GlobeSt.com: How often do you discover that permits are a stumbling block for your clients?

Robinson: In data collected from work with over 22,000 properties between 2003 and 2009, Permit Place found that nearly half of these properties did not have an active building permit on file. Quickly discovering a property's permit and entitlement status can provide a significant advantage to the professional team charged with analyzing the full risk and value of a property or portfolio.

GlobeSt.com: So how would the Asset Advantage actually help clients "optimize value"?

Asset Advantage helps clients to optimize the value of their assets or potential assets by providing services including: research, reporting and remediation for entitlements, tentative tract maps, final tract maps, permits, inspection records, code violations and certificate of occupancy. Asset Advantage also confirms construction in place, zoning analysis, use of right, conditions of approval, planning affidavits, development agreements, fines and fees allowing clients with incomplete assets to estimate the true cost to complete.

GlobeSt.com: Who are the Asset Advantage team members?

Robinson: Permit Place's Asset Advantage team members are experienced urban planners, real estate and construction managers who use web-based technology and personal relationships to provide entitlement and permit assessment for commercial and residential properties located throughout the nation.

GlobeSt.com: Are there any specific type of requirements in order to use the service, such as a specific asset class or geographic region for example?

Robinson: A customizable package of services is available for all asset classes at any phase of the project: single-family dwelling, multifamily, commercial, retail, industrial, undeveloped land.

GlobeSt.com: Can you give me a specific example of one of your clients and how the Asset Advantage is helping them?

Robinson: One of Permit Place's clients is a national bank specializing in construction lending. Permit Place has confirmed permit status for up to 5,000 properties a year for this bank in order to assess risk and determine the value of the portfolio. Before contracting with Permit Place, the process was taking eight full-time employees working seven days a week for this bank, because they did not have Permit Place's streamlined web-based system, extensive relationships, direct access and experience.