Cost Solutions January 2012
Queensland construction costs have had a 12 month period of stability and looking forward there is no compelling evidenvce to suggest that this will change during the 2012 calendar year. While the overall outlook is for 0% escalation, the normal warnings are in place for regional and mining areas.
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Mitchell Brandtman 'Rising Stars'
In its 41st year, Mitchell Brandtman Quantity Surveyors is thriving. Operating in an industry that is well known for its cyclical and often uncertain nature, Mitchell Brandtman (MB) continues to successfully respond to, and predict, the needs of the marketplace and its clients.
So what are its secrets?
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Cost Solutions September 2011
The market IS the market
The market is what it is – it’s not greener somewhere else, the market is brown. If you want to operate in it you need to be grounded, get back to basics and make decisions based on facts. David Mitchell’s opening remarks in his annual UDIA cost presentation last week, sent a clear message to those wishing for better times – if you want to develop you need to adapt to the market rather than hoping the market will adapt to you.
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Cost Solutions June 2011
Construction Cost Update
Six months on from the natural disasters that impacted Queensland and other parts of Australia, the impact on the construction industry has become clearer. Despite initial concerns about impacts on construction costs, the industry has largely absorbed the extra work without significant cost rises.
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Cyclone Yasi Construction Update
Coming hard on the heels of the floods that inundated Queensland in January,
emotionally many are simply adding the two events together. However, due to
the weakness in the overall property sector, the nature of the damage, and
availability of local trades, the effects are not necessarily cumulative from a
construction cost perspective. Furthermore while the damage caused by Yasi is tipped to be greater than
Larry, the impact on local costs won’t be as dramatic.Local Mitchell Brandtman
Director and licensed Builder Gary Thompson, recounts his observations from
Tully and surrounds, in the aftermath of Yasi.
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Queensland Flood Advice for Developers and Financiers
Like many Queenslanders, the Mitchell Brandtman team and their families have experienced first-hand and through volunteering the devastating effects that flooding has wrought throughout Queensland.We have just completed surveying a sample of 150 projects through Queensland and identified that less than 6% had suffered direct flood inundation. Most sites have re-opened and work is continuing, however many clients are seeking advice and assistance on what to do now. While in most cases this advice will be project specific, there are some common themes, and questions that Developers and Financiers in particular need to keep top of mind.
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Queensland Flood Advice for Bodies Corporate and Owners
This bulletin provides important information for Bodies Corporate, Lawyers, Owners and Developers on the likely impacts of the flood that has affected so many Queenslanders.
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Cost Solutions December 2010
Time To Reflect
This time last year there was a feeling of relief that 2009 was behind us and a glimmer of optimism about 2010. That glimmer was quickly tarnished by changes to planning laws, land tax, increasing red tape, lack of finance and uncertainty about the future of the market post-stimulus. At times it seemed like rather than being encouraged to look outside the square for solutions to the crisis, the industry was being held back.
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Cost Solutions September 2010
Greater Accuracy Needed on Feasibilities
In our last newsletter we warned that much of the positive sentiment that the market was feeling had yet to be proven. Using the ‘Crane Index’ you could form the view that construction activity is rising, however, a large part of what we are seeing in the market place at the moment is a release of pent up projects that have been delayed by the GFC.
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Cost Solutions April 2010
The Market Post GFC
There is cautious optimism that the GFC has run its course and that the property sector has found the bottom of the trough - to the extent that there are already renewed concerns about labour shortages hindering supply in 2011. However, while positive sentiment is growing, it has yet to be proven. The challenge at the moment is sorting through the messages in the market and understanding how they impact upon your project.
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