N.Z.M.A. Welcomes Medical Real Estate Initiative

MEDIA RELEASE

N.Z.M.A. Welcomes Medical Real Estate Initiative

A web site dedicated to servicing the real estate requirements of the medical and allied health professions has been launched in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Medical Association has entered into a long term arrangement with Medical Real Estate. Spokesperson Anna Storey believes that the medical profession will enthusiastically embrace the site. “The site’s creators have successfully addressed a number of issues relating to the real estate requirements of the medical profession such as the trends towards larger group practices and multiple practising locations.” The web site also allows general practices across New Zealand to seek occupants for one or more consulting suites that may be sitting idle. Up until now the cost of advertising the availability of these rooms meant that seeking occupants on a sessional or permanent basis was simply not viable. The cost of a three month listing on site compares favourably with other available advertising options, and is roughly equivalent to the rent receivable for letting a room for 3 sessions (1.5 days). Occupants need not be restricted to general practitioners exclusively. The introduction of medical specialists and allied health professionals to a general practice not only assists in maximising the potential for obtaining occupants, it also benefits the clinic’s patients by providing a wider and more varied range of services.

Found at www.medicalrealestate.co.nz, the concept uses the “universality” of the Internet with the intention of creating a single and industry recognised repository for the marketing of real estate suitable for occupation by the health professions.

Site creator Phillip Apelbaum emphasised that Medical Real Estate is not an agency service. “It is simply another form of advertising that uses the Internet as its medium in much the same way as a newspaper is used to place classified advertisements.”
The site provides the opportunity for Vendors/Landlords and Purchasers/Tenants to negotiate directly, although the site is also specifically designed to cater for estate agents who have medical rooms, practices or properties for sale or lease.

The site can be categorised into the following sections.

As An Advertising Medium

List rooms, suites, and clinics for sale or lease as well as the sale of the practice. The cost (inclusive of GST) for each listing is a once only payment of $275 for a 3 month listing. Members of the New Zealand Medical Association will pay the discounted rate of $240.

According to Mr Apelbaum, “the nature of the Internet is such that we were able to design a site for which each listing, large or small, is provided a full web page where all relevant information may be displayed as well as allowing up to four photographs (and enlargements) to appear at no extra cost. In addition, rather than appearing once as is the case with printed publications, each listing remains on site for three months and is available for viewing 24 hours per day.”

Advertisers maintain their anonymity, as their details are not disclosed on site. Enquiries generated are automatically forwarded to the advertiser by email. It is then up to the advertiser to contact the enquirer at a suitable time.

As a Notice or Bulletin Board – Properties Wanted

This section is akin to a public forum in which healthcare professionals can anonymously list their requirements for the lease or purchase of medical rooms, suites and clinics and the purchase of practices.

The emergence of multi practitioner and multi discipline clinics has meant that health professionals are more likely to practice in more than one location throughout a normal week. This is particularly the case for medical specialists and the rapidly emerging allied health industries. In order to provide a sufficient level of accessibility to the overall population, these groups have a growing need for their practices to be located in various areas.

Listings in the Property Wanted section are free of charge. As the listers personal details are not displayed on site, the lister’s identity remains anonymous to those viewing their requirements. The listers personal information is provided to all those who have themselves listed rooms, clinics or practices for sale or lease. In addition should a person not have a property or practice listed on site but still wish to contact those that have advertised their premises requirements, they may purchase the right to receive listers details for a period of one month at a cost inclusive of G.S.T. of $69 ($55 for N.Z.M.A. members).

As a Searchable Database

The site provides the facility to search for rooms, suites, entire clinics that are for sale and/or lease and medical practices for sale. Advanced search options allows the user to search by a number of variables such as regions, suburbs, price range, building/floor areas or simply the number of rooms required.

The Bulletin Board – Properties Wanted section may be searched using most of the criteria set down by the lister.

As an introductory offer all listing on site will be free of charge until 1st July 2002.

Additional site services are currently being developed and are expected to be introduced over the next 12 months. These include a specific facility allowing hospitals to list their private consulting suites and the provision for an on line booking service for healthcare professionals who seek to lease rooms and suites on a sessional basis.

ENDS

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