"Bring It to Delivery" ... Tuesday's Dispatch, A New Way to Predict Market Trends?, didn't spur any new product announcements from real estate information providers. But it did generate practical ideas for shortening the transaction cycle.

Steve Gilbert with Pacific Real Estate Partners in Bellevue, WA, writes about his firm's "proactive role in tracking numerous data points. ... hits to our website, sign calls, tenants in the market, lease expirations, tenant size, industry types, submarkets, building types, etc. ...

"We track in detail several thousands of tenants. When it comes to tenant representation, we are better able to predict the terms we should be able to achieve for our clients. We use that only as a benchmark and strive to beat our predictions."

Trevor Hall with Colliers Arnold in Orlando writes, "We are trying to do something predictive regarding land. A counterpart term in Atlanta is 'bring it to delivery,' and it has to do with preliminary due diligence done by the seller to reduce a buyer's uncertainty.

"We are trying to team up with the owner, get the right stuff done ahead of marketing, cut down on the pre-closing timetable and boost the value. The risk is that we are pursuing the wrong highest and best use if we go too far -- like a site plan approval. But a topo survey, jurisdictional land study and Phase 1 environmental really help. It, also, builds a bond with seller, and displays our proficiency with the complexities."

Denver due diligence consultant Rick Erickson has seen his workload increase lately. "More clients are getting me to phase my assessment approach to quicken the due diligence period. All the things that they always avoided (asbestos, ADA, structural, HVAC, etc.) are important to them now, and they want a quick targeted assessment in an abbreviated format before making an offer and going under contract."

PikeNet "Channels"... Do you need lease abstraction or auditing services? Check out the new Lease Info "Channel" on PikeNet's home page and visit these Featured Links -- Accruent, AMTdirect, CRS Lease Specialists, KBA Lease Services and ProLease. If you would like to be a Featured Link at PikeNet, send e-mail or call 415-461-4703.

Happy Holidays! ... The next Dispatch will be published on January 4, 2005.

--Peter Pike