“As a retailer with over 15 years Brisbane CBD experience, we engaged Don for independent expert advice to assist us in proving damages to the landlord who was a major industry superannuation fund. I am proud to confirm that Don’s more » - Ermanno Nobilio, Specialty Retailer
“…You were very thorough. It is always good when the facts are provided in detail leaving no questions to be asked.” - Large Retail Landlord
“Don is a clear-sighted, down-to-earth business professional with a sharp sense of where economic value comes from, and how to deliver; and how to measure it. Engaging with him on retail property valuation takes me instantly from theory to the more » - Govindan (“Govind”) Nair
“Don is a leader and visionary in his field. He has a remarkable aptitude for predicting future market trends and dynamics. He has a deep and broad understanding of the retail property market and has always offered sound perspectives.” - Cedric Tyler, CEO
“Don excels at what he does. He is the most veracious provider of diligent retail property valuation work I have come across in my 27 years as a Real Estate Agent. I would recommend Don whenever a thorough examination of more » - Jonathan Blocksidge, Director REIQ
“Don has a high level of experience as a specialist retail valuer, arbitrator/mediator and on tenancy determination/submission matters.” - John Kendall, Property Advisor
“I have known Don for many years and worked with him in both South Africa and Australia. Don is a dedicated retail property professional and continues to strive to know more about his industry and how to make his clients more » - Dr. Brent Stephens
“Don is one of the most qualified and experienced retail lease valuers in Australia and has qualified as a retail rent specialist arbitrator by both IAMA and RICS. Unlike many traditional valuers, he regularly seeks newer and better valuation methodologies more » - Matt Myers, Senior Univ. Lecturer
“I have been provided with a copy of a report made by Mr D E Gilbert of Queensland Lease Consultants [former name of ALPC] who is a recognised expert in the relation of rent review determinations, in particular retail premises.” - Leading Australian QC
“And yes, you definitely gave me some valuable tips! You have some very interesting stories. I hope that one day I will have some exciting experiences to talk about too!” - Solicitor
“I just want to tell you how much I enjoyed your presentation yesterday… I’m the guy who thanked you for “telling it as it is” afterwards. I agree with your belief that most rents are over priced and impact on more » - Business Valuer
“Thank you Don for all your help and for all the contributions that you make to the retail property industry.” - NSW Specialist Retail Valuer
“I have known and collaborated with Don Gilbert for four years, ever since I first met him at a conference in Korea. I have found him to be refreshingly numerate, candid, and outspoken on matters concerning the retail property industry, more » - Vernon Martin, President APRI
“Don. You should write the Valuer’s manual on retail property valuation – the detail you go into is impressive.” - Leading NSW Specialist Retail Valuer
“Don has a thorough understanding of the concept of value. From both sides of the equation of owner and tenant he strives to achieve equitable playing fields where fairness also provides win/win outcomes. Don is big picture orientated and has more » - Colin Freeman, Director
“I’ve been on most sides of real estate ownership and management. As a developer, owner, professional manager, and tenant. Don has a refreshingly rational, economically and mathematically literate approach to retail property valuation which avoids many of the rule-of-thumb pitfalls more » - Graham Young, Publisher
“Don has excellent knowledge of all facets of retail property and leases in general. He looks at each lease and business on an individual basis and understands the business’ performance with respect to its physical location rather than just a more » - Richard Lord, Property Professional
“Don has showed the highest level of integrity and trustworthiness in my dealings with him. His tenacity and attitude to succeed are legend. He makes sure he delivers.” - Mathew Tait, Pharmacist
“Hi Donald, thank you for confirming what I already thought about Shopping Centres and retail Leases/Values.” - Business Valuer
“Thanks Don. Much appreciated. And thanks again for your fine talk yesterday it is a real pleasure to listen to someone that has such a great understanding of their specialty field and says it like it is. We need more more » - QLD Business Valuer
“With 30 years of hands-on experience in multiple facets of the property industry, the last 20 focussed on retail dynamics, including retail shop leases, retail property valuation and current market rent, Don is an experienced retail leasing consultant.”
Request a Free Consultation
Enter your details below.
We'll contact you to arrange
your free consultation.
We have helped hundreds of clients to resolve problems with their retail lease agreement and to settle retail disputes.
Don Gilbert is recognised by peers and professional associates as a highly qualified Specialised Retail Valuer who is one of the most experienced and honest in Australia.
Don has earned a reputation as a passionate advocate for fairness and equity in retail property valuation and when structuring your retail lease agreement.
Our 2006 research and advanced modelling on current market rent accurately forecast the 65% A-REIT correction in 2007/08 which caused a loss of $65 billion dollars!
We have provided internationally recognised advice to our clients for over 20 years and developed and prepared submissions to governments on Retail Shop Leases Acts, Retail Tenancy Laws and current market rent.
Request a Free Consultation
Enter your details below.
We’ll contact you to arrange
your free consultation.
Brief Description: This article was written following the “overheating” of the property market in the 1980s and the subsequent downturn in 1989-92. It shows how a knowledge of general economic cycles and how property cycles relate to them, can help Valuers better account for future market conditions when assessing property values, rather than relying solely on past (historical) evidence, projected forward, which serves to magnify the “boom and bust “ of each cycle and deepen the pain of transition from one to the other.
Brief Description: This article laid the foundation for the definition of ‘current market rent’ that was adopted in 2000 by the International Valuation Standards Committee. It explores how critical business ratios in a tenant’s business – including occupancy cost, revenue, gross profit and profit – can be used to understand what level of rent might be appropriate for each tenancy. It also explains how this understanding can improve the accuracy of market valuations and enhance the relationship between shopping centre tenants and their landlords.
Brief Description: This 30-page document is an absolute “must have” for any Tenant who is negotiating a retail lease. It is designed to help you overcome the substantial negotiation and information disadvantage that ordinary SME business people face when dealing with most large retail Landlords/Lessors.
The document provides practical information in the form of a typical Landlord ‘Lease Offer’ with recommended responses and detailed explanations as to why each item is important. It also provides definitions of key lease terms and terminology and sample letters that you can use to communicate with your Landlord to ensure that you get the best possible result, even if that means walking away from a lease offer and keeping your valuable capital intact.
Brief Description: Updates and reviews the status of the retail property industry, including the valuation expert’s role and responsibilities and changes in legislation and case law. Includes detailed information on Australian shopping centre occupancy cost levels, an in-depth discussion of market rent/lease valuation, and an analysis of the risk/reward profiles of both tenants and landlords. It is critical of the rental assessments done by some agency-based Valuerswho work for organisations that also employ retail leasing agents and property management agents, and who therefore have an inherent conflict of interest.
Brief Description: This paper examines the pitfalls and practices of determining ‘current market rent’ and how to avoid errors and omissions during the process. It includes information about initial appointment, acceptance of appointment, terms of engagement, and completion of the determination or valuation assignment. It also demonstrates how leases can add value to, or devalue, a Tenant’s business assets on their Balance Sheet. Won “Best Research Paper” recognition at the conference.
Brief Description: A pragmatic and very detailed analysis of the Shopping Centre Industry in Australia using both “Top Down” and “Bottom Up” analysis techniques. It begins with the evolution and development of the industry and its unique characteristics and evaluates the motivations and behaviour of all of its major players, from retailers and landlords to investors, politicians and professional valuers. Includes Detailed Tables & Graphs.
Brief Description: Post-mortem analysis of the A-REIT collapse weighted towards the retail property sector. Reinforces previous articles and modelling by investigating what causes “asset bubbles” and exploring ways to reduce their magnitude or prevent them from occurring in the future. Includes Detailed Tables & Graphs.
Brief Description: Introduces the “Gilbert Evaluation Method” or GEM MethodTM a step-by-step process used to assess the “value” of an individual lease. The GEM MethodTM is designed to help professional valuers and industry stakeholders to more accurately and consistently determine the ‘current market rent’ for a single lease. It incorporates a unique blend of property economics, business economics and general economics along with accountancy and valuation principles and concepts. Includes Graphs.
Brief Description: Looks at the pre-GFC conditions that prevailed in the Australian Real Estate Investment Trust (A-REIT) sector, including low interest rates and gearing levels, and considers whether or not conditions for some A-REITs are currently the same, if not worse, than they were pre-GFC. Includes modelling/graphs.
Brief Description: This article sets out the basic limitations and pitfalls of assessing retail rents on a “$/M2” basis. It is an extract of Part One of a 3-part series written for publication in journals for valuation professionals. The complete version of Part One will be made available as soon as publication has taken place.
Brief Description: Newspaper headlines are designed to grab your attention (“Queen Street Mall Rents $5,000 Per Square Metre!”) but they are often misleading and sensationalist. This article debunks these headlines and explains the factors that influence variations in rent between one location and another and how some people “lie with statistics”. It also takes to task industry members who should know better than to make these claims.
Brief Description: If you have ever wondered how the practice of assessing rents on a ‘$/M2’ basis came about, this short article is for you. It also includes five real-life examples of how $/M2 rental rates can distort annual rents, sometimes with disastrous consequences.
Brief Description: Since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) there has been a significant reduction in the money supply for the SME sector. Many businesses have failed but Business Capital is very fluid and has sought out and found more efficient ways to distribute goods and services, e.g. via internet-based sales. Property Capital, on the other hand, has found itself with an oversupply of retail space; those landlords not meeting the market are faced with vacancies and no income to cover their property operating expenses.
Brief Description: This article explains what is meant by “structuring a lease” and why it is important. A lease that achieves a balance between the interests of the landlord and those of the tenant adds “value” to the assets of both parties.
