Birdsall Services Group (http://www.birdsall.com) was founded in 1919 and the assets of BSG were recently purchased by Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. (Partner).   Birdsall Servicse Group (BSG, Birdsall) was an […]

In California where environmental regulations are famously conservative, a policy went into effect last fall making it a little easier to close certain low-risk sites contaminated by leaking petroleum underground […]

Last week’s RealShare Apartments conference in Los Angeles was the place to be for multifamily investors, lenders and brokers.  With almost 2,000 attendees, this was one of the best turnouts ever.  Enthusiasm […]

Looking for a job in engineering due diligence?   Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., one of the nation’s largest providers of Property Condition Reports, Commercial Building Inspections and Seismic Risk […]

Looking for a job in environmental due diligence?   Partner Engineering and Science, Inc., the nation’s largest provider of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), is hiring experienced Environmental […]

Tony Liou, president of our sister company Partner Energy , recently discussed energy efficiency and energy audits for commercial buildings on GlobeSt.com’s ” The Science of Real Estate ” blog.  Below is a recap of what he discussed:  An energy audit is often the first step in making your commercial building more efficient.  The goal of an energy audit […]

The 2011 RealShare Apartments conference was a huge success with a noticeable increase in attendance and palpable optimism.  The multifamily market is booming, and signs indicate it will continue to do well for the foreseeable future. Multifamily Success Factors Optimism for the multifamily market stems from some significant trends tied to the bad economy, including: Historically low homeownership […]

I noticed in EDR ScoreKeeper ’s Q1 2011 and Q2 2011 report that big consulting firms are growing at a larger rate than small firms.  Apparently lenders and real estate investors are increasingly choosing larger firms for their Phase I Environmental Site Assessments .   I spoke with two national lenders who said that they were trying to narrow their list […]

For lenders, conducting the appropriate level of pre-foreclosure environmental due diligence is crucial to managing the risk of lender-owned real estate portfolios.  Though the economy is on a tenuous path to recovery, commercial real estate foreclosures persist.  Lenders may be dealing with foreclosure backlogs for years to come. Partner’s Amy Rudegeair co-authored an award-winning article advising lenders […]

We’ve been hearing word lately that Farm Loans by the USDA are a growth area. Those seeking multifamily housing financing from the USDA Rural Development , should be aware of the specific engineering and environmental due diligence requirements.  USDA Rural Development Capital Needs Assessment The USDA Rural Development engineering due diligence requirements entail a Capital Needs Assessment , which is required […]

When performing a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment , the environmental professional is wise to ask enough questions of their client to understand their business plan and the intended use of the property.   Most Phase 1 ESAs adequately advise clients on the presence or absence of recognized environmental conditions, but the better environmental professionals also advise their […]

Our latest video is on Probable Maximum Loss (PML) Reports or Seismic Damageability Assessments, which evaluate a building’s seismic risk. Check it out!

Check out our video on Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) here.

This brief educational video covers the purpose of a Phase I ESA, the ESA process and what is included in a Phase I Report. We hope this is helful to commercial real estate professionals, especially those who may be new to ESAs!

View our video on Property Condition Assessments (PCAs) here.
We hope this video will help inform the commercial real estate industry about the purpose of a PCA, the PCA process, and the value of the Property Condition Report (PCR).

As of February 23, 2011, new standards for the American Land Title Association (ALTA) Survey ( 2011 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys ) went into affect.  The main differences between thee 2005 and 2011 ALTA Standards (aside from complete re-formatting) are: Wording has been standardized with regard to the property being surveyed.  The 2011 Standards use […]

The new ASTM E2600-10 Standard Guide for Vapor Encroachment Screening on Property Involved in Real Estate Transactions (the Standard) was designed to screen properties for the presence or likely presence of chemicals of concern (COC) vapors in the subsurface of the target property (TP) cause by the release of vapors from contaminated soil and/or groundwater either on […]

Partner recently attended the PCIA Wireless Infrastructure Show in Hollywood, Florida.  The energy was high as business is booming for this industry, including the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment world.  With so great a demand for wireless infrastructure, tower companies and developers were eager to network with various services providers , including those with expertise in Phase I ESAs, […]

On Monday, Freddie Mac released guidance on best practices for engineering and environmental reports .  The guidance notes common report issues, advises methods for selecting the best consultants and evaluating environmental and engineering consultant reports, and notes specific responsibilities. Common errors noted include failure to follow requirements of the Freddie Mac Multifamily Seller/Servicer Guide such as not […]