A building consultancy specialist has joined an expanding commercial property agency in Hampshire.
Mark Patel is Senior Building Surveyor at Hughes Ellard, having joined the long-established independent from CBRE in Southampton after 18 months.
He specialises in commercial building surveying and project management, operating for owners, occupiers and investors throughout southern England and the rest of the UK.
Gary Jeffries, the managing director of 18-strong Hughes Ellard, which has offices in Southampton and Fareham, said: “We headhunted Mark because of his impressive track record in delivering for commercial property clients as a building surveyor; he is a valuable addition to our expanding operations.”
His remit includes the preparation of acquisition surveys, schedules of condition, dilapidations matters, building reinstatement cost assessments and project management, incorporating office refurbishments and fit-outs.
The chartered building surveyor, 41, came to the industry from a different path, beginning his career as a conservation mason before taking his professional qualifications at Liverpool John Moores University.
Mark said: “Our clients regularly utilise our services because they value an integrated service, from inception to completion.
“With data showing that the economy continues to strengthen, we also anticipate investors dipping their toes into the speculative-build market once again, especially as there is a dearth of decent office and industrial space along the Solent Corridor.
“Likewise, some companies are looking to upgrade and invest in existing assets through refurbishment and extension.”
Last month (November) Hughes Ellard topped the Estates Gazette’s agents’ leader board for office deals along the M27 between Southampton and Portsmouth, with 49 disposals totalling 272,360 sq ft.
