Statewide Marketing Session for June 2019
Submitted by Louise Norwood
The June Statewide Marketing Session was held on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at the Matheson Education Suite at 168 South River Road in Bedford. Our sponsor this month was Tad Dziemian of Neighborhood Energy which offers energy supply solutions for industrial and commercial customers. They focus on reduced spending and budget stability and operate in all deregulated energy markets across New England and New York. Neighborhood Energy of New England provides business owners, property managers and residents with fixed electricity and natural gas terms ensuring low cost leadership, concierge services to all of their clients and most importantly, significant savings.
Heather Rowan of Kimball Furniture is a more freelance distributor with the capability of offering her services to not just one purveyor but a host of other office furnishing dealerships. She is a great resource in designing an office conceptual and feels that she can add much by becoming involved early in the office assessment process. Heather went on to say that modular cases are the new wave and can be shipped within five to six weeks, be hung on the wall and then removed when vacating the premises. They are being marketed at two-thirds less than the older stick built product and are used extensively in the health care industry.
Dylan Cruess of TF Moran announced that their recent annual barbeque was well attended with 147 people partaking in this star event and despite the raw, rainy conditions. The Realtor of the Year was honored as was the Affiliate of the Year – Tom Riley of Riley Enterprises is our new Realtor of the Year with Jeff Boufford of Boyd & Boufford being chosen as Affiliate of the Year. Dylan circulated a good example of what TF Moran has been providing Realtors and developers for years. Using Karl Norwood’s 6 Akira Way & 104 Grenier Field Road flyer as an example, Dylan pointed out how their company can work up a conceptual plan pulling GIS data and overlay topos showing what can be constructed on any given site as well as utilizing a colored format. Lastly, Dylan mentioned that TF Moran has been a ten year client of Tad Dziemian with excellent results. TF Moran is one of the sponsors for the Summer Gala.
Murray Beaulieu of Boosted Profits deals in tax remediation. He explained that most CPA’s have never heard of these above board tools that are a tremendous cost savings. When President Trump changed the tax laws he provided the general public with tax savings that heightens one’s ability to keep their hard earned dollars. Murray promotes these tax strategies not only for property owners but now the law has expanded to tenancies as well, accelerating their depreciation. He went on explain that the CPA’s are not withholding this information but are not familiar with these tax savings policies that are out there to business and property owners.
Scott Kingsley of Primary Bank deals in the commercial lending arena practicing in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Their main headquarters are located in Bedford but most recently added a second location in Manchester and with a soon to be third satellite in Derry. As Scott is spearheading the CIBOR Cares Summer Mixer, he spoke at some length of the various companies who have volunteered to be sponsors for the event to be held August 8th at Joe Friedman’s Brookstone Event Center from 5:30 to 8:30. Last year there were 150 attendees strong but this year the number will more likely be 200. A great array of silent auction items will be on tap – consider Red Sox tickets, a boat excursion with lunch, all varieties of wine baskets and sports memorabilia so bring your clients as there will be tons of food. Scott has been a commercial lender since 1990 and can handle all types of transactions from “simple” to “complicated”.
Ron Perry of Berkshire Hathaway Verani Realty was formerly employed as an executive at the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua but has recently joined the ranks of commercial brokerage. With his first visit to the marketing session today, we hope to see Ron more frequently. Ron posted that he is working with a cash buyer looking for a retail space in the neighborhood of 8-12,000 s.f. along the Daniel Webster Highway with the capability of investing $5,000,000. Welcome Ron!
Lindsey Goodrich of Berkshire Hathaway Verani Realty is seeking an approximately 10,000 s.f. strip mall in Hillsborough County up to $2,000,000. Lindsey is also marketing the former SNHU facility at 546 Amherst Street in Nashua sited on 3.2 acres with a traffic count of 42,000 vehicles per day. In addition, Lindsey said that the owners are also taking into consideration redeveloping the building into 23,000 s.f. retail space.
Marilyn Charbonneau of NBT Bank specializes in a host of banking services including but not limited to small business financing, commercial lending and home equity loans as well as health care. Marilyn shared with us that she has two couples as her clients seeking to buy multifamily housing and yet another investor seeking a restaurant/food oriented type of business along with the real estate or a storage oriented business. The food client will entertain purchasing an existing business. Lastly, Marilyn informed us that NBT has branches in Manchester, Nashua and now on West Street in Keene in an historic building owned and renovated by Brady Sullivan.
Laura Nesmith of Colliers International announced that they have just listed 2,000 s.f. at 165 South River for sublease with four years remaining. Laura also pitched a new listing that she and Doug Martin are now marketing at 40 Depot Street in Warner. The 52,824 s.f. building offered at $1,750,000 consists of 23,722 s.f. of office space with the remaining footprint being an open industrial space. 41 Depot Street situated across the street is a 23,751 s.f. warehouse/manufacturing facility. In addition Laura and Doug have several units available at 60 Rogers Street in Manchester for lease with 3,000 to 7,000 s.f. of R & D/light industrial on the second floor and a first floor space comprised of 8,000 s.f. coming to market this next week at a lease rate of $6.50 psf NNN.
Steve Scheiner of St. Mary’s Bank can perform loans as small as $100,000 up to several million dollars. St. Mary’s Bank has been open since 1909 and is the third largest credit union in New Hampshire with assets totaling $1.02 billion providing services to more than 106,000 members. Steve explained that St. Mary’s Bank specializes in New Hampshire first-time homebuyer programs and was recently presented with the President’s Award by the Manchester Historic Association. With five convenient locations in and around Manchester you should find your favorite spot.
Dan Jalbert of Comcast Business can provide you with his services in the small to midsized business arena. Dan is also looking for referrals and in exchange you will receive a one-time payment equivalent to one month’s recurring charge billed to the customer made payable to you within 60-90 days. Dan explained that more fiber will be brought in to the Guilford/Laconia environs in 2020.
Chris Webb of Invictus Sprayfoam is in the business of insulation and can absolutely provide you with energy cost savings. The business is family owned and operated and although they have been in the business for some six years they have been and are still in the construction business in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Chris pointed out that they interface with many utility companies giving clients the best possible rebate and offer their clientele technology advice.
Hayley Klein of Hirsch & Co. pitched a 5,000 s.f. light industrial/storage space for sublease located at 419 Elm Street in Milford. As this is currently an office/showroom for a car dealership there are a host of possibilities for potential uses. The lease rate is $7.00 psf NNN. Hayley is also marketing a 4,000 s.f. operating restaurant which is a free standing structure on 2 acres of land. With additional acreage on which is expand, the facility would make for an excellent brewery or event center to gain more parking – with the additional amenities of natural gas, municipal water and sewer, the $700,000 price tag is appealing.
Chris Kelly of Red Thread/Steelcase with headquarters at 650 Elm Street in Manchester specializes in Steelcase but carries an abundance of other lines to satisfy any business owner’s pocketbook. Red Thread offers in-house design services and employs the technological expertise to make any work space a dynamic and productive environment. Chris went on to say that Steelcase expends millions of research dollars each year testing products for durability, health benefits and up to date design. They offer videos and white papers that fully cover all types of product and how these products can enhance a more healthy work life style.
Lindsay Desmettre of WS Development promoted some retail vacancies – Epping Crossing now has a former 2,000 s.f. sandwich shop and a former 3,000 s.f. Payless Shoe Store both available for lease in a vanilla box configuration. Meadow Brook Crossing on Route 101-A in Amherst (the home of Lowe’s and Staples) currently has 6,400 s.f. for lease which could be sub-divisible. This former Pet Life retail space is being offered at $27.00 psf NNN with the nets purported to be $9.00 psf. In addition Lindsay gave us the run down on several openings at the Lafayette Shopping Center at the Seacoast anchored by Home Depot and Shaw’s – a 1,600 s.f. former Quiznos and an 18,000 s.f. former Staples is up for lease and suitable for a medical use, recreational type of use or larger big box user.
Jay Lee of Berkshire Hathaway Verani Commercial sent a shout out to Dylan Cruess of TF Moran for hosting the annual barbeque. Due to the rain, networking was most productive taking place in the engineering offices with closer quarters. Jay continues to work with his cash buyers seeking existing real estate up to twenty million dollars specifically convenience centers and gas stations. Jay also wished to advise us that the polished brick columned building across the street from the Manchester Country Club has a 1,200 s.f. office suite available for lease at $17.50 psf modified gross.
Chris Pascucci of Masiello Commercial has a special interest in CIBOR Cares as a donation from our charitable fund went to Chris’ favorite charity “Make a Wish Foundation” in the amount of $500. The last fund raiser for The Make A Wish Foundation was held at the Center of New Hampshire and was attended by some 500 local businesses. Chris was pleased to announce that he is bringing to market two multi-family properties situated at 159 Auburn Street and 236 Jewett Street priced at $90,000 per unit. One property in particular has been under the same ownership for some forty-six years whereas the other for twenty years. Chris is also marketing 1.5 acres in Loudon with a price tag of $299,000 ideally suited for a medical facility i.e. Convenience MD or similar.
Jamison Bibaud of Masiello Commercial has brought 562 Clay Street to the market. The three story building has been utilized as a warehouse facility but could be redeveloped into other venues. Having a freight elevator, natural gas, water and sewer as well as being fully sprinklered adds much value with a price tag of $575,000. Another opportunity currently being marketed for sale is a 12,500 s.f. mill space at 51 Lake Street in Nashua with an ask price of $500,000. In addition this 100 year old mill has a 7,000 s.f. showroom on the first floor being offered for lease at $7.50 psf modified gross. Lastly Jamison is marketing the master plan for a new retail and office complex in Windham Town Center. This gateway property offers high end condos and a host of retail and office spaces and in particular ownership is seeking a 2 to 4,000 s.f. restaurant user.
Stepfani Croteau of Allen & Major Associates explained that their company has a Manchester office located at Airpark near the Manchester Regional Airport with other locations in Woburn and Lakeville, Massachusetts. As Stepfani is fully engaged with the upcoming Summer Mixer, she has requested that any of the sponsors who have not yet submitted their logos to please do so. Allen & Major Associates covers a wide range of multi-disciplinary engineering skills including civil, structural, land surveying, traffic studies, environmental consulting and landscape architecture to name but a few.
Marie Degulis of Secondwind Water Systems is in the business of water quality studying and analyzing water equipment including boilers and cooling systems as well as focusing on any consumable water. Their team will strategize to lower the PFAS that have infiltrated the local communities ground water and wells. Marie informed us that she is involved with several residential boards of Realtors and in particular has involved herself with a charity arm dealing with substance abuse. She voiced her opinion that we need to take care of our own.
Joe Robinson of NAI Norwood Group, Inc. is marketing a meat, grocery and health food market business. The asking price with real estate included is $1,825 with the owner’s discretionary cash flow being $300,000. Joe is also marketing two business condos for sale at 51-53 Bedford Place with Unit 51 being 1,697 s.f. for sale at $130,000 and Unit 53 being 1,470 s.f. for sale at $115,000 respectively or in one package for $245,000. Lastly, Joe wished to remind everyone that he has listed a first class office space at 8 Akira Way in Londonderry comprised of 4,900 s.f. of ground level professional offices on the market at a lease rate of $14,00 psf modified gross.
Nicole Canavan of Berkshire Hathaway Verani Commercial is working with a cash buyer wishing to purchase a complex with ten residential units in Manchester that is in a good to excellent condition. Nicole is marketing the Duxbury Business Park on 589 Elm Street in Milford which is sited on 8.45 acres and having 8,838 s.f. available for lease at $12.10 psf NNN. A ground lease will also be considered. In addition Nicole described a listing she currently has in her inventory that being a five bedroom antique colonial on a 7.4 acre corner lot in Chichester complete with spacious barn which is zoned commercial/industrial. Recently reduced to $399,000.
Joe Friedman of Brooks Properties is continually looking for land opportunities to build up to 200,000 s.f. on the I-93 corridor. Joe has a large portfolio of properties which he represents for the Brooks family with lease space at 4 Northeastern Blvd in Salem; 9, 11 and 13 Red Roof Lane in Salem and 8 Industrial Way in Salem with a combination of property types from high end office, R & D and manufacturing. In particular Joe wished to point out that their newest facility offers 34,000 s.f. with 11,333 s.f. per floor for lease in its entirety or on a per floor basis. This signature building has much visibility along the I-93 super highway. Lastly, 6 Wentworth Drive comprised of 50,000 s.f. of flex/office is now available for sale at a price point of $3,900,000 with an expansion potential of 35,000 s.f. with Seller financing a good possibility.
Nancy Parker of Resilient Buildings Group offers a variety of services from energy audits, energy centric construction management, LEED consulting and certification bringing innovation solutions to improve your building. They offer money back in terms of the purchase of the boiler or other equipment with the highest efficiency rating and in the case of funding, they can bridge the gap for your long term investment. By taking a comprehensive approach they can save a customer money by working with them pre gas line or post gas line. In some cases the rebates may only be small checks but they add up. Their company recently held a symposium in the Town of Franklin conducting free of charge site assessments for twenty businesses from something as small as changing out light bulbs to larger capital improvements.
Amanda Savage of North Branch Construction was pleased to report that their company is now sixty years old and is always on time all of the time. They handle fit-ups, multi-unit housing, senior living projects, educational facilities and manufacturing construction. Amanda sits on a board for Plan New Hampshire which is a nonprofit fostering “built” environment. Their annual golf tournament will be held on October 8th to which they are looking for sponsorships. Amanda mentioned that this would be great exposure for architects and engineers.
Jennifer Gray of Berkshire Verani Realty touted a listing at 22 Eastman Avenue in Bedford comprised of 950 s.f. at a lease rate of $12.00 psf NNN. Jennifer is also working with an investor who has interest in owning a multi family property that does not require any significant renovations with a $1,000,000 to a $1,500,000 appetite. In addition Jennifer has a 1,125 s.f. medical unit fit up with four to five exam rooms for sale just off Exit 4 priced at $105,900. Fantastic signage!
Dylan Jones of Salem Five Bank handles both commercial and business lending and is based in Georgetown, Massachusetts. Dylan explained that their goal to offer expeditious service to their customers and as an example reported that a customer made application at 4:00 on a Friday with a term sheet turn around by 11:00 on the Monday and approved by Thursday. Expediency is their mantra. As interest rates are so low at this time, Dylan advises that refinancing should be considered while these rates hold.
Karl Norwood of NAI Norwood Group, Inc. pitched a 29 acre parcel in Londonderry that had access challenges but by adding a 2.7 acre piece, the land asset now has direct access with a 500’ road frontage and can support a 205,000 s.f. building with a price tag of $1,550,000. Next Karl wished to alert the attendees of an attractive professional office building currently available at Coldstream Park in Bedford for lease or for sale at a list price of $1,000,000. This 7,500 s.f. brick clad, free standing office is directly across South River Road from the new Market and Main lifestyle center. Lastly, Karl handed out a long laundry list of investment properties currently in his inventory including a Clear Choice urgent care; The Outlet Mall of Kittery; Heritage Commons in Portsmouth and The Carriage Towne Plaza in Kingston to name just a few of some handsome and viable properties.
Tad Dziemian of Neighborhood Energy who generously hosted our June Statewide Marketing Session brokers the supply of electricity and gas for both the residential and commercial sectors. Through the years he has saved a significant amount of money for those in his program. Tad explained that they differentiate themselves from their competition by providing clients with the best solution at the best price. Some of the other reasons to do business with Neighborhood Energy is that they have low overhead; provide personalized and proactive customer service and will give an unbiased consultation. Tad especially likes to interface with property managers; landlords and property owners of commercial properties to assess their electrical needs and how he can resolve and bring down the high cost of their energy bill which is undisputedly high in the State of New Hampshire.
Ryan Theil of A1 Exterminators operates in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He recently assisted a bank with a serious ant issue and now with a prevention program, they are void of pests. As A1 has a cadre of pest smelling canine that can locate the culprits so one of Ryan’s latest adventure was a large bed bug incident. While his competition required a full three days to remediate, his company could do it in one day thus winning him the contract. He, too, likes to interface with property managers who need to keep their properties free of pests who destroy buildings or who are a general nuisance. Their specially trained canine can run through properties and quickly detect the offenders.
Robert Clarke of Allen & Major Associates spoke of the various skill sets they offer throughout the development process be it build design, renovation, inspection and construction support services. Theirs is a full service engineering team that can provide you and your client with conceptual drawings for clarity and real answers to proceed with the project. In addition, Bob explained that they can provide ALTA surveys and existing conditions which are critical in many development situations. The goal is to mitigate risk and derive the best possible value for your real estate dollar.
Steve Mangekian of Alpha Inspections operates his business from both Merrimack and Portsmouth. With a large team of inspectors and by implementing specialized software, Steve can manage multiple building inspections on one campus. His company recently completed a fifty unit residential complex and a 52,000 s.f. hotel along with a group of small condos. Steve primarily handles commercial building inspections in York County, Maine to the eastern portion of Massachusetts and everywhere in between. He wishes to align himself with various banks to participate in their construction loan drawdowns and insurance company assistance where inspections are required with the end game being on their approved vendor list. One of their niche markets is in the preservation arena having been involved inspecting those detailed renovations.
Kate Bristol of NewVo Interiors put forth some current information that is trending in their industry that being telephone booth offices; open concepts; noise cancellation products; lactation rooms; products focusing on healthy work environments including stand up desk units which are now offered at all different price points. One of their largest customer base is in the educational realm with involvement in not only desk units but school lockers and bathroom partitions. Lastly, Kate let everyone know that they also sell office supplies at a discounted rate which is another one of their perks to the business public.
Louise Norwood of NAI Norwood Group, Inc. pitched a new “for lease” office listing at 9 Cedarwood Park in Bedford which will be available this fall comprised of 5,639 s.f. along with an existing vacant unit that could offer up to 7,294 s.f. Many options available for a growing company offered at a lease rate of $17.50 psf modified gross. Another great “for lease” property along Bedford’s golden strip is located at Fairways Park, 169 South River Road and is comprised of 2,878 s.f. at a lease rate of $13.50 psf NNN. Lastly, Louise wished to alert anyone in need of small office, incubator spaces that she and Joe Robinson are marketing two second story office suites on a full gross basis at $800 and $900 respectively. Great location at Bedford Commons Park just off South River Road.
We would like to thank Tad Dziemian of Neighborhood Energy who graciously treated everyone to a wholesome breakfast from The Cracker Barrel. A most enjoyable, heavy laden table of breakfast treats. Please keep our sponsors and those who attend our networking meetings when referring business. We are fortunate to have some great professionals in many walks of business life. Look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, July 24th for our next networking session. Please bring your print outs; flyers or any handouts to spread the word on your product plus it helps enormously when transcribing notes. Much appreciated.
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July.