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Shifting focus to survive
The Moote Group land management firm is rethinking its target client – and thinking green.
By Jerry HicksPublished: July 01, 2009
For more than 30 years, the Moote Group of Santa Ana has been one of Orange County’s leading land management specialists. But consultants like the Moote Group took a hit when local developers stopped building. Marji Knitter, president of the family-owned business, talks about surviving in the economic crisis.
Hicks: Did the dip in the economy affect you gradually?
Knitter: No, overnight. It was July of 2007 when the subprime lending debacle began. Mortgages simply ceased.
H: But you’re still here, still busy working.
K: Well, we managed to hang in there by getting hired as expert witnesses in a lot of hearings on land cases – disputes between buyers and sellers. Instead of representing private land developers, we now work with public agencies. They still have money to spend, and their projects are shovel-ready.
H: Have you had to change your approach to the business at all?
K: We had to start advertising to get the word out. Also, we’re getting more green credentials. Specialists like us need to be up on the latest in green regulations. We have joined organizations like Build It Green and the United Green Building Council.
H: Are the prospects for a full recovery good?
K: We expect a lot of new work for land specialists in the fall. Our clients then will be the banks, which have come into a lot of land through foreclosures.
H: And they will need land consultants for that?
K: Absolutely. They will need experts who know the land value and what all the state and local regulations are. We can do that for them. We’ll be doing the same things we’ve always done – just for a different type of client.
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Hicks: Did the dip in the economy affect you gradually? Knitter: No, overnight. It was July of 2007 when the subprime lending debacle began. Mortgages simply ceased. H: But you’re still here, still busy working. K: Well, we managed to hang in there by getting hired as expert witnesses in a lot of hearings on land cases – disputes between buyers and sellers. Instead of representing private land developers, we now work with public agencies. They still have money to spend, and their projects are shovel-ready. H: Have you had to change your approach to the business at all? K: We had to start advertising to get the word out. Also, we’re getting more green credentials. Specialists like us need to be up on the latest in green regulations. We have joined organizations like Build It Green and the United Green Building Council. H: Are the prospects for a full recovery good? K: We expect a lot of new work for land specialists in the fall. Our clients then will be the banks, which have come into a lot of land through foreclosures. H: And they will need land consultants for that? K: Absolutely. They will need experts who know the land value and what all the state and local regulations are. We can do that for them. We’ll be doing the same things we’ve always done – just for a different type of client. |
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