Assuming that you've been nice this year and you've benchmarked your corporate real estate portfolio, audited all of your CAMs and figured out a way to squeeze in more employees per square foot, it's time to ask Santa (or your boss) for some cool new toys. Unfortunately, post-recession corporate spending levels are still remaining restrained, so you're probably not going to get a G650, or even a budget to stay in Four Seasons properties when you travel for business. In fact, asking for them will probably put you on the naughty list. But here's what you can ask for:
An iPad Air
While Android tablets are starting to catch up to iPads, the new iPad Air is still the tablet to beat. Offering better performance and graphics with a smaller package, the Air is a do-everything companion when you're on the road. Between the broad availability of corporate real estate and road warrior friendly apps, it can replace your notebook computer for just about anything. Plus, its form factor makes it easy to use when you're standing or sitting in an airport chair without a desk in front of you.
DSLR Camera and Accessories
The camera on your iPhone is pretty good for just about everything, but when you need to take pictures of buildings as a part of site tours, it has two key drawbacks. It isn't wide enough to encompass many interior areas, and it doesn't always do a good job of taking pictures indoors, especially if there isn't a lot of light or uneven light. The best solution to that problem is a DSLR camera with a quality lens.
An inexpensive small and light consumer-grade DSLR like the Nikon D5300 is perfect for taking great shots of your corporate real estate portfolio. To make it truly useful, add on an ultra wide-angle lens, like the Nikon 10-24mm DX lens for interior pictures. You can also purchase a cheap zoom lens - like the Nikon DX 18-200 - for general-purpose photography.
A Pocket Projector
When you're on the road, it can be nice to work on a larger screen than the one on your notebook or your iPad. A pocket projector might not give you a lot of resolution, but it will give you a large enough image that you can do your work for hours without squinting or straining your eyes. 720p widescreen or 1024-by-768 XGA resolutions might not match your iPad Air, but it will give you enough detail to be productive. Don't be scared by the low lumen rating - 100 lumens is usually more than enough for an image that is bigger than a monitor. Pictured to the left is the M2 Micro Projector.
Corporate Real Estate Director Stocking Stuffers
If Santa's feeling particularly generous, here are a few stocking stuffers that will make you even more productive:
-
"MiFi" A portable wireless hotspot is more flexible than a 4G connection on an iPad and saves you from unpredictable Wi-Fi hotspots.
-
Bluetooth earpiece When you spend a lot of time on the phone, a good earpiece is an excellent investment.
-
Portable scanner When documents aren't in PDF format, a portable scanner (or scanner app for your iPad) lets you get them online quickly.
-
Extended battery Extended batteries help keep you working when your phone or iPad starts to run low and you aren't anywhere near an outlet.
-
iPad keyboard case A keyboard case solves the iPad's one weak point - its touchscreen makes typing awkward. If the keyboard cases aren't comfortable for you, a wireless Bluetooth keyboard can be an even better alternative.
From everyone here at REoptimizer®, we'd like to wish you all a warm and wonderful holiday season!
Stay updated with everything corporate real estate in 2014! Click the button below to subscribe to our blog:
