Month: April 2019

There are many vital issues to consider before making any type of land or property purchase,and environmental pollution plays a major part. In the very worst case,environmental contamination can present hazards,to users and or residents of the land. This is one of the reasons environmental risk surveys are such an important aspect of due diligence for any land or property purchase.

Types of environmental contamination

There are several different types of environmental pollutants that can cause dangers to land users. Very often these are associated with previous industrial use of land,although this is not always true as natural pollutants can also be a hazard.

There are many types of contaminants,these contaminants can include dust or gas pollutants that can be inhaled or contamination in soils which can be transmitted to foods grown on the land as well as grazing animals,and can also impact on the health of anybody working the soil.

Other contaminants can also damage buildings or leach out of the soil due to effects of groundwater or any river,stream or pond in the vicinity. Some of these contaminants are corrosive or could even cause fires or explosions.

Examples of contaminants include:

– Lead or other heavy metals such as cadmium or arsenic
– Tar and oil
– Asbestos
– Radioactive materials
– Chemical substances and solvents
– Gas

You can discover more about contaminated land on the UK government website.

What isthe definition ofcontaminated land?

If you want more information on contaminated land or read technical guides on managing special sites on the website of the Environment Agency.

The legal definition of ‘contaminated land’ relates to land which contains substances which can cause:

– Very significant damage to property,people or protected species
– Harm due to radioactivity
– Pollution to surface waters,such as lakes or rivers,or groundwater

In many cases the contamination has been caused by previous use of the land by:

– Factories
– For mining
– Steel milling
– Refining
– Landfill sites

Contaminated land can also fall into a ‘special sites’ category. These sites could:

– Make any water on the land unusable without significant cleansing
– Previously have been used for activities such as oil refining or the manufacture of explosives
– Have previously been regulated under permits relating to integrated pollution controls or prevention
– Previously have been used for disposal of acid tars
– Have been used by the Ministry of Defence
– Previously been used in connection with the nuclear industry or be contaminated with radioactivity

What about brownfield sites?

It’s long been government policy to bring what’s termed brownfield land back into use in order to help preserve the greenfield sites and land within rural areas. This land regeneration often causes concerns,however. The majority of larger towns and cities contain areas and sites that are not in use and due to demand,development of these brownfield sites and derelict buildings is becoming increasingly common.

Very often minimal regulations were in place to monitor the re-use of brownfield sites or any potential environmental hazards thus presented. Now however,things are very different,but it has to be said most brownfield site developments are perfectly safe for residential purposes. Selling homes in these areas can present some conveyancing problems,though.

If you have any concerns about environmental contamination which could impact on your property purchase,give the experts at - a call to discuss your worries.

A recently unveiled plan proposes that the city of Vernon Hills,IL transforms the 1970s-era Hawthorn Mall into a brand-new city epicenter,a plan that includes a gourmet grocery store,many restaurants and shops,and lots of apartments,including short term rentals and corporate apartments. Dallas-based group Centennial Real Estate,the owners of the mall property,are already in discussions with the village of Vernon Hills about the project,with their initial concept being approved back in November.

The “comprehensive and transformative” development plan has been in discussion for awhile,and is a project that Centennial Real Estate is extremely excited about. Last month in a company announcement about the project,Centennial reiterated their excitement. The “significant redevelopment will transform Hawthorn Mall into a destination development offering a unique-to-market experience”

In addition to the other additions to the mall property near already-existing business apartments,Centennial Real Estate is also proposing an outdoor park-like place that will act as a gathering space tour locals and tourists. Another key part of this project will be the destruction of a few buildings,including the Sears building and the Carson Pirie Scott building. In accepting the plan,village officials also hired Melaniphy and Associates to assess the proposed store strategy report and the retail market study before making any major decisions.

“What they’re (Centennial) proposing falls right in line with what Melaniphy is proposing for that site,” Vernon Hills Manager Mark Fleischhauer told a newspaper in March. “That’s why we matched the two (presentations) up at the same board meeting.”

Centennial Real Estate haven’t named any specific companies,stores or investors that are already on board,but that could be that they just haven’t shared that information with Vernon Hills yet. For those questioning the level of investment a project like this could bring to the city,Centennial says that the project will be the largest investment in the 1.3 million-square-foot mall since 1973.

An office fit out can be an exciting new chapter or a very stressful time. Not only do you need to devote a lot of time to meticulously plan for design,budget and time constraints; you also must ensure a talented,experienced set of project managers and fitters are used to ensure the project goes to plan.

However,many companies try to prioritise saving money on the project by cutting corners,often trying their hand at some DIY or by using a cheap contractor. The problem is that when you use an inexperienced,sub-par contractor,the results can be less than you require. This is where the real costs of a bad office fit out come home to roost,which is the real reason it is so important to work with an experienced commercial interior designer.

Poor safety

Your commercial premises must be planned with a mind for all potential health and safety concern. This requires a full site survey from a professional who can identify potential hazards and problem areas. The planning stage of your fit out should include an appraisal of the existing premises in order to design the new look around what would be safest for everyone who occupies the place. If you cut corners in the refurbishment,you risk leaving your premises with hazards that could cause costly accidents in the future.

Unforseen costs

Some things in life can be bought for a little bit of money,but an office fit out isn’t like a store brand pasta mix. With an office re-fit,you get what you pay for,and choosing cheap,inexperienced contractors and items could end up costing you a lot more in the long term. Even a badly fitted plug or uncomfortable furniture could end up costing a lot to replace,and any downtime that’s caused is likely to end up costing more than had you hired an experienced interior designer in the first place.

Unproductive staff

Your staff have to feel like they are the main consideration in your office fit out. After all,the look and feel of the premises is essential for ensuring their comfort and enjoyment,which in turn impacts on their productivity. Even something as simple as bad colour choices can have a significant impact on their mood,and an inexperienced interior designer is more likely to make the wrong decisions. If you want to get the most from your staff,you have to get the best out of your office refurbishment,and the only way this can be assured is to hire a professional interior designer.

It is often tempting to try to cut corners to reduce costs,but you should never compromise on quality with an office fit out. The issues raised above are just a few of the consequences of working with an inferior design and fit team,and these expenses far outweigh the extra financial investment you would need to make to get the services of a seasoned expert. Don’t put unnecessary strain on your company; go for quality of service every time.

Contact - – Ozone Interiors today to work with a commercial interior designer who knows how to get the very best results.

Did you know that your financial practice needs a proper branding and marketing strategy in order to prosper? That’s right. When you’ve devoted tons of effort to branding yourself,people will recognize you and your practice will thrive even in down markets,which is great for helping people better their financial future and building loyalty with them. You have to learn how to secure that you will get a return on your marketing spend with absolute certainty. Anyone who owns a financial practice should be able to use an effective plan for marketing.All rock-solid financial advisor marketing plans have common factors that are required to be successful,whoever you work with,and this article explains how.

Make It Clear: What Financial Niche Do You Serve?

The biggest part of your marketing effectiveness,bar none,is what’s unique about your financial services and what unique selling proposition you have to bring to your clients. Do you serve a broad variety of people in different industries? Or do you serve one specific type of client? Do you serve dentists? Doctors? What type of financial services do you provide?

You must incorporate it in your overall financial advisor marketing plan,once you know who & what you desire to serve. People know they’re working with the right financial advisor when they attain an effective financial plan that will work for their specific status.

For more on choosing how to promote your specific skillfulness and industry experience for delivering all-encompassing and time-tested strategies for your clients’ financial freedom,visit-.

Whenever you put what your offers on paper,always be specific about what you are offering and how this will benefit the client. When you’re about to sign up the client,the documentation outlining your services should be signed by the client,and should be in a plain language.

Staying Ahead of the Times

Since various marketing methods change in effectiveness as society evolves towards different trends,you need to focus on long-lasting marketing assets that easily adapt to the industry,as your practice evolves and grows. A fresh way to get new clients for a financial consultancy is social media,which is fast and effective.You can create 20 direct messages on Facebook Messenger way quicker than you can make 20 phone calls. Don’t forget the process of “warming up” your cold prospects to build a relationship!

Growing Your Financial Client Base with Referrals from Existing Clients

You may like to get more business by asking your existing clients for referrals from them. You must be WORTHY of recommendations,in order to get referrals from your existing clients. While you may provide great services,proving it takes raising your credibility. That’s where branding comes into play,and there are marketing experts who know all about how to deploy long-lasting assets using personal branding for -.You do not have to be working for a large financial business in order to make a name for yourself,and the results this advisor marketing consultant has generated for his clients,definitely prove this.

A Summary of the Best Financial Advisor Marketing

The most significant feature of financial planning is getting to know how one’s money will help take them to a certain point,and where they are heading to. You will realize the same is true of how you use your money in a marketing campaign: when you invest your money in marketing,how much will you get out of it in return? That’s one question that financial marketers who put together great plans will really go out of their way to resolve for you. Consult our recommended resources for -. Start investing in marketing assets that will solidify your marketing message,help your clients understand what you do,and bring you return-on-investment and customer growth forever.