Database Benefits Valuation Clients as Commercial Real Estate Market Demands Skilled Navigation

When I began entering commercial real estate data into a database in 1995, I never imagined it would mark the beginning of an evolving 14 year project. And the same project would wind up having an unusual but suitable name.

Today the product of this effort is a powerful proprietary analytical tool which is being leveraged to provide exceptional benefits for discerning valuation clients throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.

Known as the  Market Mouse database, as a reference to the agility of a mouse in maze adeptly probing and efficiently navigating in search of the most optimum destination or outcome,  this relational database truly is one Mighty Mouse! 

Market Mouse has little resemblance to an automated valuation model (AVM), statistical data product or “valuation instrument”. Indeed, time tested skills such as technical aptitude, cognitive thinking  and constant street level information gathering are still employed. Rather the  Market Mouse data management system has a supplemental role in much of valuation and brokerage activities in which I am retained.

Today the database contains close to 6,500 individual commercial property, transaction and listing records totalling over $3.0 Billion among 70 individual property classes. Linked to 1,300 of the property records are high quality digital images. 

Since its humble inception, a consistent “quality in and quality out” focus has been at the core of Market Mouse. Along with this commitment is the drive to develop unique and meaningful data sets achieved through a range of sorting, filtering and grouping capabilities. Whether analyzing by location, name (buyer, seller, lender or broker), property type or characteristic, time frame, and a host of dollar ranges, its all possible with Market Mouse.

The majority of records cover properties within Barnstable, Dukes (Marthas Vineyard) and Nantucket Counties. In 2007 and 2008 along with a series of tweakings completed by one smart professional programmer, data collection was expanded to nearby Bristol, Plymouth and Norfolk Counties. To date, these efforts have provided a solid return on investment on several levels.

Contact me today and discover how Market Mouse can further your goal of deriving real benefits and reliable outcomes in your next valuation  project whether for one property or a portfolio.

Joseph P. Egan is a MA Certified General Real Estate Appraiser with over 25 years of professional valuation experience. Through a specialization in commercial real estate and closely-held businesses, since 1991 he has completed over 650 appraisal, brokerage and consulting assignments concerning all types of commercial real estate assets and going concerns located on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Plymouth County, MA. Clients served generally include attorneys, banks, corporations, developers, investors, and owners of closely-held and family businesses. Prior to relocating to Cape Cod, Joe worked in the New York Metro Area and throughout CT with leading regional and national appraisal firms such as Cushman & Wakefield. Please contact Joe here.