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• Dec 2009
A Look Back at RDM in 2009
• October 2009
RDM News Vol-1 Iss-5
• July 2009
RDM News Vol-1 Iss-4
• March 2009
RDM News Vol-1 Iss-3
• January 2009
Pricing for short-term profits, Long-term survival
• December 2008
Let's Get Digital
• November 2008
RDM Newsletter Iss. 2
• August 2008
Real Data releases interactive, digital floor plans for Real Estate
• July 2008
Vacancies Hard To Come By As Condos Become Boutique Hotels
• June 2008
Archstone Hires Real Data Management
• June 2008
Grab Attention in a Challenging Market
• July 2008
Fighting rubber ruler measurements
• April 2008
Donald White will refocus his attention on RDM
• February 2008
RDM has appointed Jason Machain as Creative Director
• December 2007
RDM Newsletter
• December 2007
2008 To Bring Continued Growth in Building Sales
• October 2007
News Corporation Signs RDM
• October 2007
RDM Launches RealAccess: Residential
• May 2007
RDM Expands to the West Coast
• May 2007
RDM Expands East to the D.C./Virginia Region
• May 2007
Joseph P. Day signs RDM
• April 2007
It’s Not Your Father’s Due Diligence Anymore
• March 2007
Kushner Gets RDM's Assistance
• February 2007
Boritz taps raw nerve and spins a web of success
The last year had its share of highs and lows as individuals and organizations all over the world maneuvered their way through the worst recession in United States history. At Real Data Management, we understand how difficult this year has been, but before we welcome the upcoming year and focus on new challenges ahead, we would like to take a moment to look back at what RDM has been up to over the last year.
In the last year, we have had the opportunity to work with some exciting new clients such as:
This year also brought some new changes from the FDNY to Emergency Action Plans and Fire Safety Plans. RDM helped hundreds of building owners with the new changes to LL26 which require additional details to floor plans.
In the last year, we have successfully launched our new, web-based space management software for residential and commercial real estate. Our Real Access™ Multi-Family and Real Access™ Commercial software can be used with existing CAD floor plans and features:
We have also announced our partnership with Noveda Technologies, to help buildings become greener utilizing Energy Monitoring Systems. This breakthrough technology will help cities such as New York and DC, which require buildings to monitor energy consumption, track their energy use in real time. RDM’s partnership with Noveda Technologies will help provide a cost-effective way to track your energy consumption as well as help buildings in other cites as energy tracking becomes a standard across the nation.
As you can see, we have been very busy over the last year and are looking forward to the New Year and the new opportunities that it will bring. As 2009 comes to a close, we would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday.
See you in the New Year!
Peter Boritz
In today’s market, commercial real estate professionals look for the most viable options to speed up the
deal‐making process. Those who want to quickly navigate the tight market rely on the latest technology
tools to aid in closing deals. While some commercial real estate professionals prefer to depend on their
fax machines and color printers, others are digitizing property data. Floor plans, lease agreements, or
other project‐related documents can be digitized, converted to portable document files, and stored and
transmitted to numerous computers and mobile devices, helping commercial real estate professionals
gain momentum with deal making, due diligence, and valuation.
Going Digital
Digital property data helps all parties in a transaction make decisions more quickly and effectively.
Today, software is available that produces detailed digital summaries of accurate building data. For
instance, Real Data Management’s technology uses lasers instead of tape measures to determine a
building or space’s square footage. Property owners and managers can import the fieldwork
measurements into a software program and analyze the data according to different standards, creating
virtual floor plans that prospective buyers and sellers can use to calculate or re‐calculate measurements
from any location.
For example, digitizing floor dimensions fast‐tracks the process of evaluating rentable area and useable
space from a week to a few hours. Technicians use lasers in the actual space to calculate square footage,
plugging these measurements into a software program — typically a computer‐automated design
application — that creates a virtual model of the building. This virtual model includes floor plans and
measurements in a readable file format such as a PDF or in an interactive video such as Flash animation.
In addition, digitizing this data speeds up the design or build‐out phase for property owners or tenants.
Property users can view or change digital renderings, reducing the reliance on multiple vendors also
involved with the building design.
Using space management software, property owners and brokers can visually manage property on
mobile devices and computers for instant access to floor plans, occupancy and vacancy information,
tenant contact information, lease details, and other data. The information is compiled into a digital plan
book that contains all of a property’s floor plans with the corresponding tenant’s information, including
lease expiration date, useable space, and rentable space. Brokers and investors can use the software’s
area analysis functions and documentation features to help determine a building’s rental or investment
potential.
For instance, in the recent acquisition of a 100,000‐sf building in Manhattan, the buyer needed to close
the deal within one week. In two days, the technology vendor was able to reconcile the square footage
of the building for the buyer compared to what the seller reported. In this case, both the buyer and the
seller used proprietary technology to agree on the building’s measurements, a point of contention that
often is disputed.
Practical Application
While today’s institutional investors such as private equity firms and hedge funds are comfortable using
the Internet to organize and view information, some small and midsize commercial real estate
brokerages store data in several different locations — both in print and online. For some companies,
lease documentation might reside on a desktop computer while floor plans and marketing material sit in
filing cabinets.
Digitizing data stores all information in computer files, eliminating the need for paper files. And because
computers handle raw data quicker than people, this gives brokers faster access to the figures needed
to close deals or acquire property.
Digitization also reduces operation costs while increasing productivity. For example, a real estate owner
planned on launching an aggressive leasing campaign for one of its smaller buildings also in Manhattan.
The property owner used digitized data to arm its brokers with the information they needed to close
their leases. The agents were able to modify floor plans and specs to potential leaseholders on the fly,
getting the useable space to prospective tenants in a quick manner.
As for pricing, Real Data Management’s diligence solutions are priced on cents‐per‐square‐foot, and its
online solution, RealAccess, is priced at a monthly rate for unlimited users.
Getting Deals Done
While digitizing property data has driven the due diligence process for large deals, such as properties
between 200,000 and 1 million square feet, the software is equally useful for smaller transactions. For
example, Real Data Management provided due diligence as well as guidance on navigating the U.S.
commercial real estate market to Renta Corp., a Barcelona‐based property manager, when it acquired a
100,000‐sf office property in Manhattan.
Real Data Management drove due diligence for the deal in reconciling the square footage between the
buyer and seller, quickly verifying that Renta was buying the amount of space they signed on for. This
was done without either side having to manually measure space or crunch numbers. All building data
was digitized, including floor plans, documentation, and marketing materials, so Renta would be ready
to market the prop‐ erty once it bought the building.
Commercial real estate professionals who digitize building data give themselves an edge over the
competition. Such online data management platforms also can be integrated with customized marketing
materials to achieve greater levels of productivity with everything from collateral and floor plans to legal
documentation and contracts. Overall, keeping abreast of the latest tech tools can help commercial real
estate professionals increase their bottom lines.
August 27, 2008
Real Data Management, a provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, announced today that it has developed a new line of business to offer interactive floor plans (iFP).
iFPs are digital renderings of floor plans that are easy to navigate, understand, and view online, enhancing real estate marketing plans and enabling prospects to view property when and where they want to. An iFP demo is linked below.
"We remain committed to digitizing real estate and other building data, with interactive floor plans set to complement the digitization of contracts, inspection records, lease agreements, and marketing material," said Peter Boritz, president of RDM.
The iFPs are part of RDM's broader effort to provide customized technology products and services to the real estate industry, mixing its 30-year history in the real estate industry with its technical expertise in producing useful digital content.
"Just several years ago, floor plans existed only in paper format, which made the diligence process for both large and small real estate deals needlessly long and complex," said Jay Machain, director of creative services for RDM. "Digitizing the data helps real estate owners market their properties close deals quicker because the data becomes portable and immediately available."
Peter Boritz
As the condominium market continues to cool off, increasingly real estate developers and owners are finding their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — in the form of boutique hotels. The motivation for this turn of events centers on the current profitability of the hotel market which has real estate companies gravitating to this lucrative sector.
For many years, the development of condos was priority number one with sales going through the roof. However, as the development rapidly increased, supply exceeded demand and a glut in product offerings took hold. As a result, intense competition for condo developments drove pre-sales and existing sales lower. This in turn hindered owners from achieving their sales targets and thus, spurred a disinterest in further condo development.
Taking up the slack in condo investment has been the conversion to boutique hotel and apartments. Property owners and developers in New York, for example, have grown tired of waiting for condos rentals to become fully occupied. Instead they are seeing an increased demand in boutique hotels and allocating their resources to capitalize on the upsurge in these projects. As an example, a record sale for a boutique hotel occurred when Istithmar, a Dubai-government owned investment group, bought the W New York Union Square hotel for $285 million. In addition, industry figures show that the average cost of a hotel room in New York is at all-time high of $300 a night, with average occupancy rates near 90 percent.
Conversions to boutique hotels are also appealing to owners as new construction has slowed due to the high prices for land and surging construction costs, which have driven up the value in existing hotels. As more and more domestic and international travelers are seeing the sights in the U.S., hotel demand is expected to stay strong in 2008. And boutique hotels with uniquely crafted rooms and luxury amenities are highly sought-after properties by sophisticated travelers.
This conversion is a significant trend that is changing the urban landscape of both hotel and condo markets on a local and national basis. In addition, owners like to be associated with upscale, high-end assets that project a strong brand image and an impressive cachet.
So as this transition continues to unfold, owners and developers must embrace ways in which they can truly determine the potential worth of their assets and maximize the value of these properties. The days of simply using traditional marketing methods to sell their portfolios are headed out the door. Today, savvy industry players realize that managing these transitions means thoroughly evaluating their portfolios and assessing their true space management needs and measurements.
Taking a complete inventory of a property’s portfolio is the essential first step in making the transition. Using highly sophisticated tools, such as RDM’s LaserDisto® measuring tools, helps owners to measure and document the true size and square footage of a unit, enabling an owner to enhance their marketing and management needs. This process alters how they can value their portfolios, providing them with the opportunity to raise their sales prices. These technology tools are more advanced in their applications, which allow for owners and developers to house this vital information.
As a result, this opportunity has forced all employees inside a real estate firm to pay greater attention to this trend. Implementing existing condition and due diligence surveys enables owners to get a “lay of the land” and by determining correct floor area calculations, can increase revenues. And increasing actual revenues will drive traffic to boutique hotels and profits to owners.
Peter Boritz is president of Real Data Management (RDM), headquartered in New York, which is the leading provider of real estate space and information management solutions.
http://www.northeastrebusiness.com/articles/JUN08/feature2.html
Real Data Management, the leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced that it is working alongside real estate giant Archstone to provide building surveys, space calculations, and floor plans for Archstone’s properties in several East Coast markets.
“Archstone remains one of the pre-eminent names in the residential real estate market and we are thrilled to add the company to our strong client list,” said Peter Boritz, President of RDM. “The residential market is an expanding line of business for us and our ability to provide a comprehensive platform of leasing, marketing, and management tools with a single point of contact save time and money for large firms like Archstone that are used to having several different service providers.”
Archstone, formerly the NYSE-listed real estate investment trust Archstone-Smith Trust, was acquired in October 2007 by Tishman Speyer and Lehman Brothers Holdings for $15.5B.
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For more than 30 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in more than 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
Get noticed, get business. This maxim seems obvious to anyone in the business of buying, selling, or leasing real estate. Yet traditional real estate portfolios generally have been too slow to adopt new technologies for marketing and advertising.
Real estate professionals need to focus their time on the core competencies of their business instead of managing marketing campaigns or overseeing graphic design production.
With this in mind, Real Data Management has shifted additional focus toward real estate marketing and advertising services with the recent hire of Jay Machain as Creative Director. He will lead our team of veteran real estate professionals and established creative minds to design and implement full-service advertising and marketing plans for clients. Collaboration between professionals with industry knowledge and those who know how to capture attention visually is key to our new business unit, which is scaleable with current RDM information management services and a valuable addition to portfolio companies that aren’t current RDM clients.
Outsourcing this type of work to people with strong technical and industry background can take advantage of the available technology while staying focused on their primary business. Other industries, such as financial services, outsource this type of work to use new technologies without having to learn them in-house.
RDM is preparing for a sea change in the industry. Soon, real estate companies will find enormous value in mediums like online video, sophisticated e-mail marketing, animation, and social networks. The industry is already observing apartment brokers using low-quality video footage that’s easily captured on a PDA, uploaded to a computer, and published online. Instead of meeting that broker to view apartment features, prospective tenants can see it for themselves. This indicates a demand for tech-driven marketing in what has traditionally been a handshake business.
RDM has developed a full-scale virtual tour offering that uses the latest principles in digital marketing and design; this is just one example of technology brimming with potential for the real estate industry.
There were barriers that RDM considered in the development of its offering. Measurability will become important as web-based strategies surface. Solutions that ignore the need to evaluate their own performance won’t cut it. Newer measuring technologies like WebTrends and Google Analytics prove online measurement is now a refined science and far more sophisticated than print advertising measurement.
Many in the industry carry the misconception that newer technologies are capable of replacing sound investments and sales strategies that have worked for decades; this won’t happen. What will happen is a noticeable and measurable increase in the success of marketing plans.
Using these digital marketing strategies won’t create the best deals on the marketplace, but it will certainly drive attention to them and drive the leasing of vacant space and property sales. RDM is committed to capturing attention for its clients in the real estate industry’s crowded marketplace.
Peter Boritz is President of Real Data Management, a real estate technology and advertising firm.
Every industry uses its own metrics. Fabrics come by the yard, gas is sold by the gallon, office space in New York City is rented by the square foot. As it turns out, however, renting precise amounts of office space isn't quite that simple.
As with most things in the real estate world, New York is in its own universe, one where building sizes sometimes seem to grow and shrink based on market conditions rather than actual physical dimensions. It's also normal for all sorts of charges, some of which date back to pre-Depression days, to find their way onto leases.
"Buildings are the only inanimate objects that grow. A new landlord buys a building, and 'poof' — it gets bigger," said Richard Warshauer, senior managing director of GVA Williams, a commercial real estate brokerage. "It's fair if it's not against the law and both parties agree."
Arguing against these extra charges has been a longstanding headache for office tenants in the city. But experts say these charges are a problem that can be overcome with the assistance of a savvy broker, architect and sometimes a lawyer.
"The check upon the landlords for not going berserk is that we're in a competitive marketplace," noted Warshauer.
Landlords' most notorious tactic for manipulating rent is using a proverbial rubber ruler to measure space.
"There's no accurate way for a tenant to compare one space to another without actually measuring the floor area themselves," said Jonathan Anapol, president of Prime Manhattan Realty.
The technical term for this phenomenon is "loss factor," the difference between the actual square footage a tenant occupies and the area paid for in rent. In the past few decades, loss factor charges have swelled as tenants got charged for hallways, fire towers, staircases, ventilation ducts, sometimes even sidewalks.
Landlords argue this practice is fair because it considers common space everyone uses, like hallways and bathrooms, that still cost money to maintain, said Peter Boritz, president of Real Data Management, which performs technical area calculations.
Boritz said that landlords also increase the loss factor to account for major capital improvements.
At the same time, worries exist that landlords are inflating numbers to pump up their bottom lines. Indeed, Commercial Tenant Real Estate Representation, a firm that advises clients how to cut rental costs, conducted two recent surveys of 100 randomly selected office towers in Manhattan. Their studies concluded that 32 percent of the subject buildings grew substantially in square footage since 1990, even though there had been no physical additions.
A tower owned by Swig Equities at 5 Hanover Square in Lower Manhattan grew 33.8 percent to 320,000 square feet, according to the CTRR report. The Department of Finance has the building listed as 292,466 gross square feet.
Two buildings in Midtown also grew by more than 20 percent without physical additions: 800 Third Avenue and 666 Fifth Avenue, which Kushner Companies purchased two years ago for $1.8 billion, the most expensive building sale in the nation at the time.
"Loss factors actually go up both in depressions and boom markets, which seems anti-intuitive," explained Jan Zegarac, founder of Manhattan Office Space, a firm that helps tenants quickly find office space below 50,000 square feet. "It dilutes the actual price per square foot."
Zegarac said it's common for tenants to sometimes unwittingly lease floor space larger than the actual lot.
Despite knowing about these practices, brokers acknowledge that landlords are often unwilling to negotiate square footage, however arbitrary the measurement may seem. After all, unlike a gallon of regular unleaded, "there are other variables — such as views, number of windows, percentage of interior or non-windowed space — that affect a tenant's usability of that space," said Anapol.
Still, solutions to the problem of questionable charges exist.
"A well-advised tenant goes out and hires a space planner and architect and has him measure not just feet and usage, but how many employees can function in that space," said Warshauer.
Of course, experts disagree whether brokers always work in the interests of their clients when it comes to reducing such costs.
"Tenant brokers, they'll fight hard on something like real estate tax increases or operating tax increases because it doesn't affect them," said Zegarac. "Will they work as hard on getting the lowest possible rent? No. Will they work as hard on reducing the loss factor? No, because it reduces the check they'll get from the landlord."
Anapol, however, said charges hidden within the fine print can make a huge difference in annual rent increases and can often be negotiated. Tax increases borne by the tenant are calculated using the "base year," which sometimes isn't updated when leases are renewed, forcing the tenant to pay that increase twice. "It's an added expense many tenants don't realize [or] understand," he said.
An annual increase known as the "porter wage clause," negotiated in the 1930s by a union that represented the city's elevator operators, is another common charge, even though most people push the button themselves these days. Experts say it's possible to dispute these charges, too.
In all these instances, brokers advise consulting with experts.
Joel Spolsky, whose firm Fog Creek Software recently rented in Midtown, sought representation from another landlord's lawyer. "He spends most of his days in court trying to evict tenants," he said. "I thought he would be perfect to protect me from the likes of [people like] him. And he was."
Spolsky said the lawyer removed from the lease words like "broom clean," an ambiguous term that describes how the space must be left when the tenant vacates and can be used to withhold a tenant's security deposit. Small language changes in contracts can make a big difference, he said.
Sometimes reducing charges can be as simple as examining the rent bill closely. Stephen Sunderland, senior managing director of Optimal Spaces, a tenant brokerage, said some landlords make a profit on electricity by charging above what was metered and capital expenses normally borne by landlords sometimes find their way into maintenance charges.
Yet he stopped short of calling for tighter regulation on this relatively autonomous industry. "Usually regulation causes more harm than good because laws aren't usually imposed until [after the market in which they were based upon] changes, and then [they] never get taken off the books," he noted.
In this universe, Sunderland said, negotiation and litigation keep things in order.
Donald White, a founder of Real Data Management and A/R Environetics, a leading New York City architectural interior design firm announced he will refocus his attention on RDM to help further propel the firm's rapid growth through his strategic counsel as the company's CEO
Real Data Management (RDM) has appointed Jason Machain as creative director, it announced. In this newly created role, Machain will be responsible for directing the company's creative efforts on client engagements, including web design and branding, as RDM will intensifies its creative services offering to clients. Machain will also perform in-house creative functions for the company, including the design and usability of RDM's product suite.
RDM now has the largest platform to deliver global Space Management Solutions. On the forefront are the Chicago and DC Metro markets, branching out from such areas as New York, Boston, Los Angeles and India to name a few. These markets have access to RDM’s Compressive Services and Technology to enhance the leasing, marketing, and management of portfolios.
Hard work, determination and outstanding team play helped propel Team RDM to their first championship in the Zogsports 3 on 3 Men’s Basketball League. In just there 2nd season, the team found winning to be contagious, and never relinquished their hold at the top of their division. The RDM work ethic installed within its employees carried over onto the court, as this scrappy bunch continually baskeball teamTeam from left to right: John Tabaniag, Ahmad Oloumi, Ian Diaz, Josh Olivero, and Ronaldo Valenzuela found ways to win, from tenacious defense and overall hustle, to timely shots and unselfish play. And though the team was weary and battered late in the season, the support and energy from the team’s colleagues, friends and fans rejuvenated the them in the playoffs allowing them to capture the title. As a result of their victorious season, a $300 donation was made by Zogsports to help Diabetes research. Congrats toTeam RDM for a fantastic season!
Continuing to grow, RDM introduces a new line of service to our clients: Advertising — a logical move in the direction of introducing technology to the Real Estate industry. Jason Machain Creative Director RDM Advertising Jason Machain Jason Machain will be leading this project, bringing a Graphic Design / Marketing background having worked with such companies as HBO and Barnes & Noble.com in New York City. “We live in a time of rapid technological change, yet the real estate industry has been slow to adapt.” says Jason. RDM Advertising will take advantage of cutting edge technologies to create modes of communication that allow our clients’ efforts to reach their full potential – interactive Flash sites, email blasts, company identities and more contemporary, eye-catching fliers to name a few. Our team is made up of senior people who understand the real estate business inside and out, believe in high-quality service and make it our goal to provide you with the best solutions to drive in business.
The commercial real estate office sector will experience significant growth in 2007 as new players will jump into the market and enhance the upward growth pattern exhibited in 2006, according to RDM, a leading provider of real estate space and information management solutions in the real estate industry.
RDM believes many factors will contribute to the anticipated growth in the office sector, which include:
• How the M&A uptick is driving the rapid consolidation of the real estate industry
• An increase in the demand for stronger, faster due diligence methods by using technology - prospective M&A buyers using innovative methods to make decisions in short turnaround times (48 hours or less) when making bids
• Building sales will be the rage and will grow in size, spurring greater bidding and interest among acquisitive owners
• Vacancies will continue to drop for the office space sector as more properties are snatched up
• New sources of investment in the sector will increase from two primary sources: hedge funds and Middle East investors
• Property owners and developers will speed up their convergence to technology as they realize the benefits of reduced operating costs, increased productivity and enhanced planning through technology
“The real estate industry is a turning point in maximizing their speed and effectiveness in managing their portfolios,” said Peter Boritz, president of Real Data Management (RDM). “As a result, we’re seeing tremendous growth in our business, and in many cases, are being called upon to help facilitate huge transitional projects for our clients.”
RDM’s business realized a strong year in 2006, as the company’s business grew XX% in revenues and by XXXXXX in square footage that it oversees. The company benefited by being a strong consultant to its clients and through its leading-edge products and services.
Real Data Management (RDM), headquartered in New York, is the leading provider of real estate space and information management solutions. For over 25 years, RDM has provided technology and services to the Corporate, Commercial and Residential real estate communities.
Accessing residential real estate data has always been a challenge faced by the real estate industry. Now, for the first time ever, residential portfolio leasing and management will be at your fingertips, anytime from any location.
RDM (Real Data Management), the New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced the launch of RealAccess: Residential™, the first-of-its-kind real-time solution that provides residential real estate data over the web from any computer in the world or wirelessly from a PDA or cellphone. Key features of RealAccess: Residential™ include:
• Secure access from anywhere
• Customizable user access levels
• Links with your accounting system for real-time information
• Sort information for quick views of lease expirations, lease types and unit types
• Print and email Marketing Rental Floor Plans
• Renew leases and create new leases with a click of a button
• Upload photos and documents for other users to access
• Track Move In/Move Out schedules with the Real Access Calendar
As part of the development process for designing RealAccess: Residential, RDM retaining Navigant Consulting, the specialized independent global consulting firm, to assist in overseeing the product’s development by teams in India and Israel.
“As the real estate industry moves into an online, 24/7 environment, providing real-time data online has become more crucial than ever,” said Peter Boritz, president of RDM. “With real estate transactions taking place at light speed, buyers and sellers must have a cutting-edge solution like RealAccess: Residental™ that will provide users with immediate access to data needed to more efficiently manage and lease the operations of residential portfolios.”
“RDM is re-architecting its Real Access residential product by using best of breed vendors from across the globe including Columbus Application from Israel for the graphics engine, and Diaspark from India for the software development,” said Rob Vasta, [TITLE] of Navigant Consulting. “The new system will uniquely position Real Access to be a cost effective and innovative solution for residential management corporations around the world.”
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
RDM, a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced that News Corporation has implemented RDM’s RealAccess solution for corporate space management services.
The RealAccess solution has been implemented in two News Corporation properties on the East and West coast.
“We are very pleased to be providing News Corporation with our RealAccess solution, which will assist them in the management of their employee occupancy needs,” stated Peter Boritz, president of RDM. “We look forward to working together with News Corporation to drive its business forward.”
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total assets of approximately $62 billion and total annual revenues of approximately $28 billion. News Corporation is a diversified entertainment company with operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment; television; cable network programming; direct broadcast satellite television; magazines and inserts; newspapers; book publishing; and other. The activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and the Pacific Basin.
RDM, a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced that IDS Real Estate, a Los Angeles-based private real estate developer and manager with offices in Orange County and San Diego, has hired RDM to help it assess its real estate space through software, building re-measurement and analytic calculations of portfolios.
This transaction for RDM represents its initial expansion to the West Coast and the validation of RDM’s platform – significantly augmenting its presence to a new region. The firm now services the New York and New Jersey region, the northeast area via the Boston market, the southeast region near New Orleans and Miami and the Midwest in Chicago.
“This tremendous business opportunity will allow RDM to expand into its business presence into a completely new territory, consistent with our growth platform,” stated Peter Boritz, president of RDM. “We see 2007 and 2008 as an important timeframe for RDM as the firms grows its businesses to meet our customers’ demands. We’re very excited to serve one of West Coast’s leading real estate managers and provide them with our cutting-edge real-estate services.”
RDM will supply its cutting-edge core services for several IDS buildings in the Los Angeles area. In addition, RDM partnered with Los Angeles-based Environetics, a leader in interior architectural design, space planning and project management to assist in fulfilling the project.
“We’ve had a terrific working relationship with RDM,” said Richard Lehman, executive vice president and director of design at Environetics, “RDM, which exclusively handles square footage calculations, completed their accurate calculations in a very timely manner.”
Added Boritz: “Environetics was an ideal partner for this project. We look forward to working with them again on another West Coast real estate project in the near future.”
Los Angeles-based IDS pursues opportunities that generate exceptional returns. Through dynamic teamwork, we strive to provide superior real estate services by anticipating the evolving needs of tenants and owners. The firm provides from a wide variety of services including property, asset, and development management to advisory services, facilities management, construction management, marketing, information systems, and finance.
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
Environetics has long been a leader in interior architectural design, space planning and project management. Founded in New York in 1947 as Saphier, Lerner & Schindler, the firm changed its name to SLS Environetics in 1959, the same year the firm’s Los Angeles office was established. In 1994, the Los Angeles office became its corporate headquarters. Environetics creates innovative custom interiors for selected market sectors, including financial, entertainment, high tech and corporate office environments.
RDM, a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, announced that Kushner Companies, a Northeast and Mid-Atlantic real estate owner/developer powerhouse, has hired RDM to support its marketing, leasing and management of its commercial real estate portfolio.
RDM will focus on serving Kushner's real estate portfolio across the Northeast and assisting the firm as it grows its presence in the region. Kushner's commercial portfolio currently has nearly 5 million square feet of office, industrial and retail space. "As the commercial real estate market on the East Coast continues to exhibit strong growth, we are pleased to be working with one of its leading companies," stated Peter Boritz, president of RDM. "We look forward to working together with the company to drive its business forward."
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
Esther O. Perez
As a record starter in his college wrestling team, there was never any doubt that Peter Boritz had the gumption to succeed in life, but by tapping into a raw nerve in the real estate industry he has propelled his company to the forefront of the information technology sector.
"Playing sports taught me to be competitive, face challenges and to aim for success; that translates into business," said Boritz, president of Real Data Management, a technology and consulting firm that services over 500 million square feet of real estate nationwide.
"Companies were so scared of technology five years ago, a lot of them didn't even have e-mail, but what's happening now is that technology in companies is almost like a requirement," Boritz explained.
That's where RDM comes in. As real estate firms set about outsourcing many of their technological needs, the firm has spent the last 25 years building a client roster, one real estate company at a time, by providing the high-tech services that allow companies and property owners to achieve maximum operational performance from any portfolio.
Those services can range from marketing and management programs, to web-based document management, to accounting integration. The firm offers property due diligence to owners and developers as well as area calculations and property plan books. It solves problems keeping floor plans up-to-date and provides reminders for lease review, maintains building archives and updates portfolio information, all at the touch of a button.
The company has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings around the country and has played a role in some of the biggest real estate transactions in US history. When global brokerage Cushman & Wakefield was retained to arrange the sale of 666 Fifth Avenue for a record $1.7 billion late last year, RDM was called in to utilize its expertise analyzing available rentable square feet.
Boritz admitted that's been a big portion of the company's work this year. as buyers look to capitalize on every inch of available space, but he added. "This can't go on forever, but at the moment that part of the business is very busy."
When developer, Leviev Boymelgreen, was selling his 14 Wall Street recently, RDM carried out due diligence for the buyer that also helped determine their decision to ultimately purchase the office building.
While the multi-billion dollar sales with which RDM has been involved are indicative of a market at its most dynamic, Boritz himself has been on the fast-track since a very young age.
He recalled, "I started a leaf raking and snow shoveling business in my neighborhood when I was a kid and hired my friends to do the work. At 10, I told my parents that snow and leaves were going to make me a millionaire."
He earned a business degree at the State University of New York, in upstate Oneonta, then went to work as a commercial broker at GVA Williams. While he had an obvious flair for the intricacies of real estate, it wasn't until he met his future father-in-law, Donald D. White, the CEO of RDM, that Boritz found an avenue for both his passion for details and his drive to succeed.
"I wanted to be actively involved with the clients but have the entrepreneurial leadership, and this company was perfect for it," said Boritz.
When he joined the 25-year old firm in 2001, RDM had already established a name for itself among the city's pioneering brokerages, but Boritz explained, "There were a lot of challenges we had to face. We had three employees and the company didn't have any marketing tools."
Boritz helped RDM develop its marketing capabilities and built a website that, along with its client list, has helped elevate the firm to the next level in real estate technology. As Boritz explained it, "Keeping one foot in the present and the other in the future" has helped the firm, and by extension, its clients, stay one step ahead in the high-stakes world of real estate.
The next phase in the evolution of the firm will be national expansion, according to Boritz, who added, "We need to be able to provide for our clients wherever they are, so expanding our platform to other major cities is important.
"Everyday is something new, which is my motivation."
Peter Boritz
In today’s competitive real estate market where properties are bought and sold at record-breaking speeds and prices, prospective buyers can no longer rely on paper-based due diligence practices.
With the rise of the internet, which has gained a significant role in major real estate transactions over the last few years, along with other advanced information management solutions, buyers have to act faster than ever before when it comes to closing a deal. Gone are the days of faxing floor plans. Today, due diligence can be handled within 48 hours or less with the click of a mouse.
New York’s hot commercial and residential market has driven the need for new technology. The demand for quick due diligence initially gained traction in 2005, then quickly jumped to even higher levels in 2006. The trend continues into 2007.
We’ve seen firsthand how prospective buyers are demanding innovative tools to make decisions in a short amount of time. As a result of the intensity of transactions in the marketplace and the increasing needs of those involved, the business acumen being sought is an advisory capacity that provides prospective buyers with an executive summary outlining the required due diligence information.
In the fist few months of this year alone, RDM has assisted buyers in major recent deals including Blackstone Partners buyout of Equity Office Partners. In New York, RDM provided due diligence tools in the sale of the 172,000-sf Childrenswear Building to City Investment Fund and Savanna Investment Management, and the sale of 14 Wall Street, a one million-sf building to Capstone Equities and the Carlyle Group. The due diligence process for the deals took place at break-neck speeds, proving that the days of lengthy and inefficient M&A due diligence are coming to an end.
Once upon a time, the real estate industry was dominated by legacy families that owned their properties for long periods of time. Transactions were handled on paper and without any technology. These days, there are a variety of “new” buyers such as private equity firms that are more comfortable with the internet, not pen and paper. As the industry gains a better understanding of technology and how to utilize it, more buyers and sellers are willing to adopt better tools, from e-mail to advanced technology offered by sophisticated real estate management solution providers.
Private REITS have also tapped consultants for due diligence support. As an example, we’ve become an extension of their buying strategy, participating in the analysis of potential purchases, which ultimately plays into the decision making process of any buyer.
The time-saving due diligence tools now available to prospective buyers are a byproduct of the real estate boom in New York City. In the end, the continuation of New York’s real estate boom depends on the strength of Wall Street. The connection between is undeniable: the strength of the New York real estate market depends on the strength of Wall Street and a thriving economy. As long as the markets are strong, downtown New York will flourish, the Westside rail yards will see major development in the coming years and the demand for office space will outweigh supply.
Still, historic trends demonstrate that booming economies don’t last forever. Inevitably, at some point the buying frenzy may very well subside and return to stable levels.
However, in the meantime, the future of real estate is online. Our industry will continue reap the technological byproducts of New York’s successful market. As technology overtakes archaic methods of closing property sales, we should only expect to see a more seamless, more secure due diligence process.
RDM, a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced that Monday Properties, a New York-based private real estate owner, operator and developer with significant holdings in Washington, D.C., has hired RDM.
This transaction for RDM represents an expansion of RDMs existing business in the greater Washington, D.C. area and the validation of RDM’s platform – significantly augmenting its presence and capabilities on the East Coast. The firm now services the New York and New Jersey region, the northeast area via the Boston market, the southeast region near New Orleans and Miami and the Midwest in Chicago.
“This tremendous business opportunity will allow RDM to expand our East Coast business presence into the D.C. region and beyond, consistent with our growth platform,” stated Peter Boritz, president of RDM. “We see 2007 and 2008 as an important timeframe for RDM as the firms grows its businesses to meet our customers’ demands.”
RDM will supply its cutting-edge core services for seven buildings Monday Properties recently acquired in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. RDM will assist Monday Properties in assessing its real estate space through software, building re-measurement and analytic calculations of portfolios.
“As Monday Properties grows, we’re proud to serve one of Washington, D.C.’s leading real estate managers,” added Boritz. “This announcement will allow us to provide Monday Properties with our leading real-estate services, and at the same time, enlarge our profile on the East Coast.”
Founded in 1997, Monday Properties is a New York City-based private real estate owner, operator and developer. The firm’s full-service capabilities include asset management, property management, construction management and leasing and development expertise. Monday Properties is focused on the East Coast of the United States, with particular emphasis on New York City and Washington, D.C. It currently owns and/or manages approximately 7 million square feet of property, including 4 million square feet in Manhattan and 3 million square feet in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.
RDM, a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios, today announced that Joseph P. Day Realty Corporation, a nearly 100 year-old New York real estate service firm, landlord and real estate developer that supports corporate and institutional clients, has hired RDM. RDM will assist Joseph P. Day in assessing its real estate space through software, building re-measurement and analytic calculations of portfolios. In addition, RDM will provide Emergency Action Plan (EAP) floor plans to Joseph P. Day. “Joseph P. Day’s long and successful history of operating in New York is a testament to its vision of being a leading real estate service company and we’re happy to be working side-by-side with the firm,” stated Peter Boritz, president of RDM. “As the company continues to grow its presence in the thick of the competitive real estate market, we will look to complement its offerings with our leading-edge services to benefit its clients.”
Joseph P. Day is habitually sought out by sophisticated corporate and institutional clients for its expertise, marketing and financial acumen in the real estate world. For nearly a hundred years, the firm has been a recognized force in the real estate community. In commercial leasing, property management, real estate analysis and investment sales, Joseph P. Day has forged a set of credentials and a reputation for stability that are universally acknowledged.
RDM is a New York-based leading provider of real estate technology and consulting services for commercial, residential and corporate real estate portfolios. For over 25 years, Real Data Management has completed projects in over 1,500 buildings exceeding 500 million square feet nationwide. Its products and services enable clients to achieve a high level of operational performance.