Author: zumBrunnen

During this difficult time for the real estate industry, Atlanta-based zumBrunnen, Inc., a national construction and property services consulting firm, is helping owners, developers and investors meet their objectives. President and Founder John zumB...

Longwood at Oakmont is a non-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located in Plum Borough, Pennsylvania, 13 miles from downtown Pittsburgh. By early 1997, the seven year-old facility was ready for the Phase III expansion. This expansion...

It is time. The financial package is in place, the building permits are displayed, and the contractor is on site ready to break ground. Most importantly, you are confident of your facility’s long term success. Even the market analysis indicates that ...

An effective strategic capital replacement plan requires that a facility owner consider their business model and objectives as primary guidelines in the process.  Decisions to replace capital budget items are often based on your business model o...

In my last newsletter article, I discussed the new trends in energy codes, conservation requirements and required benchmarking reporting for both new construction and existing buildings. I stated future articles would explore energy savings initiativ...

In my newsletter articles this year, we have been discussing new trends in energy codes along with energy-saving initiatives that Owners could take right now as part of their normal operating procedures and capital replacement plans.  The last a...

If your project financing includes banking with a commercial real estate lender, chances are your lender will require the services of a bank inspector.  The borrower may have some say in this matter as to whom this will be.  As an alternati...

In my previous “Construction Monitors” article, I promised to discuss the perspective of the developer (owner/borrower) and equity partners for hiring an independent third-party construction consultant to monitor their development projects. Most ofte...

Remember as a child when your allowance never seemed to be enough?  Isn’t it ironic that capital expense replacement budgets are much like your allowance?  These budgets often come up short and are often established by others. The good news is it ...

This white paper outlines best practices for the successful asset management of real property including buildings, grounds, furnishings and equipment. Whether you manage a single property, multiple buildings or a portfolio of real estate holdings,...