Financier and developers, will often shop around to get the cheapest quote in an effort to shave a few hundred dollars off the cost of their reports. The question that remains is: Should they prioritise financial savings, or a quality level of reporting?

Developers often see financiers reports (risk assessments during the construction period of a development) as a necessary evil to get their hands on the financiers cash, so the cheaper the better. However where the drive is towards controlling of costs to maximise return, the saving in a financiers report could leave them exposed to the risk of far greater costs during the life of the project.

Paul Cosker, Manager, Quantity Surveying at Napier and Blakeley says that a well thought-out financier report will provide commentary on the project. However, in order to achieve that, the developer should sometimes be prepared to pay a little extra for a thorough review at the outset.

“We typically would examine contract documentation, licensing and regulatory issues, project consultants and insurances amongst others. These key issues identify items that have huge potential for causing problems further into the project. This takes both time and expertise from the quantity surveyor.”

A thoroughly considered and well written report has merit as an independent review of the project from the developer’s point of view as well as the financier by providing an unbiased appraisal of the development as a whole.

“The report should fulfil the brief by giving a concise review of the project risks through use of experience and knowledge of the industry. By quantifying and identifying the risks, the report should also provide methods of minimizing and controlling those risks and can offer recommendations on resolution,” says Cosker.

Ultimately, if you want the best protection and advice, you need to be prepared to pay a little more. The reward will be a development that runs smoothly, costs are controlled, risks are contained, and return is maximised.

A number of our articles have covered a variety of individual topics in isolation but in reality they’re all inextricably linked providing the platform for balance and maximum return from your property investments.

Our affordability index provides an amalgamation of a variety of property information to provide a balanced look at how your asset might perform over a period of time and how you can influence that performance.

Whether the investment is residential or non residential the same basics apply –

§          How much is it going to cost me

§          What risks are involved

§          What return will I secure

These questions then have multiple layers – how much is it going to cost me initially and in the short and long term, what kind of costs are they, capital, repairs and maintenance, refurbishment or compliance costs. What must I do legally, what must I spend to benefit and retain the tenant.

What risks are involved, physical, compliance or tenant retention, who ‘makes good’ the space at lease expiry.

How do I maximise and maintain my return and are there development opportunities that will add value to the property.

If you consider all of these questions in isolation they provide some useful information.

But only by considering all these issues at once you can create a clear picture of how your asset will perform over time, therefore providing certainty, clarity, sound information for a financier and a great platform for your accounts.

As an illustration, a commercial investment property is purchased for $5,250,000 the initial return is 8% with annual rental at $420,000. The property has 1,500m2 net lettable area and is ten years old.

A lease is in place for 5 years with fixed rental increases of 4% so at lease end – the possible value of the asset at 8% is $6,142,000.

Not a bad gain over five years if you can achieve it.

However, in addition to debt costs over the lease period, a building of this age will also have other costs associated with ownership over time and these need to be considered, planned and managed to keep the property aesthetically and functionally attractive beyond the current five year lease. No future lease – substantially less future value.

The pre acquisition due diligence study provides details of the risk factors associated with the property and notes that the related capital expenditure and repairs over five years is likely to be between $350,000 and $400,000 to carry out works such as Building Code compliance issues, replacement of floor coverings, services upgrades, painting and general upkeep.

The cost of capital works and repairs are tax deductible against income but obviously they also have a recurring cash flow impact.

Offset against ongoing costs of ownership are the tax deductions available for building allowance and plant depreciation deductions for the initial acquisition and again for additional capital expenditure throughout ownership. These deductions provide additional cash flow and after tax dollars to fund any upgrade works to the asset.

The affordability index captures all of the above information and allows you to:

§          Understand, plan and manage all costs associated with ownership.

§          Manage all risks associated with ownership.

§          Manage your true return proactively, by controlling cost and risk and capturing efficiently all available tax benefits.

So not only can you afford it, you can maintain a solid return as well with no surprises.