In January this year I think everyone was praying to their various gods, even the atheists were looking for someone to pray to, that sometime this year we would see the end of covid. Of course we never did and now we might even be heading for another lockdown - though I really hope not.
I hope readers will indulge me in talking about some of the things that has happened within my BIV Bowes life and my personal life over the year.
In our rating work we were instructed on a City Centre bar and were told that a reduction in the Rateable Value of 25% was to be agreed if it was offered. Of course we ignored that instruction to agree a reduction of nearly 39%. It was a very gratifying result!
Straying across to residential which of course I don’t do often I had a look at two apartments in Hadrian’s Tower. To be honest I am still not sure about this development, but the views are undeniably expansive. Not as expansive as however as those from 3SIXTY, the roof top bar/restaurant which I went to with friends shortly after it opened. My friends were a little dismissive of the surroundings saying that once one has seen the view “that’s it”. I think it’s the sort of place to take a visitor to Newcastle to get a good city wide view and have an experience.
I will take some friends, family and London based clients there for such an experience. Speaking of London I have had two “entertaining” experiences in the Capital this year. In the first case, a client is currently renting a three storey retail unit in the suburbs for £10,000 per annum. Dilapidations totalling more than £400,000 has just been served and we will recover sufficient from the tenant to refurbish after his departure. Our local agent has told my client that he anticipates a rent of over £30,000 per annum for the ground floor alone! My other London experience has been to introduce a client to a small plot of land of around 2,500 square feet, about a mile out of the City. He didn’t understand why I was showing him this until I explained that he owned it! Needless to say we are progressing with plans to release latent value on his behalf.
Staying with land and this time buying for people, we have successfully concluded the purchase of a site where I felt the asking price was not unreasonable – but we are still paying around 36% of asking price. “Shy bairns get nowt!”
I have also had two birthdays this year. In August BIV Bowes celebrated 30 years in business and in October I celebrated 60 years in existence. I also in October forged a new relationship so am pleased to say that I am not spending Christmas alone this year!
May I take this opportunity to wish all clients and friends of BIV Bowes a very Merry Christmas and here’s to 2022 being an excellent year for all of us in all ways!
