Grain & Co. are committed to delivering results proactively and effectively on behalf of our clients, achieved through our fresh approach to the traditional business of development land agency and property advice, whilst reflecting the major changes taking place in the general and rural economy today.
- Advice on sale of residential & commercial development land under option.
- Sourcing sites for specific uses.
- Saving projects & start-up businesses.
What we offer
Advice on sale of residential & commercial development land under option.
- Specialising in all aspects of development land, delivering a bespoke service to suit individual client needs.
- Grain & Co. have acted for a number of landowners who have had options taken out on their land by developers and subsequently been disappointed by the developer’s best offer for the land when the planning consent is given and the option is triggered.
- Have a dedicated team, of associates for handling areas of this complex system of land purchase.
- Only representing landowners and do not working for large developers, as this may create a conflict of interest.
- A wealth of experience, having represented landowners on one of the largest new developments in the UK and winning additional monies, at arbitration, over and above the developer’s best offer.
- Grain & Co. have considerable experience in the Social Housing sector of residential development. Where despite the current misconception, there is still money to be made for the landowner.
- Working on a no win, no fee basis, after an initial assessment has been made.
Sourcing sites for investment and/or specific uses
- Grain & Co. have many years of experience in this field and have undertaken projects for Shell, Komatsu, Dean & Bowes and many more.
- Specialist knowledge on planning issues and will advise clients’ on getting the most comprehensive consents enabling clients to have multi uses, that may be of use in the future and enhance the value of the property.
- Grain & Co. advise on best ways to achieve the greatest return on investments, (ROIs), and have considerable experience on construction methods and costings.
- Vast experience in the Social Housing sector of residential development.
Saving projects & start-up businesses
- Grain & Co. have the resources and expertise to resurrect old projects that have died through lack of management and/or finance.
- Introduction of investors that may be able to help.
- Grain & Co. will set up and assist in the running of new management systems and financial control mechanisms.
- Offering experience in business management in many ex-Soviet satellite states and have worked in Romania, Hungary and Ukraine on land development projects and agricultural businesses. Values ranging between €150,000.00 to €180 million.
- Grain & Co. guarantee not to accept any instructions where we feel there is no possibility of us adding value.
In the specialist area of options that developers hold on land, Grain & Co’, have built up close working relationships with several specialist professional practices, that are required to provide the specialist advice. It is also worth noting, we act solely on behalf of our landowners and never for large developers.
We have a culture built around quality and experience. Grain & Co. are extremely proud of the relationships they have with clients and the partnerships formed with the other specialist professional practices.
Grain & Co. are defined by the client and the project, ensuring they deliver a bespoke service to all their clients, never undertaking projects where they feel there is no possibility of adding value.
Your Questions
A. Ideally before you enter the option. A large proportion of the costs in dealing with an option is once it has been entered. This is because developers are entering into these agreements all the time and know exactly how they want the agreement worded. The landowner’s solicitor, however capable and unless he has previous experience, will find it almost impossible to pick up the clauses that can make an option a fair & equitable document, for both sides. Grain & Co have solicitors/barristers that specialise in this field.
A. Grain & Co can give you an initial opinion as to whether your option is fair & equitable FOC. However, because options can be very complicated legal agreements, there are cases where it is necessary to seek expert professional advice. In these cases, Grain & Co will let the landowner have a capped fee to give a legal opinion on the option.
A. The no win no fee offer, is only applicable once an option has been triggered and the developer has provided the landowner with his best offer for the land. Each project is examined, on its own merits. However, in some instances, there may be an initial fee, where the developer’s offer price seems just under the market value, but not enough to warrant an in-depth evaluation. In these cases, the landowner will be given a capped fee structure to establish what the reality of the situation is. If it turns out that the developer best offer is reasonable, the landowner has the comfort of knowing he has not allowed his land to be under sold, or in some cases have the information to ask the developer to increase their offer by a small amount, without going to the expense of a full blown evaluation.
A. Because, developers are producing property for market on an annual basis. In some cases, developers are buying land from Estate Agents and selling the properties through Estate Agents. This situation can cause a conflict of interest. For this reason and to give comfort to the landowner, Grain & Co pledge they will never work for developers, and as such, makes it crystal clear there can never be a conflict of interest.