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Online Property Database Offers Free Listings
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Business New Haven
2/5/2001
By: John Florian
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When a product or service is offered for free, is it too good to be true? Maybe. But scores of commercial and industrial real estate brokers are logging sales by posting their listings - for free - on SiteFinder (www.cerc.com), the online database created by the nonprofit Connecticut Economic Resource Center Inc. (CERC), based in Rocky Hill. Susan Winkler is director of real estate for CERC, and tells brokers and property-seekers how to get this free help.
Susan, what exactly is SiteFinder?
SiteFinder is an online database of available commercial and industrial properties in Connecticut. It's designed for brokers and companies and their representatives who are searching for available space. Right now, we have over 2,000 listings, and that's pretty much our threshold because every day properties come and go. SiteFinder is part of CERC, which is funded by utility concerns in Connecticut, and the state government. The database was born in 1992 and, at first, was a dial-up service. It went online in 1998.
What's the relationship of the commercial brokerages with you?
We encourage all brokerage firms to put their listings on SiteFinder. Most do this because they find it's a viable tool to market their real estate. This is a way for them to put their listings in a place that is searched primarily by companies that are looking to expand in or relocate to Connecticut. We're not competing at all with those brokers; we're doing them a service. And, of course, we also recently became connected to Loopnet.com, which is a national commercial listing service. That's an added benefit for brokers who decide to become members.
Can brokers participate in SiteFinder without being members?
Absolutely. Our funding partners want the database to be most comprehensive. So any broker with an exclusive listing on a commercial property may put that listing on the system, without charge.
Then what's the advantage of becoming a member?
One is being able to upload listings to Loopnet, with just the touch of a button. They can also change and edit their online data in real time.
Is SiteFinder working? What reactions do you get from brokers?
They love it. We get 10,000 to 15,000 hits a month from brokers and companies looking at the data. Brokers get activity on their property listings all the time. We don't ask the site visitor to register, however, because we believe people like the Internet to be a free flow of information. Sometimes when you close that door you prohibit that free exchange.
And brokers get feedback from this?
Absolutely. Last year, 64 brokers told us there was a successful transaction resulting from a listing on SiteFinder. This represents over a million square feet of space. Most of these success stories are about in-state transactions. About 25 percent, though, is coming from out of state, and a lot of time, the companies will use the free database, then call for supplemental business information about Connecticut - for instance, about tax credit programs, job training for employees, information about utilities, conservation programs and so forth. They want to know, what can the state offer us?
Are the same services available to in-state companies?
Of course. Once they contact us, we'll assist with everything they need.
What major things are companies looking for when they move?
Location, for one. They see Connecticut as good place for business due to location, whether it's proximity to New York or Boston. Perhaps, to be near Yale, if it's a biotech company, or they desire high tech or manufacturing employees. And that's the second factor for choosing Connecticut: the type of labor available here. Couple all this with the quality of life.
I encourage brokers to place their information on the database. They can either call me directly (860-571-6212) or contact by e-mail (swinkler@cerc.com). Companies in need of real estate can also search the database or contact us directly, and we'll assist them immediately.
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