team members daily.

Trainer of the Year: Curt Arthur – Salem, OR
The Trainer of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who most exemplifies the qualities of a high-caliber mentor. Curt goes out of his way to take a call from a prospect, deliver webinars to new Advisors and continually mentor those in our SVN community.

Innovator of the Year: Justin Horwitz – Phoenix, AZ
The Innovator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who embraces the latest CRE technology, including all the SVN tools available to enrich business practices. Justin uses the SVN National Sales Calls, Product Councils and various other tools to find, win and fulfill business on a daily basis

Prospector of the Year: Justin Verner – Baltimore, MD
The Prospector of the Year Award is given to the SVN Advisor who consistently prospects and develops a strong pipeline of business for the future. Justin uses all of our SVN tools available while maintaining great relationships and trust with his clients.

Collaborators of the Year: Nicole Abresch – Salisbury, MD & Kassandra Bruhn – Phoenix, AZ
The Collaborator of the Year Award is given to the SVN Office, Advisor or Staff member who takes the SVN dedication to collaboration to the next level. Nicole and Kassandra assisted the SVNIC marketing team with pilot programs and contribute regularly to social media and branding efforts.

Humanitarian of the Year: Wesley Cox – Salisbury, MD
The SVN Humanitarian of the Year Award is given to the Advisor who makes an extraordinary effort to give themselves to their community. The Mission of Mercy, The Christian Shelter, Salvation Army, and the Village of Hope are a handful of the organizations that have benefited from Wesley’s work.

Please join us in congratulating every 2013 Specialty Award recipient, individuals who truly embody the SVN Difference!

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Kevin Maggiacomo's State of the Company Address

Posted on April 7, 2014 by SVN

The following are the closing words of my State of the Company address at our National Conference in San Antonio on March 13, 2014. I wanted to write them down so that even those who didn’t join us this year could reflect on them. The video of the full speech was circulated to the all Sperry Van Ness® Advisors and Staff on April 7, 2014.

Kevin Maggiacomo, President & CEO

“I want to close out by reminding you of something very special and unique that exists here; something that separates SVN Advisors and the brand from any other firm in the industry, and that’s the SVN culture. It’s special, almost tangible. It’s real. And as long as we use the Core Covenants to guide everything we do with and for SVN, our unique culture will remain intact.

There are people who don’t fit our culture. Those will always exist. There are advisors who break the rules, and that will happen from time to time. But from the way in which we collaborate to market properties, to the way in which we clearly place our clients’ interests first, the unique SVN culture is real, is present…and I don’t want to sound like an evangelist but I can feel it in this room.

A company’s culture is one of the only true sustainable advantages SVN or any company has, if you think about it.

Given enough time and money, our competitors can duplicate almost everything we do (they can but they can’t). They can attempt to hire away some of our best people. They can try to reverse engineer our processes. But the only thing they can’t duplicate is the way in which we live our culture.

The culture to change the industry–we are a company of professionals. Professionals willing to share information and fees, because that’s how we achieve maximum value for our clients.

The SVN brand–synonymous with all of that, and being driven by our firm owners – local ownership – with ties and vested interests in our communities.

Our culture is unique, our culture is brave and I’d like you to give yourselves a round of applause to celebrate each other and company of which you are a part.”

Kevin Maggiacomo
CEO & President
Sperry Van Ness International Corporation

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Top CREW #CRE Professionals Meet up at the Sperry Van Ness® National Conference

Posted on March 25, 2014 by SVN

Diane Danielson, COO with fellow Sperry Van Ness CREW members

A little over one week ago, I was attending SVN’s National Conference which was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on San Antonio’s picturesque River Walk in Texas. Hundreds of SVN Advisors, staff and commercial real estate professionals from over 180 markets across the country came together for two jammed-packed days to learn how to “Win.EveryDay.” (our 2014 conference theme) in their business!

The hotel was abuzz, conference rooms packed, and breakout sessions were in full discussion with numerous deal-making and networking opportunities. We learned about everything you need to know from the top 60 must-have mobile apps, online auctions, how to be properly fitted for a business suit, to how to increase efficiencies to achieve growth and run a more productive business model.

One of many conference highlights was our own SVN parody video of the movie Moneyball, which hit a home run with our all our staff and Advisors. We outlined how we are taking a sophisticated Sabermetric approach and applying the concept of baseball metrics to the CRE business to build a competitive team to “Win. Every Day.” We even had Glenn Morshower, an actor who appeared in the film, reinforce the “Win. Every Day” message in his motivational talk. I am also proud to say we held one of the highest-achieving, Trailblazer Awards Ceremonies in Sperry Van Ness® history that celebrated SVN Advisor victories in 2013!

Among the crowd of CRE professionals that gathered together, about ten CREW Network members seized the opportunity to talk about CREW, its value and mission. We also spent time together to discuss this year’s 2014 CREW Convention which will be held in Miami this October where SVN will host a booth. SVN/CREW Miami here we come!

SVN is looking for more CREW members. Are you interested? Do you know any fellow SVN Advisors who would be interested? Please contact me!

Authored by Karen Hurd, Vice President, Franchise Development. For more information about CREW Network or about Sperry Van Ness® franchise opportunities, email Karen.Hurd@svn.com.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

The Lipsey Results Are In!

Posted on March 4, 2014 by SVN

SVN ranks #8 in the Lipsey Survey of the most recognized brands in commercial real estate.

The Lipsey Company once again produced their annual commercial real estate brand survey and the Sperry Van Ness brand continues to excel, moving up from last year.

1. CBRE
2. Jones Lang LaSalle (tie)
2. Colliers International (tie)
2. Cushman & Wakefield (tie)
3. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
4. Cassidy Turley
5. NAI Global
6. Avison Young
7. CoStar
8. Sperry Van Ness
9. Eastdil Secured
10. DTZ

Click here to see the results of the survey.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Feb. 10, 2014

Posted on February 11, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Fee Buy Side
Hampton Court Apartments	Baltimore, MD	Auction	Multifamily	1%
Texarkan Retail Pad Site 1	Texarkana, TX	$708,000	Land	$21,240
Texarkan Retail Pad Site 2	Texarkana, TX	$754,000	Land	$22,620
Albuquerque Car Wash	Albuquerque, NM	$765,669	Land	$22,970
7301 Patey Woods Road	Newark, MD	$850,000	Land	$29,750
Amos Garden Apartments	Huntsville, AL	$990,000	Multifamily	$29,700
Medical Office Condo	Rehoboth Beach, DE	$1,185,000	Office	$35,550
Augusta Lodge	Augusta, GA	$1,352,800	Hospitality	$33,820
Taco Bell	Fulton, MO	$1,447,000	Retail	$28,940
Burger King	West Branch, MI	$1,476,923	Retail	$36,923
Burger King	Plymouth, MI	$1,792,000	Retail	$44,800
Folsum Blvd. Retail Center	Rancho Cordova, CA	$1,950,000	Retail	$34,125
Wild Frontier Campground	Ocala, FL	$2,100,000	Multifamily	$63,000
Executive Towers	San Diego, CA	$2,200,000	Office	$66,000
Taco Bell	El Dorado, AR	$2,296,000	Retail	$45,920
Commercial Land	Georgetown, DE	$2,400,000	Land	$96,000
Main Street at Hebron	Hebron, MD	$2,500,000	Land	$125,000
1408 Industrial Bldg.	Pompano Beach, FL	$3,000,000	Industrial	$90,000
Townhome Portfolio	Amelia, OH	$4,600,000	Multifamily	$115,000
The Atrium	Norcross, GA	$5,000,000	Office	$150,000
Polo Springs Apartments	Bardstown, KY	$5,200,000	Multifamily	$104,000
Office Building Portfolio	Houston, TX	$5,550,615	Office	$111,012.30

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with David Wilk SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

Posted on February 7, 2014 by SVN

David Wilk, CRE, MAI, with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

This week, our 5 for Friday features David Wilk, CRE, MAI, Corporate Real Estate Council Co-Chair and an Advisor with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate based out of Wilmington, DE.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Corporate real estate earnings measurement and optimization, strategic marketing plans for excess or under-productive properties, place-making economic development strategies, and corporate/university real estate’s connectivity to social value creation on a national basis.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Be a great listener first and always make your conversations with others about the value that you can bring to them whether they are a client, friend, fellow human being, or loved one.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
In today’s market, clients don’t like to pay for consulting or advisory services when most other real estate companies give that service away for future transactions. If you can’t clearly articulate why you add value to someone’s life, business, or real estate, either re-invent your business plan or don’t expect to win much business.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Blue Ocean Strategy“ by W. Chan Kim or “The Rise of the Creative Class“ by Richard Florida

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I developed a “Best of Delaware” restaurant and nightclub called “The Polo Club” in Greenville, Delaware. It was a hot spot from 1988 to 1993 until we sold it to a competitor in 1993. The Polo Club hosted performances from national recording stars America, Dave Mason, Mamas and Papas (when Papa John was still alive), Drifters, Coasters, Marvellettes, John Sebastian, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Mitch Ryder, and Badfinger. The most interesting takeaway from this business was the marketing and branding benefits to my real estate business that came out of this experience, and the priceless relationships and social intelligence that was gained from those who I met and got to know there.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

James Blake honored with Charles D. Tandy #CRE award

Posted on February 7, 2014 by SVN

James Blake, CCIM, Managing Director for SVN/Summit Commercial Realty, recently received the 2013 Charles D. Tandy Commercial Realtor award, the top honor of the Society of Commercial Realtors. This award was established to recognize commercial realtors who best exemplify the highest in professional standards.

Integrity, leadership and outstanding character are really what this award is about, and no one exemplifies those qualities better than James Blake

2014 SCR Chairman Bill Makens

With more than 28 years of Dallas/Fort Worth commercial real estate market experience, Blake has combined sales and leases in excess of $320 million. While Blake’s shopping center and industrial clients are all across the United States, his focus is retail and industrial income producing properties in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex area.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Feb. 3, 2014

Posted on February 4, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Fee Buy Side
Ramsey Landing	Rincon, GA	Various	Land	2%-3.5%
Judd Creek Residential	Cape Coral, FL	Call for offers	Land	1.5%
Warrior Drive Retail Center	Stephens City, VA	$975,000	Retail	$29,950
28841 Old Hwy 80	Pine Valley, CA	$1,200,000	Retail	$36,000
Prosperity Bank Building	New Braunfels, TX	$1,435,000	Office	$35,875
Calvary Church	Edgewood, NM	$1,450,000	Church	$43,500
1212 Riverside Avenue	Fort Collins, CO	$1,800,000	Industrial	$45,000
Paradise Place	Phoenix, AZ	$1,850,000	Retail	$37,000
Manufacturing Facility	Salisbury, MD	$1,999,990	Industrial	$59,999.70
Executive Towers	San Diego, CA	$2,200,000	Office	$66,000
Courtland Terrace Apartments	Winter Haven, FL	$1,350,000	Multifamily	$40,500
Riverside Village Apartments	Cocoa, FL	$2,300,000	Multifamily	$46,000
Rocky Ridge	Fort Collins, CO	$5,000,000	Land	$150,000
Alessandro Center	Moreno Valley, CA	$5,200,000	Retail	$156,000
775 Larkfield Road	Commack, NY	$6,400,000	Retail	$128,000
Waverly Park Corporate Center	Leesburg, VA	$8,835,000	Office	$265,050
Balentine Plaza	Newark, VA	$20,165,000	Retail	$201,650

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

2014 CRE Market Outlook

Posted on January 31, 2014 by SVN

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

Robert J. Pliska Inducted Into the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame

Posted on January 29, 2014 by SVN

Robert J. Pliska, Managing Director of Sperry Van Ness/Property Investment Advisors, LLC

Robert J. Pliska, CRE, , CPA, Managing Director, Sperry Van Ness/Property Investment Advisors, LLC was selected as an inductee into the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame. The publication recognizes individuals who are “the biggest names in the commercial real estate” industry. Mr. Pliska’s profile in the December 2013/January 2014 issue of the Midwest Real Estate News attributes this honor to his in depth knowledge of the commercial and investment real estate industry, his work ethic, his level of trust he earns from his clients and his expansive community, industry, and nonprofit service work.

Mr. Pliska specializes in the sale, financing, leasing, managing, consulting, auctioning and accelerated marketing of office, retail, multi-family, industrial, hotel and other investment and commercial properties. With over 35-years of commercial and investment real estate experience, Pliska has secured over $1.5 billion in real estate transactions. Pliska served as president and/officer of several commercial real estate firms. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he advised real estate and financial institution clients.

Pliska is a local and national speaker, author, radio guest, panelist and social media expert for many local and national organizations as the Counselors of Real Estate of the National Association of Realtors, the Commercial Board of Realtors, the State Association of Realtors, the State Association of CPA’s, the Chamber of Commerce, CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), the Real Estate Answer Forum and many others on investment and commercial real estate. He is quoted in numerous publications as Globe Street, CCIM, The Counselors of Real Estate, local news publications, Midwest Real Estate News and others. He is followed by thousands in social media on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. He sits on local, national and international Board’s of CEO’s and other organizations. He has been honored as Humanitarian of the Year by several organizations.

Pliska’s professional activity includes former president of the Commercial Board of Realtors, Chairman of the Detroit Board of Realtors for the Detroit Metro Commercial Investment Division, member of the Michigan Association of Realtors and recipient of the “Realtor of the Year” Award and member of the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) and recipient of the CRE designation. Pliska’s community involvement includes officer and/or board member of numerous community and nonprofit organizations.

Pliska received his masters of business administration (MBA) from Michigan State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Detroit.

“I am humbled at my selection to the Midwest Real Estate News’ Hall of Fame. Such an honor can be largely credited to the exceptionally talented individuals and organizations that I have had the pleasure to work with over my career”

Contact:

Robert J. Pliska, Managing Director
Sperry Van Ness/Property Investment Advisors, LLC
Email: robert.pliska@svn.com
Phone: 248.433.1400

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Jan. 27, 2014

Posted on January 28, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Fee Buy Side
Chasers Bar and Lounge	Viroque, WI	Auction	Retail	3%
Free Standing Office/Warehouse	West Palm Beach, FL	$750,000	Industrial	$45,000
795 Summit Street	Elgin, IL	$817,500	Retail	$24,525
Country Hearth Inn	Columbia, TN	$1,200,000	Hospitality	$36,000
Kennedy Court Apartments	Baltimore, MD	$1,260,000	Multifamily	$31,500
248-250 Williams Street	Carpentersville, IL	$1,300,000	Self Storage	$39,000
816 Pickens Industrial Drive	Marietta, GA	$1,350,000	Industrial	$40,500
5300 NW 37th Avenue	Miami, FL	$1,150,000	Industrial	$34,500
5200 NW 37th Avenue	Miami, FL	$1,675,000	Industrial	$50,250
Walmart	Malden, OH	$2,600,000	Retail	$65,000
West Jupiter Camping Resort	Jupiter, FL	$3,500,000	RV Resort	$140,000
Crescent Mine	Sumpter, OR	$3,600,000	Land	$72,000
70 North 2nd Street	San Jose, CA	$3,692,865	Office	$110,785.95
14000 Rockland Road	Green Oaks, IL	$6,150,000	Special Purpose	$153,750
Bricktown Market Place	Oklahoma City, OK	$7,600,000	Retail	$152,000
Feather River	Reno, NV	$2,850,000	Land	$85,500
North Valley Plaza	Carson City, NV	$8,850,000	Retail	$265,500

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Ken Rhinehart from SVN/Rich Investment Real Estate Partners

Posted on January 24, 2014 by SVN

Ken Rhinehart, Senior Advisors with SVN/Rich Investment Real Estate Partners

This week, our 5 for Friday features Ken Rhinehart, Senior Advisor with SVN/Rich Investment Real Estate Partners based out of Los Angeles, CA.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
It is what I call the Foothill Retail Corridor. I specialize in retail properties and the geographic region is a collection of about twelve cities and towns along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County. This is where I have lived, worked, and gone to school. I know the area very well.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
I am excited about having recently joined an SVN Vital Factors Team. In fact, I’m the facilitator. I love it! It really prompts me to focus on the important things I have to do, write them down, and then be accountable to the rest of my team.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I haven’t been a broker for the past decade, so I can’t say how my business has changed in that regard. However, I started in commercial real estate in 1992 as a commercial appraiser. I’ve seen quite a bit, including investors scooping up properties from the RTC for cheap. Unfortunately, I think a lot of today’s investors that I talk with have long-term memories, and think they are going to pick up properties at RTC prices, but that just isn’t happening.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
I am currently working through a book called “Fire Your Excuses” by Dr. Bill Dyment. Just like the title indicates, it asks a lot of penetrating questions and presents practical solutions for eight areas of life, including career. It starts with a free assessment on the website (click here).

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I am married to a wonderful wife and we have a two year old named Max. I love to BBQ. I also love history, Route 66, philosophy and theology. If time and money were no object, I would be studying philosophy and theology at Biola University.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Wesley Cox Honored with 2013 National Commercial Award

Posted on January 23, 2014 by SVN

Wesley Cox, CCIM, Senior Advisor, SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

Wesley Cox, CCIM, Senior Advisor with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate in Salisbury, MD was awarded the National Association of REALTORS 2013 National Commercial Award. The award recognizes excellence in the commercial real estate industry by honoring accomplished realtors for their local achievements. Cox is one of only 59 national award recipients, and the only recipient from Maryland. When asked about the award Wesley said, “It is a great honor to have been selected for this national award and to be a representative of the commercial real estate industry. As community stakeholders we should all have goals that help preserve and improve our enviable quality of life we have on the Shore and to help our community move forward in a positive direction.”

A factor in Wesley being an honored recipient was receiving the Rotarian of the Year Award from the Wicomico Rotary Club. The purpose of that award is to recognize someone that carries out the Rotary’s Four Way Test on a daily basis and someone that has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service with an emphasis on volunteer efforts. Mission of Mercy, The Christian Shelter, Salvation Army, and the Village of Hope are a handful of the organizations that have benefited from Wesley’s work. As the Managing Broker of SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate, Brent Miller, CCIM, CPM commented, “I am extremely proud of Wesley’s accomplishments which go to show his and our commitment to the community and the commercial real estate industry.”

As a 12-year veteran of commercial real estate, Cox specializes in the sale and lease of commercial investment property, industrial, retail, self-storage, office, and land located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Southern Delaware.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Office Spotlight: Coast/Sperry Van Ness in Seattle & Everett, WA

Posted on January 23, 2014 by SVN

This week, we turn the spotlight on Coast/Sperry Van Ness with offices in Everett and Seattle, Washington.

1. What has been your strategy for growing your firm and also your market share?
We’re structured a little differently that most SVN firms as we have a sizable property management sister company and a private equity investment arm associated with us. A full 30% to 40% of our twelve Advisors’ leads come from house referrals due to these and other linkages. That level of consistent referrals allows us to offer them what is effectively a base salary, so it’s a big advantage in our advisor recruiting efforts. We love the culture of cooperation, tools, and network with SVN, but driving business to our Advisors and then supporting them as they work on their business plans is how we recruit effectively. Growing this business, after all, is about building on “same store sales” (helping our advisors keep increasing their gross commission incomes) as well as growing by head count (recruiting).

2. What are some of the unique activities you do to motivate your team?
None. If I have to motivate them, they’re in the wrong shop. We only bring in people who can write a strong business plan, stick to it, be accountable, and are hungry. If they have an off year, we work with them but if they string a few together, we are intentional about helping them find another career. Like a football team, we have a “next man in” mentality and if a player is off his/her game and not making plays, we bring in someone who can. Fortunately, nearly all of the people we’ve recruited have stayed.

3. What’s been the biggest challenge in how you run your business over the last few years?
Time. I’d like more time to meet more prospective Advisors, recruit them, and work more closely with my Advisors. We’d like to get to 18 Advisors and hold there. I’m four away from that target today.

4. How many Advisors/Staff did you have when you joined SVN? How many (in total) do you have now?
We started with eight in 2007 when we joined SVN. I terminated anyone who couldn’t produce a business plan six months later that showed they wanted to earn at least $150K gross commissions the next year. That policy brought us down to three very good ones and since then I have been steadily growing it to our current size of twelve. I couldn’t be prouder of the quality of Advisors we have in our firm– each one of them.

Contact:

Tom Hoban, Managing Director
Coast/Sperry Van Ness
Email: tom.hoban@svn.com
Phone: 425.339.3638

*All Sperry Van Ness® offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Jan. 21, 2014

Posted on January 22, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Fee Buy Side
Brink Road	Emporia, VA	Auction	Land	3%
Clarksbury Road	Capron, VA	Auction	Land	3%
Brand Pond Road	Capron, VA	Auction	Land	3%
Former Daymar College	Louisville, KY	Auction	College	2%
Inca Apartments	Tampa, FL	$890,000	Multifamily	$26,700
Parkside Plaza	Saline, MI	$1,050,000	Retail	$31,500
Benton Village	Corvallis, OR	$1,750,000	Multifamily	$43,750
Crescent Mine	Sumpter, OR	$2,600,000	Mine	$52,000
Jack in the Box	Lakewood, WA	$2,650,000	Retail	$53,000
Rite Aid	Whitesburg, KY	$2,680,000	Retail	$53,600
Hotel Development Site	Swiftwater, PA	$3,690,000	Land	$92,250
Bella Rio Apartments	Phoenix, AZ	$4,250,000	Multifamily	$85,000
Shoppes at Chandler Heights	Chandler, AZ	$5,975,000	Retail	$179,250
Doral Professional Center	Miami, FL	$6,000,000	Office	$180,000
Village at Ranch Lake	Bradenton, FL	$6,950,000	Land	$173,750

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Ben Alder from Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate

Posted on January 17, 2014 by SVN

Ben Alder, Land Product Council Chair, SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate

This week, our 5 for Friday features Ben Alder, Land Product Council Chair and Senior Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Miller Commercial Real Estate based out of Salisbury, MD.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My product specialty is land. My market area is the Delmarva Peninsula – Maryland, Delaware, Virginia.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
I recommend setting aside time for monthly business planning. It helps me stay focused on the big goals while working each day to make business happen. This is equivalent to working ON your business and not IN your business –

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
My biggest challenge was committing to focus on one product type which for me is land.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
I highly recommend, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change” by Stephen R. Covey

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
Not a lot of people know that I am a wetland and waterfowl biologist by training.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Marketing Tips for Improving Your Business with Alex Ruggieri

Posted on January 16, 2014 by SVN

Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA, SVN/Ramshaw Real Estate, Inc.

Alex Ruggieri, CCIM, MBA, with Sperry Van Ness/Ramshaw Real Estate Inc., recently asked marketing experts how commercial practitioners can improve business in the areas of public relations, branding and social media. In the article that was published by Illinois Association of Realtors, Ruggieri explains that the keys to success are:

Put the Power of PR to Work for Your Business
Build Your Brand Online
Successful Social Media

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of Jan. 13, 2014

Posted on January 14, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Fee Buy Side
Big Lake Lodge & RV Park	Okeechobee, FL	$750,000	RV Park	$22,500
Distressed Extend A Suite	Silver Springs, FL	$850,000	Hospitality	$17,000
12 Renovated Garden Units	Baltimore, MD	$899,000	Multifamily	$26,970
Medical Office Building	Lancaster, CA	$949,000	Medical Office	$23,725
18th Street Mixed-Use	Chicago, IL	$999,999	Multifamily	$29,999
Driver’s Edge NNN Investment	Lewisville, TX	$1,040,000	Retail	$31,200
270 Larkin Drive	Wheeling, IL	$1,120,000	Industrial	$33,600
9612 East Sprague Avenue	Spokane, WA	$1,199,000	Retail	$35,970
Ste. Genevieve Warehouse	Sainte Genevieve, MO	$1,200,000	Industrial	$36,000
Medical Office Lots/Build-to-suite	Lewisville, TX	$1,659,550	Land	$49,786.50
Thousand Oaks Automotive	Thousand Oaks, CA	$1,795,000	Retail	$53,850
825 W. Fulton	Chicago, IL	$2,249,000	Retail	$56,225
A Class Medical Office Building	Orlando, FL	$2,139,838	Office	$42,796.76
1155 Cattleman Road	Sarasota, FL	$2,500,000	Industrial	$62,500
2118Silvercrest Drive	Myrtle Beach, SC	$2,600,000	Multifamily	$52,000
3331 204th Street SW	Lynnwood, WA	$2,760,000	Land	$82,800
Class A Medical Office Building	Orlando, FL	$2,704,063	Office	$54,081.26
Fully Leased Office Investment	Raleigh, NC	$2,920,000	Office	$87,600
Country Aire Apartments	Goodyear, AZ	$2,965,000	Multifamily	$74,125
Roosevelt Road Development Parcel	Wheaton, IL	$3,500,000	Land	$105,000
Development Land: Nearly 1/2 Acre	San Francisco, CA	$3,500,000	Land	$105,000
Multifamily Portfolio	Hayward, CA	$4,000,000	Multifamily	$100,000
US Government Leased Office	Oklahoma Portfolio	$4,385,000	Office	$175,400
Former Auto Dealership	Longwood, FL	$5,000,000	Retail	$150,000
Marina/Restaurant	Venice, FL	$9,850,000	Marina	$197,000
Carolina Forest Commons	Myrtle Beach, SC	$12,300,000	Land	$215,250

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Ava Terry from Sperry Van Ness/AVAT Realty, LLC

Posted on January 10, 2014 by SVN

Ava Terry, Managing Director, SVN/AVAT Realty, LLC

This week, our 5 for Friday features Ava Terry, Managing Director with Sperry Van Ness/AVAT Realty, LLC based out of Huntsville, AL.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Our market is Northern Alabama, with a focus on the Huntsville area. As the broker of record for our company, I seldom work on projects alone. I partner with Advisors as a primary training tool. My product specialty is retail leasing and land, but our brokerage has specialists in multifamily, property management and STNL properties. Of course, with the STNL properties, they could be located anywhere in the US, but again, particularly the South.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
I would recommend specializing in a specific property type. Sometimes we think we can do it all, but in this business, you cannot. If you are not an expert in your field you will not be taken seriously, and people expect SVN Advisors to be experts.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
I would have to say the smart phone. It has decentralized the office. We can perform just about any task on the fly.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“What Every Real Estate Investor Needs To Know About Cash Flow” by Frank Gallinelli

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I’ve moved from Harley’s to Porsche’s in the past few years and I will be tracking my Porsche for the first time this spring.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Mark Alexander Says Change is Coming for Medical Office Building Marketplace

Posted on January 9, 2014 by SVN

Mark Alexander, CCIM, SVN’s Medical Office Council Chair

SVN’s Medical Office Council Chair, Mark Alexander, CCIM, recently wrote an article for News-Press.com in which he predicts,

The manner in which healthcare is delivered to Americans is changing. Increased demand for new types of medical office building design is part of that, along with locations different from past conventions to meet the needs of healthcare service providers of the future.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Featured Properties for week of January 6, 2014

Posted on January 8, 2014 by SVN

Property	Location	Price	Property Type	Buy-Side Commission
12 Renovated Garden Units in NE	Baltimore, MD	$899,000	Multifamily	$26,970
Medical Office Building	Lancaster, CA	$949,000	Office	$23,725
18th St Mixed-Use	Chicago, IL	$999,999	Multifamily	$29,999
270 Larkin Drive	Wheeling, IL	$1,120,000	Industrial	$33,600
9612 East Sprague Ave	Spokane, WA	$1,199,000	Retail	$35,970
Ste. Genevieve Warehouse	Sainte Genevieve, MO	$1,200,000	Industrial	$36,000
Medical Office Lots/Build-to-Suit	Lewisville, TX	$1,659,550	Land	$49,786.50
A Class Medial Office Building	Orlando, FL	$2,282,493	Office	$45,649.86
1155 Cattlemen Road	Sarasota, FL	$2,500,000	Industrial	$62,500
2118 Silvercrest Dr.	Myrtle Beach, SC	$2,600,000	Multifamily	$52,000
Class A Medical Office Building	Orlando, FL	$2,884,333	Office	$57,686.66
Fully Leased Office Investment Available	Raleigh, NC	$2,920,000	Office	$87,600
Roosevelt Road Development Parcel	Wheaton, IL	$3,500,000	Land	$105,000
Development Land: Nearly 1/2 Acre	San Francisco, CA	$3,500,000	Land	$105,000
US Government Leased Office Portfolio	Portfolio, OK	$4,385,000	Office	$175,400
Fisherman’s Wharf Marina/Marker 4 Restaurant	Venice, FL	$9,850,000	Marina	$197,000
Corner of Carolina Forest Blvd. and River Oaks Dr.	Myrtle Beach, SC	$12,300,000	Land	$215,250

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Ashley Bloom from Sperry Van Ness Florida

Posted on January 3, 2014 by SVN

Ashley Bloom, Land Product Council Chair, SVN Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors

This week, our 5 for Friday features Ashley Bloom, Land Product Council Chair and Senior Advisor with Sperry Van Ness Florida Commercial Real Estate Advisors based out of Sarasota, FL.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My geographic region is on Florida’s Gulf Coast with land as a specialty. Our team is currently working through several significant land transactions with national developers & homebuilders that entail re-zoning or site plan development.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Keeping building your database and stay in constant communication with it. In 2013, we had a strong response to our e-blast campaign that resulted in not only new members to our database but closings with new buyers. As part of my effort in helping to launch SVN’s Land Product Council, we are working on a cooperative marketing program to highlight the SVN brand’s presence in land.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
The biggest change in how I run my business from a decade ago can be described as “leaner and meaner.” Obviously, the advances in technology in the past decade have allowed all of us to become more efficient. Besides technology, I continue to be conscious of controlling overhead as well as time management. My team has been focusing on high quality listings that are properly priced.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Dr. Viktor E. Frankl. It’s a book written by a Holocaust Survivor (he had the choice to escape but chose to stay with his family) and was completed in just 9 days shortly after he was liberated from a concentration camp. According the Library of Congress, this book has been named one of the 10 Most Influential Books in the United States. A favorite quote from the book is “Don’t aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue…”

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I recently volunteered to “crew” a local theater production of Peter Pan where I was responsible for “flying” kids.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVN Hosts CRE Place-Making Symposium

Posted on January 3, 2014 by SVN

David J. Wilk presenting at SVN’s CRE Place-Making Symposium

In December of 2013, David J. Wilk, CRE, MAI, Council Chair of Corporate Real Estate Advisory Services for SVNIC, partnered with SVN/Miller Commercial Real Estate to host a “Place-Making Symposium” at the Salisbury University Perdue School of Business. The event consisted of two panels that presented strategies to create economic development and jobs in the region through innovative real estate branding and marketing initiatives. Maryland State Senator, Jim Mathias, was on hand to open the event and speak to the Eastern Shore opportunities.

To read the press release in its entirety, click here.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

SVNIC Announces Plan for National Conference in '14

Posted on January 2, 2014 by SVN

This year SVNIC’s National Conference will take place in San Antonio, TX, March 12 through 14. The conference consists of two days filled with the latest CRE technology, world-class speakers and informative breakout sessions focused on building business for 2014.

This year’s conference highlights, include:

Awards Banquet honoring the top SVN advisors of 2013
Mike Lipsey: international leader, trainer and CRE consultant
Glenn Morshower: actor, producer, motivational speaker
Dr. Sam Chandan: CEO & Founder of Chandan Economics
Todd Kuhlmann: CEO & President of CRE Tech, Inc.

SVN Advisors early bird registration, click here.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Scott Skogmo from Sperry Van Ness/Skogmo Commercial

Posted on December 20, 2013 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Scott Skogmo, SIOR, Managing Director with Sperry Van Ness/Skogmo Commercial based out of Columbia, MD.

Scott Skogmo, Managing Director, SVN/Skogmo Commercial

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
My geographic market is Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC region. I primarily specialize in Industrial properties but some office and flex properties as well.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Get out of the office at least once a week for cold calling, warm calling, and to see the properties. I always get new ideas when out on the road. Also, improve client communications and marketing through ClientLook and other tools such as BuildOut, ProspectNow, broker emails, postcards, etc.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
More efficient operations by strategic use of technology; less paper, less overhead, better access to mobile tools, less time wasted on non-productive activities. I can be more focused on sales due to better focus and fewer distractions. For example, completing a broker email on a property is so easy now using BuildOut and iContact. It only takes about 5 minutes to set up a new mailer once the property is entered in BuildOut.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Although it is an older book, it is a great lesson about how government can strangle business and the entrepreneurial spirit.

We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency by Parmy Olson provides a great warning and illustration of how dangerous cybercrime and the hacker community can be to business.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I reached my goal of cycling 3,000 miles in 2012, and came close in 2013, mostly in Maryland. I hope to branch out and possibly do more distant adventures next year. On the water, I always enjoy jet skiing with my son on the rivers and bays of Maryland, Delaware and in the Atlantic Ocean.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

George Slusser & Karen Hurd Attend ICSC New York National Conference 2013

Posted on December 18, 2013 by SVN

George Slusser, Chief Growth Officer, and Karen Hurd, National Sales Director, represented Sperry Van Ness International Corporation at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) New York National Conference December 9–10 in New York, NY. An annual deal-making event, ICSC NY is a great opportunity for brokers, owners, developers and lenders to make deals and forge relationships.

Below we’ve interviewed George Slusser about his experience at the conference and his top takeaways.

SVNIC: George, why is it important to attend The ICSC New York National Conference?
George: The ICSC regional event in New York is second only to the annual RECon event in Las Vegas for its size and scope. Nearly 8,000 developers, brokers, vendors and retail company representatives were in attendance. ICSC combines a training and educational component with a very robust “deal making” opportunity. Most of the major players in the industry are in attendance and our presence is important to develop deal flow and continue to promote awareness.

George Slusser, Chief Growth Officer, at SVNIC’s booth at the ICSC New York National Conference

SVNIC: Share your best takeaway from the event for our Advisor team.
George: There was a lot of activity in our booth as the traffic was very consistent. The SVN Advisors that were able to attend walked away with some very solid leads on buyers for specific properties they presented. They also created new potential business relationships that will lead to increased opportunities and closed transactions.

SVNIC: How did the Sperry Van Ness booth fare?
George: We had over 100 visitors stop by the booth many looking to acquire property along the Eastern Seaboard. We have many leads and contacts that were established by the SVN Advisors that attended and we even have a few to forward around the country. The atmosphere was very positive and there were a lot of people in “deal making” mode.

SVNIC: We’re looking to expand, were you able to meet quality franchise prospects?
George: We had serious conversations with a number of quality individuals that were interested in the Sperry Van Ness platform. We met candidates who may join an existing office and others wanting to facilitate our aggressive North East expansion plans as a potential franchisee. We had traditional brokerage firms and property management firms requesting additional information on our value proposition and new PM offering. Some who came by the booth had already visited svn.com and viewed our informative franchise site in advance.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Jim Morgan of Sperry Van Ness/Investec Services

Posted on December 13, 2013 by SVN

This week, our 5 for Friday features Jim Morgan, CCIM, Managing Director with SVN/Investec Services based out of Jacksonville, FL.

Jim Morgan, CCIM, Managing Director, SVN/Investec Services

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
Northeast Florida and Jacksonville SMSA. Lately, I have focused on distressed assets and helping SVN advisors bring clients to this area. As the market returns, my specialties are land, office, retail, and motivated clients. My CCIM and Master’s level qualification, can handle most market types. SVN’s marketing program is a great boost.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Talking with clients, sharing educational information, experience, valuation techniques, and sharing current market information while listening to their objectives and measuring their abilities leads to cooperative success.

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
The speed of technology and the ability to attractively answer inquires and produce information is amazing. You still have to ensure the information is received and understood.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t” by Jim Collins and “Brokers Who Dominate” by Rod Santomassimo.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I flew as a commercially trained instrument pilot privately for 28 years and my family are the descendants of Florida’s pioneers that were here before statehood in 1845.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

Diane Danielson & Karen Hurd attend CREW Network Convention 2013

Posted on December 11, 2013 by SVN

Diane Danielson, Chief Platform Officer, and Karen Hurd, National Sales Director, represented Sperry Van Ness at the annual CREW Network Convention & Marketplace October 9–12 in Dallas. Along with more than 1,000 real estate firms from across the country, attendees came together to shape the future of the industry and focused on this year’s theme–“The Power of Perspective.”

Below we’ve interviewed Karen Hurd about her experience at the conference and her top takeaways.

SVNIC: Karen, why is it important to attend The CREW Conference?
Karen: CREW Network is one of the CRE industry’s premier business networking organizations dedicated to advancing the achievements of women in commercial real estate. Personally, for me, the annual CREW Network Convention is a great opportunity to network, exchange ideas, refer deals, gain knowledge, hear from top industry professionals and collaborate with over 1000 CRE women and key decision makers from all over the country.

SVNIC: Share your best takeaway from the event for our advisor team.
Karen: My greatest takeaway from the convention is “The Power of Perspective” and how it shapes and impacts your life and your career as well as your future in commercial real estate. Always remember that perception creates reality. Take a look at my personal objectives that we post on the CREW 2013 Network Convention website.

Other great takeaways–get involved in a committee and building relationships in your local CREW Chapter. You may be surprised how easy it can be to find new business opportunities.

SVNIC: What was your favorite session?
Karen: That’s a tough one! There were so many great sessions at CREW. The Marketplace Opening Night Reception is always my favorite because of the energy and buzz that fills the room–you can see and hear about deals in the works and the strong desire to do business. The Impact Awards Dinner this year was especially outstanding as it touched home to me. I had the privilege to see fellow Boston NEWIRE members recognized for their Economic and Community Involvement for their roles in revitalizing the Dudley Square project in Roxbury, MA. It has been one of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino’s top priorities in recent years and is now well underway. Outstanding!

SVNIC: Who was your favorite presenter and why?
Karen: Barbara Corcoran for sure. She has a great story to tell. I do appreciate her candor and honesty. She is driven, shares great life lessons and her business savvy and work ethic is inspiring to me.

Diane and Karen pictured with members of NEWiRE Boston, who also attended the conference

Diane and Karen pictured with members NEWiRE Boston, who also attended the conference

SVNIC: How did the Sperry Van Ness booth fare?
Karen: Exceptionally well. As SVN looks to grow in new markets in 2014, having a presence in the Marketplace was huge for us. With over 500 visitors to our booth alone and back-to-back appointments, the SVN Difference became known and we definitely “got the word out”. We were also searching for CREW Members to consider joining an existing SVN team or consider establishing their own franchise in a market where we do not have a presence. There were many CRE Brokers and Property Managers asking us a lot of questions! It was also great to hear about stories of collaboration with SVN Advisors in the field. One woman had recently done over a $10+ million deal with one of our advisors out of Salem, OR as a result of attending the Portland Oregon Regional Conference.

SVNIC: The theme of this year’s conference was–“The Power of Perspective?” What does this mean and how can we apply it to everyday CRE?
Karen: When you claim your power to perceive, you realize you have the ability to shape your life. Knowing how you want to be perceived is key to all your relationships and how you will communicate with others in your personal as well as professional life. When you have an intention, you can make decisions that will drive you closer to achieving that goal. What is your intention? You should always know the answer to this.

How you communicate with others and how you are perceived by others will impact business decisions. This can be a game changer for us all in all of our CRE careers. Always be mindful of what the person sitting across from is hearing from you and what their perception is. You have the power to create perception!

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.

5 for Friday with Brian Heller of Sperry Van Ness/Rich Investment Real Estate Partners

Posted on November 22, 2013 by SVN

Brian Heller, Senior Advisors, SVN/Rich Investments Real Estate Partners

This week, our 5 for Friday features Brian Heller, Senior Advisors with SVN/Rich Investment Real Estate Partners based out of Los Angeles, CA.

1. What is your geographic market and product specialty?
I specialize in commercial investment transactions in the Greater Los Angeles area; with further focus in the West Los Angeles submarkets including Beverly Hills, Westwood, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Palms, West Hollywood, and Pico-Robertson. Additionally I’m part of a team with our Managing Partner Dan Baird and Advisor Michael Chang that collectively specializes in the areas including Downtown LA, Koreatown/Mid-Wilshire, Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley.

My prime focus is representing clients in the acquisition and disposition of apartment buildings, sourcing real estate investment opportunities, marketing properties, negotiating contracts, financial and market analysis, 1031 exchanges, and escrow management. Furthermore, I’m proficient in property management and am currently overseeing multi-family units in West Hollywood.

2. What’s your latest best practice tip that you can share?
Improve your social media presence on LinkedIn. Have a strong profile with a professional photo along with your skills and experience, links to your Sperry Van Ness Bio, personal website, etc. Add two or more connections weekly, and devote thirty minutes a week to posting off market deals, joining groups, and sharing news articles and personal updates with your sphere of influence, clients and related industry connections. It’s a great way to add value to the relationship and helps illustrate you are an expert in your market and product type!

3. What’s been the biggest change over on how you run your business in the past decade?
Two Words: Constant Contact. A good email marketing campaign is now more effective than a good call. I’m not saying that cold and warm calling isn’t a huge part of our business, but if you can get the information to your entire client database in two seconds, and let them come back to you for more information, you’ve immediately determined who the top candidates are for the deal without having to make 2,500 calls. If your deal doesn’t get sold from the “first responders” you can still make those calls.

4. What business book do you like to recommend to your colleagues?
“Getting To Yes” by Roger Fisher and William Ury. Bottom line, it’s all about negotiating the coveted “win-win” scenario and based on the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project, a group that deals continually with all levels of negotiation, conflict resolution from domestic business to international.

5. What’s a fun fact that not everyone knows about you?
I worked on several seasons of the acclaimed reality television show Survivor, helping to produce the Challenges and Rewards. You can’t imagine how much time, effort, manpower, money, coordination and government support is required to make a hit television show, especially in China, where I lived for three months while on set.

*All Sperry Van Ness offices are independently owned and operated.