Another busy week for me (it’s becoming a habit!). I don’t really like the word “busy” as I think, as a generation, we have become a little obsessed with saying we are busy as if that is what is expected of us to sound like we are doing things and/or successful. Despite this, I’m claiming it – it’s been busy!
This week’s highlights have included, booking and paying the deposit, for a small event (only twelve people) in April to celebrate Eldnar Consultancy’s first full year up and running. We will be off to the Chateau Impney which I think is such a stunning Worcestershire setting. This year hasn’t quite been a true reflection of what is to come as evidently, I had a non-competition clause but, since that ended, it has been all go from October! Another highlight is taking another step to securing Eldnar HQ later this year but, for now, that’s all top secret!
In any case, this time, I wanted to come on and share a bit about the more unusual and/or technical work I undertake. You may have seen, from an earlier post, that I tackled a complex valuation of ransom strips to a development site for the purposes of calculating Capital Gains Tax. That one, I felt, 100% benefitted from my dual qualification. As a Registered Valuer, who is also a Chartered Town Planner, I was able to combine the relevant planning and valuation knowledge to complete the work.
At the moment, I am working on a valuation which may be utilised as part of court proceedings due to a breach of restrictive covenant. For those who are not familiar with expert witness type work the approach of the work is slightly different in that the valuer’s/expert’s duty is to assist the court, and this overrides any obligation to the person who has provided instructions or who may any fees due. You are there to provide your expert opinion on the matter in question and are thus entirely neutral. As well as being a formal, Red Book (regulated), valuation the report must also be prepared to be compliant with Part 35 of the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), practice direction 35 (PD35) and the Guidance for the Instructions of Experts in Civil Claims 2014.
This current work is on a rural site and due to the breach in question requires a very wide skillset to complete. To complete what is essentially five differing valuations to assess overall damage and/or a basis to a claim I am required to, evidently, be a valuer and be able to apply valuation methods to arrive at a justified opinion as to value. To assess the impact I need to understand potential agricultural activity and impacts on the adjacent site. I also need to understand the planning implications and how this may differ as a result of the breach and the impact that will cause now, and in the future.
Being a Rural Chartered Surveyor, an Agricultural Valuer, a Registered Valuer and a Chartered Town Planner provides me with an unparalleled skillset when it comes to work of this nature and I am proud that my efforts to achieve them is paying off for me, and those with whom I work with. If you, or your clients, have any complex projects that would benefit from the more cost effective, and efficient, input of one professional – find me via the contact page. I would love to speak to you!
That’s all from me for now, one day until the weekend and ten hours until fizzy Friday can commence! Have a great weekend, everyone.