A couple of months ago, I blogged about a great book called, “Networking for People who Hate Networking” by Devora Zack. I wanted to build on the items I discussed before and present some more useful networking tips. The three main ideas I wrote about include: “Pause” – Allowing plenty of time before an event […]
Author Archive | Bruce Darata
Homeowner’s Opinion of Value Still Outpaces Appraisal Values in Chicago
Have you ever wondered what your home was worth? Have you ever had a challenge with what the appraiser’s opinion of value is? Every month, Quicken Loans measures the Home Value Index (HVI) and the Home Price Perception Index (HPPI) to identify trends in various metropolitan markets. Nationally, in October, 2015, the homeowner’s estimation of […]
The Thompson Center. Should I Stay or Should I go?
Given the current financial crisis Illinois is now facing, it should come as no surprise that Governor Rauner is looking for ways to liquidate inefficient and income-draining assets. One of the most obvious targets is the Thompson Center located at 100 W. Randolph. This 17-story open concept building was opened in 1985 at more than […]
Three Things to Help Introverts Improve Their Networking
As a business owner, it didn’t take me long to realize that networking was an essential element needed in order to create new leads. However I always thought this was an arena for very extroverted people, and although I would not consider myself shy, having sustained conversation with strangers did not always come natural to […]
Four Things That are Affecting the Chicago Office Market
Last week I discussed the current Chicago Office market. In the suburbs there is a fair amount of slow-moving inventory. But the city has strong demand for office space. Why is that? Are companies fleeing the suburbs for the city? Or maybe fleeing the state? Perhaps that is part of the reason. But I don’t […]
The State of the Chicago Area Office Market
Being involved in the commercial real estate business, people often ask me, “How is the market?” Of course the inevitable response is “That depends”. Each market segment has characteristics, which react to internal and external economic stimuli in different ways. In this article we will look at the office market in the broadly defined East/West […]
Six Things to Expect When Appraising Your Commercial Property
If you are a home-owner, then at some point you have probably been exposed to the appraisal process. Of course this is a necessary step in order to obtain a loan. One might think that the process is the same when obtaining a commercial loan. Many aspects are the same, but, as shown below, due […]
Four Things Competent Investors do Before Buying Real Estate
Recently, at a get-together with some old friends, the topic of the sale listing of an old local watering hole came up. This property had been on the market for over ten years with an asking price that was way above market, and it got me to thinking about the factors to consider before buying […]
5 Reasons Why Your Property Didn’t Appraise For What You Thought it Should
Have you ever gotten an appraisal back on your property and were disappointed by the results? You were certain you had a good idea what the property was worth, yet the appraiser has come back with something significantly lower, and you can’t comprehend how he/she has come up with that value. You might say something […]
Top 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Warehouse Location
Although cost is a very important factor in the selection of an industrial development site, there are several other things to consider when choosing a location for your warehouse. Here are the top five items to consider when choosing your warehouse location. Layout and Flow of Building – The optimal layout of the building […]