Advantages and Disadvantages of Pre-Fabricated Construction

Although pre-fabricated construction has been deployed for centuries around the world, only now it is gaining traction tremendously.

In a nutshell pre-fabricated construction is the practice of manufacturing the components of a structure (such as walls, floors and roofs) at a factory, and the transporting them to the construction site where they are assembled to create a couple structure after the foundation has been built onsite.

In this way pre-fabricated construction distinguishes itself from the more conventional practice of transporting raw materials (such as cement and steel bars) to the construction site where they are mixed with other materials and / or modified.

Pre-fabricated construction is ideal for sites where storage area is limited, due to size of the plot or because of a lack of open space around the construction site , and can be utilized for building houses, hospitals, offices and factories.

The Advantages of pre-fabricated construction include:

• ·       For the most part it is cheaper than traditional construction, as labor costs and construction time are substantially lower.
• ·       Components are manufactured at a factory, so the need for form work shuttering and scaffolding is greatly reduced onsite. This ensures strict quality control and easier manageability.
• ·       Wastage of material is reduced due to better quality of control; pilferage is also reduced as it is more likely to occur at an open construction site.

The disadvantages of pre-fabricated construction include:

• ·       Greater expertise is required to make sure that the components are fixed perfectly; otherwise air leaks can occur inside the structure which can result in a host of issues such as water seepage and increased heat. Similarly heavy duty cranes are required to handle and assemble the components require expertise.
• ·       If building components are manufactured far away from the construction site, transportation costs can sometimes be higher.

Ultimately, pre-fabricated construction is quicker and more cost effective compared to traditional construction. And with rising construction costs, it is something that developer should consider utilizing.

The Architect In The Bend

The straight line is simple; it sets a limit, normalizes the extraordinary and registers a purpose. But to Oscar Niemeyer, one of the greatest architects of the 20th century who passed away last week, the straight line was the enemy.

To Niemeyer, the straight line was a man-made invention, utterly rigid and full of constraints. While movements such as the Bauhaus based their design dialogue on right angles and straight lines, Niemayer held them in disregard, saying, "The rule is the worst thing. You just want to break it."
This was despite the fact that Niemeyer was a modernist himself, deeply inspired by peers such as Le Co busier with whom he worked on the remarkably rectangular headquarters of the UN in New York. He was, however, averse to devote himself to a particular style and when asked if form followed function, he would reply, "Form follows beauty."
Niemeyer believed in curves, which he said reminded him of the sensuality of the feminine form on the sun-kissed beaches of his native Brazil. They allowed his designs to break away from the monotony that was dictating modernism and reflect a more optimistic and liberating nature of architecture, often culminating in surprise, as at the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Sao Paolo, and delight, as at the Niteroi Contemporary Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro.
Niemeyer's legacy is preserved in Brasilia, Brazil's federal capital, which he was commissioned to build in the 1950s. The largest city that didn't exist before the 20th century, Brasilia is as sensuous as any capital could be, with the great halls of Congress resembling giant demos and cauldrons and low-roofed administrative. buildings revealing subtler bends. There, the Cathedral of Brasilia is considered one of Niemeyer's greatest achievements. Using 16 parabolas to connect a high circular roof in the center with shades of tinted glass, the Cathedral boasts an audacious design and is a reminder of an architect who is one quoted to have said "Of curves is made all the universe".

Ranking Real Estate: Block Avenue

According to microeconomics, the discrepancy between the information available to people who own property and those who wish to buy is a big reason why property values are inefficiently calculated. That information is power is a well known fact but now, thanks to the internet, such information (like power) can be acquired democratically.
The main driver behind this movement in real estate is a website called Block Avenue, which documents and then compares property values across different city neighborhoods. The comparisons are based on feedback (graded A through to F) of how a street or community is doing according to set criteria, including amenities and healthcare facilities available in the neighborhood.
An accurate estimate of the "livability" of a property is easily gathered, as owners (the people with the most information about where they live) are asked to rate their neighborhood.
However, as a critic pointed out, "Why would owners rate their property and location poorly?"
To counter this, Block Avenue allows anyone familiar with a neighborhood to contribute to the rating. It also uses objective data sources such as census reports on crime rates, as well as yellow book listings of businesses and recreational options to grade.
With the help of Google Maps and Street View, Block Avenue makes hunting for real estate incredibly convenient and potential investors can virtually eliminate the need to visit a property before buying it,
Launched earlier this year, Block Avenue touts itself as a service made by the people for the people. Apart from property owners and buyers, Block Avenue is generating interest among researchers working on determining how amenities and other variables impact property prices in a given neighborhood. Currently, the services provided by Block Avenue are available only in the US, but with the amount of interest it is generating, the company expects to expand worldwide in the near future.

Amenities That Increase Property Value

Most homeowners seek to increase the value of their property by upgrading the exterior and renovating the interior. Although home improvements affect property value, the presence of certain amenities increases its value by an estimated 10 to 15$. Similarly, demand for the property increases by approximately 30%. This is why the presence of the following amenities should be taken into consideration when purchasing residential property.
Curb Appeal. The facades of houses, landscaping and the general cleanliness of a neighborhood contribute to creating the first impression among buyers - favorable or otherwise.
Infrastructure and easy access. Wide, clean streets with good drainage make a big difference. Additionally, a neighborhood should ideally have multiply entry and exit points and be easily accessible through the city's major thoroughfares. At the same time, it should not be too close to streets that have heavy traffic and congestion on a daily basis.
Public Transport. Ease in access to and from bus stops and taxi stands is generally viewed favorably. However, public transport stands that are too close to a property can be perceived as a security concern.
Neighborhood parks. Providing recreation for residents, parks with walking / jogging tracks and play areas for children and definitely an added attraction, especially in suburban neighborhoods where recreational avenues are limited.
Schools, healthcare and other amenities. Neighborhood that have good schools and medical facilities in the vicinity are more expensive that those that don't, as most homeowners are willing to pay a premium to live there. Having a commercial area nearby (but not too close) is an added advantage and also impacts property prices favorably.
The Lifestyle Element. The presence of recreational avenues such as cafes, gyms, malls, restaurants, shopping centers, spas and similar service in the vicinity enhance the neighborhood profile and raise property prices significantly.

The Aloof Modernist: Le Corbusier Architecture

Le Corbusier (born Charles-Edouard Jeanneret) was one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th century. Even 47 years after his death on August 27 1965, he is remembered for his contribution to modern architecture because of designs that portrayed a utopian sense of purpose.
Early in his career, Le Corbusier often traveled around Europe. In Paris, he learned about using concrete and reinforced steel in structures; in Berlin, he was taught about industrial processes and machine design. In the Balkans, he obsessed over Greek Parthenon. These experiences would later form an essential part of his designs.
With peers such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Walter Gropius and even Pablo Picasso, Le Corbusier developed an idea of architecture that was more focused on function rather than form.
In his words, ' decoration always hides a mistake in construction." The construction of the Villa Savoy, on the outskirts of Paris sums up this belief by incorporating his famous 'Five points of Architecture' which deal with elevated housing, continuity of landscape, free floor plans, illumination and the simplicity of the facade. As he detailed in his book, Towards An Architecture, he believed that a house was " a machine for living"
After World War 1, Le Corbusier became involved in dealing with the rise of slums in post-war Europe by building low cost functional communes for large scale housing. The most famous of these is the united Habitation in Marseilles, also known as 'the Radiant City'. It features 237 apartments with facilities for recreation and leisure encased in block shaped and fortress-like facades dominated by strong vertical and horizontal lines (which subsequently gave rise to the form known as brutalism).
In the 1950s, Le Corbusier tested his ideas on an even grander scales when he was commissioned to plan the city of Chndigarh in India. The city is testament to Le Corbusier's belief in large, functional and spacious block structures with facades of buffeted concrete. The Legislative Assembly building (illustrated above) in particular, with its curved roof edge, has become the counter-piece of the city and representative of what Le Corbusier referred to as his "engineer's aesthetic".

Emerging Architectural Trends in Pakistan

Although most architects in Pakistan would concur that a distinct Pakistani design language is yet to emerge on our skylines, a number of trends over the last decade have resulted in the construction of some outstanding structures.
These include:
Global influence. Architecture in Pakistan has taken on a distinctively global flavor in terms of design and functionality. Consequently, an increasing number of commercial high rises and houses new display straight lines, simple facades and clean finishes, using "no-nonsense" materials such concrete, wood and glass.
Sometimes a combination of these materials is used to create facades with large windows or glass curtain walls.
Old world courtyards. There has been a resurgence of old world havelis, in contemporary homes and even commercial spaces, such as restaurants. Courtyards create private outdoor areas that are centrally located within the structure. They can be used as relaxing sanctuaries or recreational spaces. Special attention is paid to details such as flooring, finishes an landscaping; plants (such as bamboos) are used to create partitions within the courtyard, or a backdrop for water features. Wooden pergolas (usually made of mahogany or teak) are used as accents.
East meets west. While there is a movement towards contemporary architectural elements are deployed equally frequently. For example, sinus-detailed screens, known as jafri, can be seen in many commercial projects against modern backdrops of glass, wood or steel. Regional materials such as reddish terracotta tiles (which are earthy and reminiscent of colonial flooring) and traditional fabrics and textiles are equally visible and serve as edgy design details.
Going green. Green architecture is gaining traction; some solutions to ensure that a structure is environmentally friendly include the appropriation of open spaces for adequate wind flow to allow cross ventilation, roof insulation to keep the interiors cool, the addition of water bodies to create cool spaces and an emphasis on foliage to provide shade. Rainwater harvesting systems are being used in order to facilitate the collection, conservation, and recycling of water.

The Impact of Budget on Pakistan's Real Estate Market

The federal budget 2012-13 came into effect on July 1, and has certain implications for property purchasers and sellers, especially in regard to property taxes.
These include:
1. Capital Gain Tax (CGT)

• CGT has been re-introduced in Pakistan after a passage of 26 years; it was lifted in 1986.
• CGT is imposed on residential and commercial property owners who are reselling a property within two years of purchasing it. It is payable at the time of selling a property.
• CGT is calculated as a percentage of the increase in the value of a property in a given period; 10% CGT will be applied on property that is being resold within one year; five percent CGT will be applied on property that is being resold within two years.

2. The collctor Rate (CR)

• The CR is official value of the property and is decided by the Government; it is used to determine the value of several property taxes including Capital Value Tax, Registration Fee and Stamping Fee.
• The CRs remain have not changed this year and vary according to where the property is located.

3. Capital Value Tax (CVT)

• CVT is payable to the Government when a property is purchased; it has not changed this year.
• CVT is determined as a percentage of the Collector Rate; it varies according to the type of property. The details are as follows:

Houses
Plot Size (sq yds)                                CVT
Less than 100                                      0%
100-500                                              2%
More than 500                                     2.5%

APartments
Covered Area (sq ft)                            CVT
Less than 1,000                                    0%
1,000-2,200                                         2%
More than 2,200                                   2.5%

Commercial Property
Covered Area (Sq ft)                          CVT
All sizes                                                2.5%

Renowned Beckingham Palace of David and Victoria Beckham is on the Market

Rowneybury House, better known as Beckingham Palace is currently owned by football's first couple, David and Victoria Beckham. The glamorous couple however are permanently moving to Los Angles and have decided to sell their sprawling, English country home which is now on the market for an estimated 18 million pounds.

Beckingham Palacae is located in the quiet, rural town of Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. Recent property and lifestyle surveys have shown that Hertfordshire in general, and Sawbridgeworth in particular, is one of the top 10 most desirable locations to live in while commuting to work in London. Sawbridgeworth has a population of about 9,000 and is approximately an hour's drive away from London.
The house is a 1930s Georgian style mansion built on an expansive 22-acre estate. The property is listed as a Grade II building in the UK (It is considered part of Britain's cultural heritage and is thus protected from reconstruction or demolition ); it was previously a council-owned children's home.
The Beckhams acquired the seven-bedroom mansion in 1999 for the sum of 2.5 million pounds and carried out extensive and expensive additions and renovations amounting to an estimated 18 million pounds. The amount spent on renovations considerably exceeds the current market value of the property.
In addition to seven bedrooms, lavish entertainment areas, state-of-the-art kitchens and beautifully manicured gardens, the house has a snooker room, a recording studio and gym. Beckingham Palace also boasts indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a golf course, flood-lit tennis courts, a helipad, three gazebos, and a petting zoo for children.
The latest news is that reality show star Kim Kardashian has her eye on the property which she plans to use when her family is in the UK.Rumor also has it that she will rent out the house to David and Victoria fans while she is away.

Get Hotel Retail Space: Business Retail Space For Lease

Business retail space in hotel complexes are a popular choice for brands due to their location and ambiance. In addition, they enjoy the benefit of a customer base made up of high net worth hotel guests, which include foreigner dignitaries, delegates and tourists and even celebrities.
In Pakistan, until a decade ago such retail spaces for lease were coveted by the most exclusive brands, but today due to the security situation, hotel occupancy rates (and thus customers) have declined, while together security measures have discouraged local visitors. However, despite the lower turnover, these spaces remain popular and most leading hotels in Pakistan maintain an occupancy rate that exceeds 70%. Tenants also find it a hassle-free arrangement because maintenance issues are usually the hotel management's responsibility.
Here is a detailed look:

• Hotel complexes have a limited number of shops, ranging between five and 30; they are usually not open for sale and can be rented.
• Shop sizes vary between 75 and 250 square feet.
• Larger hotels have dedicated shopping arcades within the complex, thus the size of these shops can be customized according to the tenant's requirements.
• Rental contracts are usually valid for a period ranging between one and three years.
• Average monthly rental rates range between 100 and 250 per square feet. A six-month advance and a security deposit are required in most cases.
• Most rental contracts include maintenance and security as part of the package, at no extra cost, while electricity bills are the tenant's responsibility.
• Apart from top-end brands, other businesses located within hotels include handicraft and souvenir stores, fine carpet and rug merchants, florists, patisseries, bookshops, Jewelery, designers, beauty saloons, pharmacies and general stores.

What Five to 10 Million Rupees will get you in Karachi

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, the financial capital and busiest seaport. The city has thriving commercial districts, fashionable markets and plenty of entertainment.
Residential real estate option start at the coastline and stretch across the city.
Here is a look at residential areas in Karachi prices between five and 10 million rupees, which are attracting investment from across Pakistan:
1. Defence is an upscale area which lavish homes, verdant parks, prestigious schools and upmarket commercial areas with plenty of shopping and fine dinning options. An expensive area, only plot in Difference Phases VIII and VIII Extension, and houses in Phase II are available in the five to 10 million price range.

Defence Phase II
House (sq yds)                                                       Purchase Price (Rs)
100                                                                            9-10 million

Defence Phases VIII and VIII Extension
Plots (sq yds)                                                       Purchase Price (Rs)
300                                                                         5-5.5 million
500                                                                         7.5-8 million
666                                                                         9-9.5 million

2. Gulshan-e-Iqbal is a microcosm unto itself, with several prominent landmarks including the Civic Centre, the Expo Centre and Karachi University, Gulshan has plenty of educational institutions, hospitals, as well as shopping and dining options.
Houses (sq yds)                                                  Purchase Price (Rs)
120                                                                        6-7.5 million
200                                                                        6.5-7.5 million

3. North Nazimabad was an elite neighborhood in the early 1950. Although this is no longer the case, the area is still very well regarded and has numerous malls, shopping markets, restaurants, hospitals, educational institutions, parks and marriage halls.
Houses (sq yds)                                                 Purchase Price (Rs)
120                                                                        4-4.5 million
200                                                                        6.5-7.5 million
400                                                                        8.5-10 million

4. PECHS (Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society) is spread over six blocks, offer good shopping and dining options and is ideally located in proximity to shopping hubs such as Tariq Road and Bahadurabad. It is easily accessible from Shahrah-e-Faisal.
Houses (sq yds)                                                 Purchase Price (Rs)
200                                                                       8.5-10 million

Graduating In Real Estate:Education In Real Estate

Although the real estate business in Pakistan grown substantially over the last two decades, the fact remains that the people engaged in the real estate do not possess the required training or the expertise. This has resulted in lack of transparency and unwarranted price fluctuations.

Ideally, local colleges and universities should offer real estate certification courses that provide students a practical knowledge of all aspects of the real estate business- from real estate economics, finance and law to community planning and urban development. Unfortunately, no such courses or degree are available in Pakistan.

As there is no regulation and no required licensing, almost anyone can open a real estate agency and conduct business; the business is unregulated and does not have defined standards.

For this sector to have a streamlined system and transparency, a few concrete steps must be taken. One way to tackle this would be to make it mandatory for all real estate agents to have a license or certification before stepping into the profession. Not only will this regulate the real estate business across the board, it will raise additional revenue for the provincial governments, which could then charge a licensing fee. Licensing and regulation, in turn, will help maintain property prices at realistic level.

Currently, property sellers seek advice from non-professional, unregulated property brokers who usually quote inflated prices instead of actual values, leading to market instability. This is best illustrated by the fact that in Pakistan, real estate prices have recently increased by anywhere in between 100% and 150%, in sharp contrast to the international real estate markets which have witnessed drastic falls in property price (by 50% to 70%)

Only when obtaining a license becomes mandatory will property transactions be streamlined and gain the transparency that it is lacking in the real estate sector.

Obtaining The Right Value Assessment: Property Prices

One of the most common misconceptions that property owners have is that property prices will keep rising regardless of the effect on the market of factors such as the political and economic situation in the country. The reality is that after every boom in the property market, property prices go through a period of 'correction'; they adjust to actual values rather then speculative ones; the span of such corrections can last for a very long time.
As a result, most property owners have no idea what the current market values of their property is and end up consulting a number of estate agents who in turn provide their own assessments of the property's value. In most cases there is a wide gap in the estimates provided by different estate agents, which adds to the confusion of the property owner in terms of what price to demand and they end up listing their property with the estate agent who quoted the highest value. Yet, a number of estate agents deliberately and incorrectly quote higher prices just to ensure that the owner lists the property with them. This is a unethical practice which does nothing more than make property owners happy for a short period of time.
1) Ask the estate agent to give the current property price assessment on company letterhead; but be prepared to pay a fee for this service.
2) If you plan to have an assessment done from different estate agents, do not look only at the highest value; rather consider the lowest assessment given to determine the actual value of the property.
3) Any estimate that is over two to three years old is no longer valid as property prices fluctuate depending on a number of factors which in turn end up keeping investors away.

Pakistan's Real Estate Market In 2011

Although one may hope for the good news with the advent of the New Year, unfortunately there will be none for forthcoming from Pakistan's real estate sector and the slump which began in December 2007 will continue in 2011, as there are no signs of recovery for the ailing property market.
The December 2007 downturn was coupled with the Government's decision to increase the Capital Value Tax (CVT) from two to four percent in the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Although the objective was to collect 15 billion rupees from property transactions, in reality the Federal Board Of Revenue (FBR) collected only 2.5 billion rupees, one billion rupees less then it did in fiscal year 2008-2009.
In the current fiscal year (2010-2011) the Government has lowered the CVT from four to two percent, while the Provincial Government have enhance collector rates and revised the valuation tables ( both instruments are necessary in determining the market value of a property) significantly upwards. The end result has been that investors have stayed away from buying property.
The series of financial setbacks in the local market as well as in the Dubai property market, which began in the third quarter of 2008, still weigh heavily on the minds of local and overseas Pakistan Investors; they remain reluctant to invest in Pakistan's property until prices go up, and this has prolonged an uncertain situation, loading to financial losses not only for property sellers and real estate agents, with high collector rates and the prevailing status quo between buyers and sellers, it will require a miracle to push the market back up to the levels prior to December 2007.

Lack Of Affordabale housing Units

As many as 700,000 people are added to the population every year, but only 300,000 housing units are constructed leaving a shortfall of 400,000.
About 40% of this population belongs to the middle and lower-middle class segments who dispose of monthly incomes ranging between 6000 and 12,000 rupees; in other words they can only afford to buy housing units costing between 200,000 and 500,000 rupees.
According to the world bank, loans to buy property are difficult to obtain and are usually given to the upper income groups, leaving other segments with no mean of buying property. As a result most are forced to acquire land through illegal means and hence the mushrooming of Katchi Abdai's in Pakistan's major cities. Karachi alone has 600 to 800 illegal settlements sheltering about 7.6 million people our of the city's total population of 18 million people.
Sindh has 1,300 Katchi Abadi's covering 24,300acres of government-owned land and 1,700 acres of private land.
A possible solution lies in lowering the mark up rates offered by banks on long term loans thereby making the monthly repayment installments for mortgaged finance equivalent to the monthly rents of houses and apartments paid by tenants. In this way millions of people living in rented premises could at least have the opportunity to buy their own house or apartment, without having to pay exorbitant sums of money at one go.

I-9 Industrial Area: Steel Mills In Pakistan

Sector I-9 is one of the few sectors in Islamabad that is not purely residential. It has an industrial aspect in the shape of sub-sector I-9/3, most of the Steel Mills In Pakistan are situated there, the sector is also knows as Industrial Area I-9.
Boundaries are: Islamabad Dry port, Sector H-9(north), sector I-9/4 and I-9/1 residential areas, I-9 Markaz(south) sector I-8, 9th Avenue(east) and Sector I-10(west).
Industrial Area I-9 is known for its 'go downs'; some of the major national and multinational companies have their storage facilities located there. These companies include those dealing in electronics, heavy machinery, oil, and pharmaceuticals. Other bushiness come in the form of rice mills and steel mills.
The proximity of residential areas means that the Capital Development Authority imposes strict guidelines on industry owners with respect to environment protection. The roads and streets are especially wide so as to accommodate heavy traffic. The area is easily accessible through the major link roads, such as the Kashmir Highway, Islamabad Expressway and the IJP road. These roads also provide easy access to the Motorway.
Storage space can be bought and rented. Although sizes range from 1,111 to 5,555 square yards the most commonly available sizes are 2,700 and 3,300 square yards.

Prices:

• 2,700 square yards: 45 to 65 million rupees.
• 3,300 square yards: 55 to 75 million rupees.

Rentals are calculated on the basis of total covered area. The rental value ranges between 22 to 25 rupees per square foot.

Building PR In Real Estate:Real Estate Pakistan

Most real estate agencies lose business due to one basic reason: they do not bother to call clients, once the deal is completed. Nor do they maintain a database of those clients with whom deals could not be completed and a result lose out on an opportunity to maintain goodwill in the market. The fact of the matter is that real estate agencies are more earned inclined to earn revenues rather then build credibility and do not bother to allocate a separate budget properly put together a list of clientele.
Here are few tips that can make real estate agencies more effective in building PR:
1) Develop a comprehensive website of a real estate agency describing the areas of expertise.
2) Send E-mails to prospective clients, describing the salient features of the properties from inventory list.
3) participate in events and program that can give maximum exposure to your real estate agency.
4) Develop a working relationship with people who have authority and can take decision to buy, sell or rent properties. Be proactive and send them relevant news and articles from time to time.
5) Publish articles online to your position your agency as a leader in the field.
6) Find out what kind of properties your target audience is searching for on the internet.
7) Conduct real estate seminars to spread information among property buyers and sellers. If the seminar become popular, invite the local media to attend for print and electronic coverage.
PR can strengthen your real estate marketing program with credibility and targeted exposure for the fraction of the cost of traditional advertising, but it requires patience and persistent. Remember that although real estate PR takes time and effort, the results end up in financial gains.

Is Anyone Following Rent Laws In Pakistan?

Concluding a rental agreement is part of the routine for a real estate agent. Unfortunately, there are many agents who despite having several years of experience conduct these deals in a manner that not only leaves both landlords and tenants dissatisfied, but also violates local rental laws.
Most tenants would like rental agreement s to be made for at least 12 months although there is no law limiting the maximum number of years of an agreement. However, the law requires all rental agreements of 12 or more months to be registered with the Area Registrar and the fixation of revenue stamps on the rental agreement. These fees are paid by the tenant.
In order to save on stamp duty and registration fee, both the landlord and the tenant sign an agreement for 11 months. The reality is that most tenants do not move from the premises in such a short periods it involves expenses and payment such as brokerage/service charges to an estate agent, as well as the cost of packing and moving.
This means that the landlord, tenants and estate agents who brokers the deal, all are equally responsible for evading government taxes which is a criminal offense.
The estate agent should ideally inform both the landlord and the tenant that the rental agreement should be signed for the actual term of tenancy; this will save both parties from incurring unnecessary expenses after 11 months. More importantly, this will prevent both parties, from breaking the law, which, at the end of the day, results in financial losers for the provincial government.

How To sell Your Property Online: E-Marketing Property: E-Marketing Of Real Estate And Product Property

Changing life cycle trends and access to the internet have changed the waves properties are marketed.  Today prospective buyers and tenants need no longer visit countless properties in order to draw up a short list and make an offer. Instead the property owner, can e-mail the digital photographs and dimensions of a particular property to the state agent. For newer properties computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings can also be sent.
Here are tips on the kind of information that should be e-mailed to real estates agents:

Residential:

1) Scan of the floor plan and the frontage and depth of the house.
2) Expose the front elevation, the lawn,the car porch and servant quarters.
3) Include dimensions of all bedrooms, attached bathrooms and TV lounge(s).
4) Photos of the neighborhood.

Commercial:

1) The facade of the building.
2) Photographs of the showroom, shop or the complete office space.
3) If a furniture premise, photographs the fixtures, fittings and furniture.
4) Include the floor plan which should mention the gross and net covered areas.

Industrial:

1) The floor plan and technical drawings of the industry, highlighting information such as distance between pillars, height of roof, details of concealed writing, etc.
2) Photographs of the front, back and side road of the property.
3) Photographs of the office blocks, sheds and machinery.

After receiving the information, the estate agent will store the specification of the property on his/her computer will show the details to the prospective buyer.tenant on the monitor.
The seller will only be contacted if the property has been short listed, saving all concerned precious time.