Interview with Paul Giness, property expert, ERABy: Richenda Oldham

Paul Giness is a Chartered Surveyor with 20 years’ experience working in the property industry. He began his career with a national firm of chartered surveyors, specialising in business rates - an area that has developed into his core expertise.

Paul has recently adopted a more client focused service role within ERA property, which offers a complete property solution, encompassing acquisitions, business rating and landlord and tenant advice. He focuses on reducing companies property costs through business rates reviews and corporate rent restructuring.

Paul also works extensively within the Education sector liaising with independent schools, colleges and universities, advising on property matters.

What do you like best about your current job?
It’s constantly changing and evolving, depending on the market and economic conditions. You can never stay still. I enjoy spotting new opportunities for clients to make property cost savings and working with my referral network to develop these new opportunities.

What was your First job?
My first job was for a national surveying practice, which gave me the best grounding possible and enabled me to understand how the big firms structure themselves. I initially joined as a Sandwich Student where I worked for a year during university and then joined them full time after I’d finished at a different office.

Who has been the greatest influence on your life?
Professionally, I’d have to say my business partner, who I worked with out of an office in Liverpool. Soon enough I bought into his vision for setting up on our own in 1994.

Why specialise in business rates?
You fall into business rates, you don’t dream of being a rating surveyor as a kid. Having said that, I enjoy progressing challenging cases to push the boundaries of achievement and its one of the rare areas of professional services where we can make a real difference in tangible savings for clients.

What do you most enjoy about the commercial property world?
It’s a very sociable profession! This has been squeezed slightly during the credit crunch, but fundamentally surveyors are a friendly bunch. I also like the balance of being in and out of the office - it’s good to not be desk bound.

What big changes have you noticed within property during the recession?
Work is getting highly competitive and everyone seems to have less time. Day-to-day tends to be more stressful than pre-credit crunch.

What is the best best decision you have ever made?
Getting married definitely, if that’s not too corny!

What is your motivation in life?
I strive to improve myself and learn new things. I aim to make today a better day than yesterday, even if that doesn’t always happen.

What has been the most exciting moment in your life?
I was lucky enough a few years ago to go to the first Singapore night time Grand Prix weekend, which was the most incredible experience. I’ll never forget calling home on Monday morning while the kids were getting ready for school and looking out over the ocean in Singapore.

If you hadn't become a surveyor what would you have been?
A psychologist definitely, if I was clever enough!

What advice would you give to a young person coming into the property profession today?
Start in General Practice, try as many disciplines as possible and be prepared to specialise, ideally in an area that has longevity and most of all that you enjoy.

How different is property now to when you first qualified and what changes do you most regret/welcome?
Parts of my specialism are dumbing down and it can be hard to demonstrate our full skill sets and provide the bespoke service we want to. I welcome technology and the availability of information as long as you know what to do with it.

www.expense-reduction.co.uk