Construction Costs to Decline Further in 1st Quarter

HeidiTFM — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:21:09 +0000

The Turner Building Cost Index, which measures non-residential building construction costs in the U.S., has decreased by 0.5% from the Fourth Quarter 2009 and decreased 7.74% from the First Quarter 2009.

by HeidiTFM

Small Businesses Getting Down and Dirty

HeidiTFM — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:47:31 +0000

Despite recognizing “cleanliness and appearance” as having the greatest impact on customer first impressions, a significant number of small business owners have curtailed their cleaning processes.

by HeidiTFM

WEIRD WEDNESDAY: Vacation On A Shoestring

AnneTFM — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:25:48 +0000

Travelers taking advantage of a deal in San Diego need to pack more than usual.

by AnneTFM

Industry Index Improves In Latest Survey

HeidiTFM — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:14:57 +0000

Dunlap stated, “[This year] has been an exceptionally difficult [one] for this industry, but I see brighter days ahead. There are enough indicators that tell us that the current industry recession has probably bottomed out. The modest increases in shipments and orders during the second quarter suggest this.”

by HeidiTFM

Architecture Billings Index Takes Turn for the Worse

HeidiTFM — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:53:06 +0000

As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to 12 month lag time between architecture billings and construction spending.

by HeidiTFM

New Commercial Property Index Reveals Negative Capital Growth

HeidiTFM — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:25:30 +0000

According to the IPD U.S. Annual Property Index, capital growth was -12.2% in 2008. For the 12 months to the end of December 2008, all property income return in the U.S. was 5.4%, contributing to an overall total return of -7.4%.

by HeidiTFM

Strategy During Economic Downturn? Back To Basics

HeidiTFM — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:36:33 +0000

The 2009 Ernst & Young real estate business risk report, produced in conjunction with Oxford Analytica, itemizes the 10 top business risks faced by the industry as ranked by leading sector analysts.

by HeidiTFM

Commercial Property Owners Focus on Preserving Value of Existing Assets

HeidiTFM — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:08:46 +0000

Battered by the U.S. economic recession, the commercial real estate market is struggling to maintain values across all property types and geographic areas, kicking a growing number of investors into survival mode as they painfully watch the value of their existing portfolios decline

by HeidiTFM

FRIDAY FUNNY: Maine Coffee Shop Tries Stripped Down Marketing Tactic

HeidiTFM — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:10:16 +0000

Less is more, at least for one innovative coffee shop in the small town of Vassalboro, ME. Owner Donald Crabtree has found a way to bolster business and bring in the customers (and job applicants) during this tough economic spike: topless servers.

by HeidiTFM

Industrial Real Estate Succumbs to Sluggish Economy

HeidiTFM — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:05:11 +0000

Industrial absorption was negative during the October through December period, with occupied space shrinking by 18.1 million square feet (msf). This marked the largest such decline since early 2002.

by HeidiTFM

Neglecting Workplace Safety During Business Downturs Could Be Costly

HeidiTFM — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:02:12 +0000

ASSE cautions employers against cutting back on workplace safety in time of economic difficulty.

by HeidiTFM

Architecture Billings Index Drops to All Time Low for Second Straight Month

HeidiTFM — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:50:04 +0000

Business conditions at architecture firms continue to deteriorate, with the Architecture Billings Index posting its lowest level since the survey began in 1995 for the second month in a row.

by HeidiTFM

Former OSHA, NOISH Leaders Debate Future of OSHA

HeidiTFM — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:22:09 +0000

Major changes in OSHA not anticipated with new administration, but small and medium sized businesses in particular are being urged to keep up safety policies despite challenging economic times.

by HeidiTFM

Emerging Property Market Downturn Accelerates Except in China

HeidiTFM — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:18:04 +0000

The property market in China is showing more resilience while India has been hard hit by the global economic downturn.

by HeidiTFM

Further Softening in U.S. Warehouse Market During Q3

HeidiTFM — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 13:53:53 +0000

This ongoing notable weakness suggests that the industrial real estate market will continue to be impacted by recessionary conditions.

by HeidiTFM

Newly Troubled Commercial Properties Need Top-Notch Management Skills for Best Outcomes

HeidiTFM — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:13:19 +0000

IREM® President Pamela W. Monroe states, “Our nation’s economic viability requires real estate management professionals with top-notch credentials to inject value back into distressed properties by protecting income streams, controlling expenses, positioning and/or repositioning them to deliver the best possible ROI and, ultimately, to command the best possible price when they are sold.”

by HeidiTFM

U.S. Office Market Shows Continuing Weakness In Third Quarter

HeidiTFM — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:18:26 +0000

National office vacancies stood at 13.7% at the close of the quarter, back to vacancy levels last seen in Q4 2005, according to Colliers International.

by HeidiTFM

TFM Editor’s Letter and Upcoming Elections

Poor Richard — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:06:14 +0000

So what does this political diatribe have to do with facility management? One word—EMPLOYMENT!

by Poor Richard

Architecture Billings Index Falls More than Six Points

HeidiTFM — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:59:29 +0000

The institutional sector has entered negative category for the first time this year.

by HeidiTFM

BOMA International Writes Prescription for Maximizing Value in a Down Economy

HeidiTFM — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:53:35 +0000

BOMA International’s Web based offering sets out to help commercial real estate professionals cope with the economic downturn.

by HeidiTFM

National Industrial Real Estate Market Registers Overall Positive Net Absorption for the First Half of 2008

HeidiTFM — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:34:21 +0000

Jones Lang LaSalle’s Mid-Year 2008 National Industrial Real Estate Market Report, which analyzes activity in industrial properties 50,000 square feet and larger, shows that while both warehouse and manufacturing sectors have been impacted by the slowing economy, the national industrial real estate market experienced overall positive net absorption in the first half of the year, [...]

by HeidiTFM

Bad News For Construction Forecasts

HeidiTFM — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:46:00 +0000

As the nonresidential sector has experienced cutbacks in demand for new space, the projections for construction activity for new nonresidential facilities are in for a mild decline in 2008, with a more significant downturn in 2009. The forecasts are more negative for commercial and industrial buildings, with an especially large drop-off in the office [...]

by HeidiTFM