Real Data Management

What Makes the "Office of the Future"?

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Tue, 14 May 2013 21:00:00 +0000

At Bisnow’s NY Office of the Future Event, panel speakers shed light on the driving factors luring major tech/creative companies into NYC, and the steps CRE developers and owners are taking to ensure these companies stay long-term. These are some of the nuggets of information shared:

Location

- Michael Cohen, President at Colliers International, sees downtown as the midtown south of the 21st century which is poised for resurgence.

- Pressure in lease pricing for midtown south will force tech companies downtown as midtown south prices out many tenants.

- Midtown will also see tech tenants moving into the neighborhood

- Richard Bernstein, EVP at Cassidy Turley sees companies reducing excess

- Tommy Craig, Senior Managing Director of Hines now sees jobs following people

Google

- Google focuses on sustainability not because of cost savings but, more importantly, it benefits their employees

- Employees at Google find food culture very important and amenities at their office space.

- Google’s Real Estate Project Executive, Adam Lutz, notes that many companies want to adopt Google's office culture/set up but struggle with the idea of change.

- Google recommends starting with small changes to office layout and culture to gain motion.

The Evolving Office

- David Falk, President of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, sees companies looking for space that defines their culture.

- Michael Cohen sees companies which are inclined to use a bullpen shifting to a tech office layout

- Many companies want offices that run 24/7, however many buildings are not fitted to accommodate.

- Higher densities require companies to reconsider life safety / evacuation standards

- Eric Hadar, Chairman of Allied Partners sees his focus shifting to buildings that he didn't consider in the past because there are now tenants to make them work.

- Falk feels that certain buildings cannot be repositioned for tech tenants.

- “To be successful in market you need to be at the leading edge of innovation” – Tommy Craig

- Hadar feels that if you commit to tech/media tenants you need to go all out.

Co-Working Spaces

- Paul Pariser, Co-CEO of Taconic Investment Partners says co-working spaces, such as WeWork, are a game changer.

- Co-working spaces are thriving and taking more and more space in NYC and across the country

- It’s a concept that makes sense for startups that can't commit to a long term lease and find benefit from collaboration

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RDM's Peter Boritz on Rise of Technology in CRE [video]

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:03:00 +0000

RDM CEO Peter Boritz discusses the rise of new technology in the Commercial Real Estate industry at the 2013 CRE Tech Talk event at BuildingsNY.

RDM Goes to D.C. for Bisnow's State of the Market Event

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:33:00 +0000

RDM was in attendance at Bisnow's 4th Annual D.C. State of the Market Event where leaders in commercial real estate gathered to assess the overall state of the market, as well as key trends and issues which lie ahead in the coming year.

Here’s some of what we heard from panel members at the event:

• The DC office market has been somewhat stagnant at the beginning of 2013, class A rents are increasing, and law firms are using about 25% less space today.

• Douglas Jemal, Founder & President of Douglas Development sees DC as a long term bet for real estate investment.

• Oliver Carr, President & CEO of Carr Properties notes that downturns bring you back to fundamentals. He also sees landlords playing musical chairs to get what demand is out there.

• Doug Donatelli, CEO of First Potomac took advantage of the downturn by focusing on office property purchases. He sees a tremendous amount of demand for high quality buildings in the DC market.

• Phil Leibow, Managing Director of Jones Lang LaSalle notes that there are different tenant demands in DC, some want the “new experience” and others that don't care for change. He also sees City Center as a game changer in DC, which will cause a shift to the East.

• Victor Tolken, Managing Partner and Founder of Penzance Companies, notes that the Arlington market is performing strong at the moment.

• Willy Walker, CEO of Walker Dunlop notes that CMBS is back but there has been no reform to give rating agencies more clout.

• Matt Kelly, Managing Partner of JBG sees the GSA eventually getting back to focusing on efficiency.

• Todd Rich, Managing Director of Tishman Speyer sees natural light as a large driver in design.

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RDM CEO and VP Among Featured Speakers at CRE Tech Talk Conference

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:33:00 +0000

Hear from RDM's CEO, Peter Boritz and VP of Sales and Marketing, Blake Grosch at CRE TechTalk @BuildingsNY on Thursday, April 25 at the Jacob Javits Center.

At this day-long conference, held at BuildingsNY, owner/operators of commercial and multifamily properties in NYC will be joined by the innovative organizations that are revolutionizing how real estate managers operate their buildings and attract tenants. From smart building features like motion-sensitive lighting to intelligent elevators; from system upgrades in cabling and wiring to data flow and energy security; from financial modeling to social media marketing and marketing / leasing platforms, CRE TechTalk @BuildingsNY is designed to inform and improve how you operate your property and attract better tenants.

Featured Panel: Game Changers:

Real Estate Technology at the Leading Edge of Innovation

- Is corporate CRE tech a new differentiator among commercial real estate firms?
- Who and what is driving innovation?
- Where is more innovation still needed?
- How are these investments paying off for different kinds of firms?

Moderator:
Robert Richardson, Senior Director - Strategy, Control Group

Speakers:
Peter Boritz, Chief Executive Officer, Real Data Management
Melissa Marsh, Founder, Plastarc
Craig Robinson, President - Corporate Services, Principal - Cassidy Turley
Phil Wales, Founder, eBusiness Strategies

Featured Panel: Opportunity Search & Decision Making 2013:

Leasing, Marketing and Vendor Selection in the 21st Century

- Which owners, brokers, operators and vendors are emerging as power users of the new platforms, and why?
- Who is helped and who is hurt by new models for decision making?
- What have start-ups and users learned through the design process?
- Demographics, reporting regulation, tenant demands, VC funding: what is driving the proliferation of firms in this space, and what comes next?

Moderator:
Kate Q. Knight, Principal, En Elza

Speakers:
Blake Grosch, Vice President - Sales & Marketing, Real Data Mangement
Abe Hedaya, Director of Operations, Sitt Asset Management
Yusha Hu, Director of Market Development, Honest Buildings
Michael Mandel, Chief Executive Officer/Co-Founder, CompStak
Nick Romito, Chief Executive Officer, View the Space
Ilana Schwartz, COO & EVP, Online Marking Group / UrbanEdgeNY.com
Aaron Twersky, Director of Marketing, Monday Properties Conference Agenda:

Click Here for the full conference schedule and 25% off admission

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The 2013 CRE Investment Summit Recap

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

RDM was in attendance at this week’s 4th Annual CRE Investment Summit hosted by Massey Knakal. The annual event provides workshops and panels on the acquisition, disposition, financing and development of Commercial Real Estate properties in the NY Tri-State area.

In the Keynote discussion, Leslie Himmel and Stephen Meringoff of Himmel + Meringoff Properties shared their success in the office market, discussed leasing development and the future of the market.

In the Past:
• The 1990s were tough times to maintain portfolios but it helped make investors stronger.
• Since 2005, building sales have been on a “roller coaster ride”, the bottom being 2007.
• In the past, building information was much harder to obtain but technology has made information more transparent.

The Current State:
• Robert Knakal (Chairman, Massey Knakal) predicts building sales will be down this year in NYC compared to last year.
• There were more buildings sold in Q4 in 2012 than any other period in NYC due to a foreseeable increase in capital gain taxes.
• Tax policy affects behavior with investment sales
• Building values will increase this year due to supply and demand
• Important factors that will influence the market in 2013: supply, demand, interest rates, jobs and the NYC mayoral race.
• Stephen Meringoff (Co-Managing Partner, Himmel + Meringoff) says “There really aren’t any bad markets in NYC”, however, “without leverage, real estate is a mediocre asset class”.

Borrowers Brawl
In the Borrowers Brawl, senior executives discussed the inherent conflicts and mutual interests between CRE borrowers and lenders.

• Low interest rates have afforded building owners to carry loans through tough times.
• There are restructuring options available for borrowers that can help mitigate risk.
• Borrowers that aren’t solving their problems could be because lenders won’t listen or assets aren’t performing.

Technology in Real Estate
Panel discussions also weighed in on how technology is affecting the industry. As more tech and media companies move into New York, they seek spaces which offer more open space, less space per employee and higher reliance on technology within their spaces – which affects how new offices are designed and maintained.

You can find out more about the annual CRE Investment Summit on Massey Knakel's website.

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Live Help Desk Launched on CRE Management App Real Access

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:57:00 +0000

This week, we launched the Live Help Desk feature in our web-based asset management application, Real Access. This latest addition to our already feature-rich application, enables users to chat with our Customer Support Team directly from within Real Access.

Related: Save Time with RDM’s Web-Based CRE Management Software

"Our clients often don’t have the time to pick up the phone or compose an email and need an immediate response" said Jonathan Pedican, RDM’s Client Support Manager, “the Live Help Desk will help increase our speed with getting our clients what they need whether it’s related to using the app, understanding area calculations, or requesting a marketing plan. We're very excited about this!”

RDM’s Real Access software helps our clients more effectively market, manage, and lease their portfolios through visualization and centralization/standardization of data. RealAccess is cloud based and can be linked into other systems for real time updates.

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CRE's New Technology Focus

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 18:02:00 +0000

RDM’s “From the Experts” series provides insights on the topics which are affecting the Commercial Real Estate industry. Here, RDM’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Blake Grosch discusses the importance of technology in CRE.

Now that we are three months into 2013, are there any trends that you’ve seen emerging?

We continue to see the integration of technology in real estate, particularly on the leasing and management side, which has traditionally been slow to adopt new technology. However, we’re now seeing more facets of our industry embrace technology, more specifically, cloud and standardization applications that allow information to be centralized and easily accessible from anywhere.

Storm preparedness is still fresh on everyone’s mind as well. Hurricane Sandy left many building owners and managers looking for ways to improve how the buildings within their portfolios handle weather and, in the event of a complete shutdown of the city, ways to access their property information and important documents away from the office.

How is RDM helping their clients embrace these new technology trends?

The RDM Platform provides many solutions for property owners and brokers to take advantage of new technology, such as cloud computing. A major part of our implementation of such services for our clients is our on-site training and detailed guides. We also recently included a Live Chat feature in our Real Access software so clients can contact us with their questions from within the application. In short, our clients aren’t alone when it comes to embracing these new technologies.

In regards to storm preparedness, our Emergency Action and Fire Safety Plans integrate building assessments, floor layouts and mapped out egress evacuation routes, to put landlords in a proactive position in the event of an emergency. Along with providing clients with hard copies of these plans, we also store them in our cloud storage platform, RDM Docs, so emergency responders can access them in the event hard copies are not able.

As we progress further into 2013, we are working on developing additional software applications and service features that will put real estate professionals in an even better position for leasing, fire safety, and management activities.

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What Our Clients Say: Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:00:00 +0000

Michael Moorin, Senior Managing Director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank says:

"Having the floor plans at our fingertips and RDMdocs for backup of our PDF and CAD files has been a big help."

Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is just one of RDM's many satisfied clients. To see what our other clients are saying, click here.

About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms. They provide a fully integrated platform of services to prominent multinational corporations and institutional investors across the globe, as well as to owners and users of real estate on a local, regional and national level. To find out more, visit their website.

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Silverstein Properties' Jeremy Moss Discusses the Future of the WTC

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:07:00 +0000

In a recent interview with The Commercial Observer, Silverstein Properties' senior vice president of leasing, Jeremy Moss, discussed the company's leasing efforts at the World Trade Center and its impact on the future of lower Manhattan and the market.

Silverstein Properties is a client of RDM and CEO Peter Boritz says the market is ready for their new vision of downtown:

"It is impressive to see Silverstein Properties' long term commitment to revitalizing New York City's downtown area as well as the city's skyline. The market is ready for Silverstein's state-of-the-art buildings to lead the way in this re-imagined vision of downtown." - Peter Boritz

You can find the Commercial Observer interview, "Marketing the World" with Jeremy Moss below.

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The Commercial Observer: Can you talk about leasing at 7 World Trade Center?

Mr. Moss: I worked very closely with Roger Silverstein, Larry’s son. He had made my job easy, because he did a big portion of the leasing before I arrived, and once I got here, we were well underway with our leasing campaign. We really validated the World Trade Center to the New York City business community as a place where people could thrive, where they could do business again and be successful. The tenants we have include Moody’s headquarters, with over 600,000 square feet, but we also have creative companies like Omnicom and a premier law firm—WilmerHale—which relocated from Park Avenue, really making a strong statement about the appeal of 7 World Trade Center, even to tenants that are in the most sought-after locations in Midtown. It reflects the broad appeal of the building’s quality, and that’s a quality that will be carried through to all of the other buildings at the site.

Where are you focusing your energy next?

With 7 World Trade Center fully leased, we’re focused on 4 World Trade Center, which will open at the end of 2013. It’s the next chapter in the history of the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, and I’m really looking forward to walking people into that lobby and showing them the extraordinary architecture and the views. We are very focused on leasing at that building, and we’re in discussions with a number of different companies looking for larger blocks of space—anywhere from 200,000 to one million [square] feet.

Who are you marketing it to, and what can tenants look forward to?

The lobby has a 46-foot-high ceiling, which creates an extraordinary impression when you enter the building. There’s a granite floor, floor-to-ceiling glass and polished black granite on the wall, which is designed to reflect the park behind you as you enter the lobby, intended to make you feel like you’re outside. I can’t think of another lobby like it in New York City. And up top, you have 360-degree views that are spectacular, and the advantage that we have in the location is that we don’t have any other building obstructing our views—we have views of the river, we have views of Midtown—so it’s really spectacular.

We’re seeing interest from a whole range of different tenants in all sorts of industries, and I think that speaks to two things: the appeal of new construction because of the efficiency it offers and the impact that a sustainable building can have on productivity.

Can you talk more about those impacts?

The buildings are all LEED-certified. That not only has obvious societal benefits, but it has a significant impact on the experience of the people working in the building, their satisfaction level and productivity. The buildings are all designed with floor-to-ceiling glass and extra-high ceilings, which allow for an abundance of natural light to permeate the entire space. The views make everyone feel like they’re working in a special place. And the awareness that the space is having a positive impact on the environment also makes people feel really good about their work space.

What’s the situation at 2 and 3 World Trade Center?

We’re in discussion with tenants that would anchor 3 World Trade Center, which would allow us to continue construction to completion by the end of 2016. Construction started and we built the first few floors, which gives us a significant advantage in terms of the time frame within which we can deliver the building to prospective tenants. Two World Trade Center is complete up to street level, and that’s a building that will be triggered by a lease commitment in the future—by a large anchor tenant.

How do you characterize the changes taking place in lower Manhattan, and how does Silverstein Properties fit into the equation?

There’s a diversification away from financial services. We’re seeing media, technology, advertising firms all moving Downtown for a variety of reasons—including access to transportation. And they are finding that their work force is migrating to surrounding neighborhoods

The population alone has doubled in the last 10 years, the number of hotel rooms has doubled, and you’ve had growth in two of the most desirable neighborhoods in New York City—Battery Park City and Tribeca. People remember a place that was old and crowded and primarily associated with financial services. Today people use words like “cool,” “new,” “high-tech,” “green” and “convenient”—those are not the words people would have used to describe Downtown 20 years ago.

How do you view Hurricane Sandy, and what are you doing to ease concerns of Downtown tenants in the face of future disasters?

Everyone did a really good job of coming back from this. Landlords were working tirelessly and creatively to find solutions. We were very successful in reopening 120 Wall Street within several weeks of the storm by bringing in emergency generators, and on a permanent basis, we’re relocating infrastructure that was previously on the basement level up to a mezzanine level. We’re not alone—other landlords are doing the same thing—and I think that’s going to allow Downtown to continue to be a premier business district.

We started a number of lease transactions at 120 Wall before the hurricane, and once we explained the measures we were taking, we had no issue completing those transactions following the storm.

We’re fortunate at the World Trade Center because our buildings are over 15 feet above sea level. Any water that entered during the storm was a result of the fact that it was an open construction site. Almost all of the mechanical and electrical equipment is located several stories above sea level. We don’t expect any issues.

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Photos from the Field Contest Photos [Slideshow]

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:46:00 +0000

Earlier this month, we held the first Photos from the Field Contest where the RDM Team submitted their best photos for a chance to win a cash prize and the title of Best Photo from the Field. The winning photos were posted to the RDM Facebook and Instagram pages, but now you can see all the submitted contest photos into this short slideshow.

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What We Heard at WX's Reshaping Manhattan's West Side

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:19:00 +0000

RDM's Victor Codrington and Joe Leach were in attendance this morning at WX's Reshaping Manhattan's West Side: Hudson Yards' Impact on the Skyline presentation. The panel discussion focused on how Hudson Yards Redevelopment will reshape the New York's skyline and impact market structure and business growth throughout the West Side.

The panel was moderated by Ann Weisbrod, President of Hudson Yards Development Corporation, and featured Sabrina Kanner, Vice President of Design and Construction at Brookfield Properties and Michael M. Samuelian, Vice President of Design and Construction at Related Companies.

- NYC's failed bid for the 2012 Olympics (which included building a new stadium on the West Side) was a setback but set the stage for new plans for the Hudson Rail Yards.

-Since 2007, the West Side has seen much transformation including the development of The Highline, which is seen as an "economic engine" that can help with development of Hudson Yards.

- The Chelsea area is growing at 5 times the rate of the rest of Manhattan - attracting many wealthy, young, hip Manhattanites and a large fashion/art scene.

- The new 7 line expansion is 80% complete and will be closest subway to The Highline - generating more traffic and more opportunities for retail.

- Related Companies will develop two mixed-use buildings which they call the "Super Block" which will include a movable structure to be used for fashion shows and be a permanent location for Fashion Week.

- Brookfield Properties is currently developing 2 office towers in the area which be developed over the exposed train tracks at Dyer Ave and will feature 1.5 acre outdoor public space

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RDM Holds Photos from the Field Contest

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:29:00 +0000

Our Photos from the Field series on Facebook (and now in print) is powered by photos which the RDM team takes while out in the field. Last week, we announced the first Photos from the Field Contest looking for the best photos taken. The winning photos were revealed yesterday.

Eighteen photos were submitted into the contest by the RDM team and the top three won cash prizes. All photos will be featured in our next printed book as well as on our Facebook page in the coming weeks.

See the contest winners below and Like Us on Facebook for more Photos from the Field.

First Place winner David Freiere - RDM Tech

Second Place winner Victor Codrington - RDM Sales Director

Third Place winner Arn Regencia - RDM Tech

RDM Supported Building, 183 Madison, Announces New Majority Owner

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:58:00 +0000

NEW YORK CITY - Dissolving its joint venture on the ownership of a Midtown South office building, majority owner IRSA—Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anóma announced Monday ithas purchased the remaining shares in its investment property, at 183 Madison Ave.—from its minority partner, Rigby Asset Management.

Valued at $75 million, the partnership was a successful one for IRSA. When the firm invested in the building, located at the southeast corner of Madison Avenue and 34^th Street, in 2011 when it was 50 percent vacant. Today, the building is 95 percent leased, according to the announcement. An IRSA spokeswoman was unable to report how much IRSA paid Rigby for its shares at press time.

The transition will include the original Cushman & Wakefield leasing team of Harry Blair, senior director, and Sean Kerns, associate director. In addition, Herald Square Properties’ principals Gerard Nocera, Michael Reid and John Monaco have been retained as co-asset managers, along with the IRSA International management team.

IRSA’s officials touted their own success.“IRSA’s commitment to elevating the value of this asset has produced tangible results quickly,” boasts Daniel Elzstain, director, in the announcement. “Not only is the building well-tenanted, our restoration program achieved a landmark designation for the lobby and façade, and our infrastructure upgrades made it more desirable for a variety of businesses.”

Styled in the Beaux Arts tradition, the 250,000-square-foot, circa 1925 office building has a wide range of tenants that include traditional apparel companies, such as Everlast and Charles Komar & Sons; technology and software firms like Rubicon Software and Destination Media; and the New York offices of Grand Marnier. The building stands tall at 19-stories.

Adds Blair in the announcement, “The speed of the leasing campaign exceeded all expectations, especially going from nearly vacant to almost fully occupied in under two years.”

In fact, he adds, tenants have been known to give the building good press. “The irony that one of our tenants publishes ‘Great Places to Work’ kind of says it all.”

IRSA’s other commercial asset in New York City is the famed Lipstick Building at 885 Third Aves, between 53^rd and 54^th Streets. The world-renowned Philip Johnson-designed office tower is 95 percent occupied and its largest tenant is Latham & Watkins, an international law firm.

Since 2009, IRSA’s activity in the U.S. has also included investments in two publicly-traded hospitality REITs, comprising Supertel Hospitality, Inc., a group of approximately 94 hotels primarily in the Midwest; and Hersha Hospitality Trust, which owns over 50 hotels in gateway cities, including 20 in the greater New York metro area.

Original article by Rayna Katz for GlobeSt.com

RDM's Real Access w/Real Time Accounting System Update Integration

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:30:00 +0000

RDM’s Real Access Commercial imports your property data directly from Yardi, MRI, Timberline, Skyline and IBS accounting systems. This integration automatically updates your property’s floor plans, stacking diagrams and occupancy information in real time; eliminating the need to enter data twice.

Corey Carter, RDM’s Director of Software, explains this feature of Real Access Commercial:

“Real Access’ ability to connect with an organization’s accounting system allows the user to obtain the most up-to-date information stored for each tenant; making it easier to manage and track lease information, square footage reports and billing information. Streamlining this process to connect with other systems provides an additional layer of accuracy and eliminates errors which can occur from manual data entry. We have had great feedback with this feature from current users and plan to expand its capabilities in future updates.”

Real Access Commercial was designed to help property owners Market, Manage and Lease buildings. It features dynamic stacking diagrams, detailed floor plans and the ability to access information from the cloud using your iPad, tablet or smartphone.

Click Here to find out more about Real Access Commercial.

RDM Joins BOMA

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:49:00 +0000

Real Data Management is now a member of the New York chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

“We are excited to be a member of BOMA and look forward to participating in future BOMA events RDM is a great fit." said RDM CEO Peter Boritz.

Founded in 1907, BOMA represents the owners and managers of all commercial property types including nearly 10 billion square feet of U.S. office space that supports 3.7 million jobs and contributes $205 billion to the U.S. GDP. Its mission is to advance the interests of the entire commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information.

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RDM Advises on Over $4bn in Due Diligence in 2012

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:50:00 +0000

Real Data Management has performed due diligence surveys for many acquisitions on both the buyer/seller sides. In 2012, we provided re-measurement services for 11 of the top 15 largest office transactions in New York City.

See Also: Re-Measuring for Due Diligence

Over the years our work has helped discover inconsistencies in rsf numbers presented to the potential buyer, added credibility to existing calculations, and uncovered additional value because the building was under measured.

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What Our Clients Say: First Pioneer Properties

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:46:00 +0000

William R. Becker, Director of Asset Management at First Pioneer Properties says:

"RDM has been a great asset to our firm. The drawings they provide are a powerful tool for Owners, Managers and Brokers that are trying to maximize the potential of their Buildings."

First Pioneer Properties is just one of RDM's many satisfied clients. To see what our other clients are saying, click here.

About First Pioneer Properties
First Pioneer Properties, Inc. is a family owned real estate management company which manages over 2.5 million square feet of commercial buildings and over 2,500 acres of land all of which are owned by family related entities. First Pioneer is responsible for the acquisition, financing, developing, leasing and managing of those assets. To find out more, visit their website.

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RDM Welcomes New Sales Director, Joe Leach

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:47:00 +0000

RDM is pleased to announce the addition of Joe Leach as a Sales Director

Joe comes to RDM from BountyJobs.com, where he worked as an Account Executive in the Enterprise Sales Department and brought on and managed numerous fortune 500 accounts including eBay, US Bank, Symantec, and Thomson Reuters. Prior to this he worked in the sales department at Heatingoil.com/HEAT USA, and sold energy contracts to home and business owners across the country. Joe is an avid traveler; particularity to Latin America and Europe, and has a BA from Trinity College where he played on the club rugby team.

Joe contacted RDM after reading our company profile in Crain's top 50 Best Places to Work in NYC.

As a Sales Director, Joe will utilize his unique experiences to help RDM expand its web-based Real Access software nationwide. He can be contacted at 212-813-2190 x125 or joe@rdm1.com.

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RDM's Finance Manager Brushes with Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:25:00 +0000

When the RDM team isn’t busy measuring the buildings that make up the NYC skyline or taking photos of them, they’re out giving back to the community.

This month RDM’s finance manager Julia Terry dedicated an entire day to help revitalize the Dykman Senior Center housing complex in Inwood, as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Brush with Kindness program. Along with a group of volunteers, Julia painted rooms and created murals throughout the center to help brighten the space for its residents.

RDM introduced RDM Gives Back last year. The program encourages all employees to volunteer time with a charitable organization of their choosing. Since its introduction, RDM team members have volunteered over 40 combined hours to local organizations.

About Brush with Kindness:
Habitat’s Brush with Kindness program enlists volunteers to revitalize community spaces—including playgrounds, community centers, and public parks—in New York City. Volunteers mostly paint rooms and murals but sometimes work can include light construction. Find out more on their website.

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RDM Brings Photos from the Field to Print

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:21:00 +0000

Our popular Photos from the Field series on Facebook has been brought to print in our first hard cover book.

Photos from the Field is comprised of original photos taken by the RDM team while out in the field measuring the buildings which make up the New York City skyline. Unlike other online photography series, these photos are taken only by cell phone camera which provides a unique perspective of the city that few have the ability to see.

The introductory book, "A Photo Journey by RDM" features over 60 original photos from various projects the RDM team has worked on throughout New York City.

Want a copy of Photos from the Field; A Photo Journey by RDM? We'll send you one when you sign up for a demo of the RDM Platform. Click one of the boxes below to get started.

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Highlights from Bisnow’s Future of Downtown Event

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +0000

Earlier today, RDM attended Bisnow’s Future of Downtown event at One World Financial Center. More than 300 real estate professionals were present to hear what has changed in the downtown area of NYC in the past few years and what they can expect to see as the area continues to evolve. The event’s panel was comprised of representatives from The Alliance for Downtown NY, Cushman & Wakefield, Jones Lang LaSalle, Massey Knakal and Brookfield Office Properties, amongst others.

Here's a quick recap of some of the information we took away:

•   Downtown NYC is the 4th largest office district in the US and is not just comprised of financial tenants.

•   The area will soon have the most advanced fiber optic network in the US, as positive result of Hurricane Sandy.

•   In recent years downtown NYC has transformed from (mainly) business to a work/play/live area with a strong contingent of families, parks and events to attract residents and tourists.

•   Pricing and new office space give the area two competitive advantages over other parts of Manhattan; residential is 30% cheaper in the downtown area.

•   There have been over 17 million square feet of space in the downtown area converted into residential spaces.

•   Access to major transportation hubs, better nightlife and great PR campaigns will help rebuild the area’s image and continue to attract a new people.

•   Lower Manhattan would benefit from technology companies creating campuses in the area.

With new sectors outside of finance now calling downtown home, new apartment towers online, and expansive retail additions at World Financial Center and the World Trade Center underway, the future looks bright.

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Existing Conditions: It’s All about Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (RDM Team) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 21:45:00 +0000

What do you do with the existing construction - also called "as-builts" or "existing conditions"- once a space is vacated? Traditionally, a landlord may have opted to demo the existing layout and offer pre-builts or to pay for a new design to entice a prospective tenant. However, with tighter budgets these extras are not always possible, so it's all about working with your existing conditions.

Cost-cutting is still part of everyone’s strategy, and tenants want to take advantage of best deals in the market. As-builts create a market for these deal-grabbing, potential tenants and also provide more opportunities for the landlords. Given the competitive market we face, it is crucial to ensure that the prospective tenants are aware of this product in the most effective way possible.

It is vital to include as much specific information as possible when marketing a space. Given the market for existing conditions spaces, the importance of having as-builts included in your digital floor plan library cannot be unstated. Working with companies that specialize in marketing existing conditions, such as Real Data Management, will guarantee proper exposure of the space. Not only does having up to date and detailed drawings assist in the marketing of a space, but also can be beneficial for Local Law 26 and Local Law 5 EAP/Fire Safety Plans purposes. Investing in as-built floor plans will go a long way.

Potential clients are out there and all they need is appropriate information about the existing conditions spaces available to them.

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Tips to Improve Your Email Campaigns this Year

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 20:45:00 +0000

Are email campaigns part of your marketing agenda for the new year?

A successful email campaign is a necessary component to any organization’s marketing agenda; however, many fail to utilize this tool effectively. The result can be the difference between getting your product or service sent directly to a potential client’s email or simply discarded as junk mail.

Here are some simple suggestions to make the most of your email marketing this year:

Tailor Your Campaigns
Don’t rely on a “one-size-fits-all” method for email campaigns. Before you begin to create your campaign, you should first decide what the message you want to get across is, and what segmentation of your contact list you want it to reach.
If you feel you have something which is worthy of your entire contact list, start over. It is better to have multiple campaigns with a targeted message than a single campaign with a generic message.

Make Your Call-To-Action Clear
What do you want this particular contact to do after they are done reading your email? Is it go to a particular page on your website or fill out a form? Whatever it may be, make sure the actionable item is visually different from the rest of the email; either with a different font, size or color.
You may also be enticed to include other items such as social media links, products on your website or even your company’s recent YouTube video; however, doing so will only serve to distract from your Call-To-Action. Stick to one action item per email campaign.

Keep Your Subject Simple
Subject lines should be short in length while creating interest for the recipient to want to open the email. Remember, if your email makes it past the spam filter to a recipient’s inbox, the last thing you want is to have it end up in the trash because of your subject line.
Look at news websites for inspiration. Scan the headlines and consider about what it is that makes you click on certain articles while disregarding others.

Stick to a Schedule
Sending email campaigns too often may put your organization at risk of being flagged by spam filters. If a recipient feels you are sending too many campaigns, you also risk being unsubscribed; preventing all future campaigns from being sent to him/her. You can avoid this by creating a communications calendar which outlines days/times email campaigns go out and which group they go to. Typically, it is best to send out no more than 2 campaigns per group per month.

Make It Mobile
Creating a mobile-friendly, or responsive, version of your email guarantees recipients can view it away from their office. Your recipient may not have time to read your company newsletter at work, but may be willing to do so while on the train home.
When creating your campaign, be sure to select a template that supports mobile devices.

Contact us to learn more about Email Marketing and how RDM can help you.

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A Look at the NYPL's $300M Renovation [Video]

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:20:00 +0000

We featured the artists photos of the New York Public Library's main branch renovations earlier today on our Tumblr page; View A Space.

Now, take a look at the plan video for the Midtown branch's $300 million renovation.

According to the NYPL, the renovation will open up more of the library to the public, with 40% more space. The renovations will center around the area currently off-limits to the public, housing seven floors of stacks—this will be transformed into a four-level atrium which will provide more sitting areas and desks for the public, as well as a view of Bryant Park.

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JLL's Richard Baxter on RDM's Due Diligence

noreply@blogger.com (John D.) — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:25:00 +0000

Richard Baxter, Vice Chairman of Capital Markets in Jones Lang LaSalle’s New York office, talks about RDM’s Due Diligence services:

“RDM has been essential to us bringing buildings to market. Their expertise in building remeasurement is unsurpassed and our sellers appreciate the extra value being brought to the table!”

Jones Lang LaSalle is just one of RDM’s many satisfied clients, click here to see what our others clients are saying about our services and software .

About Jones Lang LaSalle
Jones Lang LaSalle is a financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate services and investment management. They have more than 30,000 people in 750 locations in 60 countries and serve the local, regional and global real estate needs of those clients, while growing the company in the process. To find out more about Jones Lang LaSalle, visit their website.

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