Changes the type of build / sale units used for the selected item. It is only available for Unit Build costs, Rents and Direct sales. These are the items that consist of three lines, Number of Units, Area and Rate.
The types of units vary depending on which one of these three categories is currently highlighted. The choice of unit type is reflected in the appraisal report. Note: Changing the unit type does not alter any values; having made such changes you will need to review your areas and rates (e.g. when changing from square feet to square metres).
In the case of Rents there is the additional option of using Rent per Month instead of the default Rent per Annum. This is why there is a duplicate set of the available unit types, one applying Rent per Annum and the other applying Rent per Month (mainly used in Europe). If you change from annual to monthly rent (or vice versa) then Prodev will display a reminder message as it is imperative that you ensure the rental value is appropriate to the rental frequency chosen.
In the case of Direct Sales the order in which the unit types are listed in the drop-down box is different. This is because the default setting for Direct Sales is rate per Unit unlike the others where the default is rate per Square Foot.
The options in all cases are:
Square Feet
Sets the unit type for the highlighted item to rate per Square Foot. This is the default setting for Build and Rental units (unless you have use the New as Metric option). All three lines (Number of Units, Area and Rate) are multiplied together to arrive at the value for the item.
Example: 80,000 sq ft at £120 per sq foot is entered as Number of Units:1, Area:80,000, Rate:120
Square Metres
Sets the unit type for the highlighted item to rate per Square Metre. All three lines (Number of Units, Area and Rate) are multiplied together to arrive at the value for the item.
Example: 800 sq metres at £750 per sq metre is entered as Number of Units:1, Area:800, Rate:750
Number or Units
Sets the unit type for the highlighted item to rate per Unit. This is the default setting for Direct Sales units. Note: Only the first and last of the three lines (Number of Units and Rate) are multiplied together to arrive at the value for the item. As the value is based on a rate per unit, the middle line (Area) is irrelevant to the calculation.
Example: 8 houses at £125,000 each is entered as Number of Units:8, Area:0, Rate:125000 (Note that Area is not needed).
Car Spaces
Sets the unit type for the highlighted item to rate per Car Space. Note: Only the first and last of the three lines (Number of Units, Rate) are multiplied together to arrive at the value for the item. As the value is based on a rate per unit, the middle line (Area) is irrelevant to the calculation.
Example: 50 car spaces at £1,100 each is entered as Number of Units:50, Area:0, Rate:1100 (Note that Area is not needed).
Plots
Sets the unit type for the highlighted item to rate per Plot (acre or hectare). All three lines (Number of Units, Area and Rate) are multiplied together to arrive at the value for the item. By default plot measurement is set to acres, this can be altered to hectares if required (see ‘Plots as Hectares’ on the ‘Settings menu’).
Example: 2 plots of 2.4 acres at £450,000 per acre is entered as Number of Units:2, Area:2.4, Rate:450000