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TOP property auctioneer Paul Fosh has vowed not to return to face to face ‘ballroom’ sales after the runaway success of his online real estate auctions.

Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, the most successful property auction business in Wales,  took property auctions online at the start of lockdown and haven’t looked back since.

Paul Fosh, who also has a separate successful property rentals business, says all indicators have boomed since taking a decision to solely sell lots online.

Paul Fosh, who used to host regular ‘terrestrial’ sales at a hotel ballroom in Cardiff prior to lock down, said: “I’m asked quite often: ‘Online or room sale will you ever go back?’ The answer, quite frankly, is that the statistics we have repeatedly from our online sales speak for themselves and that is my opinion.

“There are far more people who attend our online sales than ever, ever attended our ‘real’ sales in an auction room. It is  just not in our clients’ interest to return to room sales so we’ll be staying online as we know that it’s the best thing to do for our clients.”

Paul, commenting of the most recent auction sale, said: “There is talk that the property market is getting quite flat and certainly there is some hardening up in the market but our most recent auction, in July, was incredibly strong returning some very promising figures.

“We offered 85 lots with 71% of those sold generating some £6m in value sales. We had a total of almost 1,300 visit to the website generating 950 watchers of properties and some 517 registered bidders. We had nearly  14,00 legal packs downloaded with about 300 people attending viewings. We had 1,090 bids placed during the course of the auction.”

Paul pointed to a couple of noticeable sales at the auction house at Windmill Terrace, in Swansea which attracted 87 bids and sold for twice its guide at £92,500 and an industrial estate, Trawsfford Hall Units, Ystradgynlais, which attracted 122 bids and sold for three times its guide at £401000.

Paul said: “The golden rule is that if the property is priced correctly it will sell and sell well.”

The next Paul Fosh Auctions sale starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, August 29 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, August 31

www.paulfoshauctions.com

A fire damaged South Wales valleys house which experts warned could only be viewed from outside and from a distance smashed its guide price when it went up for auction.

The ultimate property doer upper challenge was listed with a price of £14,000 eventually sold £71,500 for after a surge of bids from those wanting to get their hands on the terraced house.

There was a stark Fire Brigade safety notice pinned to the front door  of the house, at 8, Suffolk Place, Ogmore Vale, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan warning of its condition and that it is unsafe to enter.

Prospective buyers had been advised that they should only view the fire damaged house, being sold by Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions,  from afar as internal walls and staircase had collapsed.

Angie Davey, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Despite the condition of the fire-damaged house there was huge interest in this property with many being able to see through its condition to realise its potential. In the end we had a total of 109 bids registered from 13 individual bidders before its sold for a very decent £71,500, considering its condition-more than five times the £14,000-plus guide.

“The mid-terraced house will require complete renovation due to the internal collapse of the staircase and three walls but once completed will make a comfy home.

“We weren’t able to inspect the property prior to the auction but were informed by the vendor that the accommodation previously consisted of two reception rooms, kitchen, three bedrooms, bathroom with separate w.c. There is a rear garden, which is overgrown, and lane access.

“Once renovated the house could realise a rental of approximately £575 pcm.

“Even though this could be seen as the ultimate doer upper and will require all sorts of construction skills to make it habitable, it created huge pre auction interest from those relishing a challenge and who saw the real potential for this building.

“The property had a Fire Brigade safety notice pinned to the front door and we advised that internal viewings would not be conducted on the house due to the very real danger to anyone venturing inside.”

www.paulfoshauctions.com

A Gwent couple were so amazed by the free service given by a local hospice to a dying relative that they have not only made a large £10,000 donation, but also are paying a nurse’s salary for two years as a thank you.

Wayne and Tracy Phillips, were caring for Wayne’s terminally ill mother, Jean, aged 82, at their home in Bassaleg, Newport.

But acting on advice from their GP they were referred to Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care for help.

Jean Phillips, of St Brides, Newport, was given comprehensive palliative care by the hospice at her son’s home during her final three weeks of life – something for which Wayne and Tracy will be forever grateful.

Cardiff-based strategic planning consultant Wayne said: “The care my mother received from the hospice and, in particular, from our nurse Faye was truly astounding.”

But businessman Wayne, aged 46 and wife, mum-of-six Tracy,  aged 41, on a visit to the Newport hospice to thank management and staff, agreed it could all have been so different.

The couple said they hadn’t known where to turn on receiving the devastating news that mum, Jean, was dying.

“Thankfully the GP suggested we contact St David’s Hospice Care and from the moment nurse Faye walked through our door our lives, especially that of my mother, changed forever.”

Wayne said: “We were frightened; we were scared. We knew we needed help and didn’t know which way to turn.

“We’d been worrying, stressing that we were doing things wrong and that mum was suffering even more as a result. You begin to doubt yourself. It’s terrifying.

“We both feel lighter now, calmer, knowing that we did everything that we possibly could for Jean.

“We have no regrets. It wasn’t an easy time, nothing like this can be but we and the whole family feel that everything was as a good as it could have been and we put this down to the excellent care from Faye and the St David’s Hospice Care team.

“But it all could have been so different.

“I know of people who have had to go through what we did on their own, without the care, support and assistance that we had. I simply can’t imagine what it’s like.”

Wayne said: “After five or ten minutes Faye had taken stock of the situation and knew exactly what was required.

“Over the time she was with us we became firm friends and my mother who could be quite stubborn and very uncooperative, especially if she didn’t take to a person, almost immediately warmed to Faye. It was as if a light had gone on.

“Super Faye, as we call her, was fantastic. She took immediate control of the situation. We were blown away with the level of care, the empathy, the compassion and professionalism of Faye and her team.

“We thought the hospice was part of the NHS. Never did we think that the service was largely paid for by donations and fund raising and also that the care and services provided are completely free to users.

“We wanted to show our appreciation and to continue our support by becoming a sponsor of a nurse. We hope that what we have done may be replicated by others.”

Tracy, a counsellor, said: “Jean had a fear of dying, she was anxious about it”.

“As a counsellor I recognised what she was going through. Towards the end, due to the excellent palliative care, she had become comfortable with the idea that she wasn’t going to get better.

“It’s incorrect to say that the nurses have seen it all before as every case is different.

“Every family situation is different but certain end of life signs are the same and this among the very many other things the palliative care nurses know about is their true value. When to do things, when not to do things, especially towards the end.”

Wayne said: “We now regard the hospice and their people as our ‘miracle’ place. It was a total revelation.

“We support a lot of charities and have done so over the years but often you haven’t got an idea where the money that you raise is used or where it goes. With St David’s Hospice Care you know that it goes directly to patient care

“It was quite a shock to know that everything that my mum and our family received from St David’s Hospice Care was free.

“The level of care and compassion was superb and it’s all for free to those who need it.

“Of course this has to be paid for, which is why we decided not just to donate an initial £10,000 to the hospice but to fund a nurse, Faye’s salary, for a full two years.

“We told mum that we were going to make a donation and even as she was dying she turned to me and said: “You will make that donation to the hospice won’t you” She was lucid and fully coherent right until the end and knew how hard and passionately the hospice staff had worked on her behalf.

“Sponsoring a nurse can be done at so many different levels and can be done over a period of time depending on the level of donation.  We are delighted to be the first sponsors involved in this ground-breaking campaign and hope it enables more nurses to be provided by St David’s Hospice Care.

“Perhaps there may be others who can go down the same road as us and choose to sponsor a nurse.

“This kind of nursing must be a nightmare job, tough, demanding not just physically but mentally. Meeting people for a relatively short time with every situation different with its varied challenges but all done with a smile-it’s simply amazing.”

“The sponsor a nurse scheme is a great initiative, which we’re sure will make a huge difference to the hospice.

“We’re delighted to support the sponsor a nurse and thrilled to know that we are the first.

“We now hope that what we have done as ground breakers, if you like, is carried on by others. Nurses like Faye are so crucial and urgently needed to provide the marvellous care that people such as us received for our mum.

“It’s important that people know about the care provided by the hospice. The more people who know the better.”

The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Faye Russell-Jones, aged 29, a palliative care nurse for six years, is the first St David’s Hospice Care nurse to be sponsored.

Proudly wearing her new sponsored hospice tunic displaying the Phillips Consultants logo, Faye said: “I’ll be happy to chat to anyone who is interested in sponsoring a nurse and we are all so grateful to Wayne and Tracy for their extremely generous donation.

St David’s Hospice Care Chief Executive Officer, Emma Saysell, said “We’re overwhelmed by the kindness shown by Wayne and Tracy Phillips.

“Clinical salaries make up a huge part of the hospice expenditure every year and we are so pleased that Wayne and Tracy are the first people ever to fully sponsor a nurse.  We are very humbled.

“The hospice looks after some 3,200 patients a year and is  looking after 1,400 patients at any one time on average.

” If you are interested in doing something similar to Wayne and Tracy, we would love you to get in touch either by telephone 01633 851051 or by email: enquiries@stdavidshospicecare.org

MAKE it a firm date in your diary-Chepstow Spud Fest is coming to town.

The free festival, organised by Chepstow Town Council and to be held principally in the town’s historic Drill Hall and on the riverbank and the castle dell, will be on Saturday, October 21, from 11am to 5pm.

Exact programme details are being finalised but a range of potato-themed events are being considered by the council’s newly-created Chepstow Spud Fest (CSF) Working Group.

The CSF is now inviting groups and organisations within the town and any others with an interest and any spud-based ideas, to get involved in what it is hoped will become an annual festival.

Central to the celebration of all things potato is the pebble sculpture, unveiled in March this year on the River Wye in Chepstow, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the creation of Wales Coast Path.

The coast path, which attracts thousands of walkers and tourists to the town each year, starts and ends on the banks of the River Wye in Chepstow.

The pebble sculpture, which some say resembles a tin-foil covered baked potato, has grabbed the imagination of the people of Chepstow and visitors to the ancient walled town alike.

Mayor of Chepstow, Councillor Margaret Griffiths, who is chair of the Chepstow Spud Fest Working Group, said: “Chepstow Spud Fest is a perfect opportunity to build on the undeniable interest in the sculpture that has been generated since its unveiling on the river bank earlier this year. We hope that the spud fest will help to promote the town, its culture and attractions and will boost engagement with the community.”

Events at Chepstow Spud Fest could involve:

• Competitions for the champion potato, potatoes resembling famous people and characters;
• Photography and painting of potatoes;
• Children’s artwork including, potato prints, potato people, collages of potatoes;
• Cookery demonstrations;
• Potato sculpture:
• Most imaginative use of a potato;
• Stalls;
• Expert talks on potatoes, growing them, their uses and cultural significance;
• Best home-grown potato competition;
• Gardener’s Question Time;
• A potato sack race through the town;
• A Chepstow potato trail;
• Recitation of poems and stories about potatoes as well as a poetry competition and potato related music.

For more details about Chepstow Spud Fest contact Chepstow Town Clerk Lucy on 01291 626370 or  email admin@chepstow.co.uk

A Grade II listed detached former Monmouthshire toll house could continue to bring in an income if converted to a holiday home.

Pike House, at the end of a secluded lane, is an unusual property on the edge of the bustling, affluent South Wales border town of Monmouth.

The two bedroom historic house, on New Dixton Road, is listed for sale with Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £230,000-plus

Angie Davey, of Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Situated towards the end of a lane adjacent to open countryside this Grade ll listed detached cottage benefits from far reaching views and was originally the Toll House.

“With excellent commuter links via the A40 the property provides an open plan lounge/dining room, sitting room, kitchen, shower room and two bedrooms.

“The mature, lawned garden includes a courtyard, log store, greenhouse, sheds, allotment, pergola covered decked area and gravelled area along with a large parking area.

“The cottage could be extended subject to the necessary consents and given its close proximity to the Wye Valley area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) could make an ideal holiday home or investment.

“The property has a lounge dining room, sitting room kitchen shower room on the ground floor with the two bedrooms on the first floor. Outside There is  a mature lawned garden, sheds a greenhouse, log store, allotment courtyard, decked areas and large parking area is to be sold with vacant possession.

“We anticipate this property once done up could realise a monthly rental of some £1,400.

“The historic market town of Monmouth offers state and private/boarding schools, independent shops, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose, cafes, and restaurants. The area is renowned for its breath-taking countryside and tourism due to river/walking/climbing pursuits.”

The former toll house is included in a catalogue of properties in the Paul Fosh Auctions online sale which starts from 12 noon on Tuesday, July 25 and ends from 5pm on Thursday July 27.

A local-stone built barn in an idyllic setting in the heart of Monmouthshire will get pulses racing when it comes to auction later this month.

The substantial former agricultural building in the village of  Llanellen, close to the border town of Abergavenny, is being sold by Paul Fosh Auctions.

Listed with a guide price of £300,000-plus the iconic property has more than just looks and position close to a canal, to get potential bidders twitching.

Sean Roper, of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “Idyllic is an overused word when describing a building and its location but there is no other suitable description, and is totally apt, when talking about this wonderful barn in Llanellen. It’s a real stunner.

“And, what’s more, the property already has planning permission for conversion to a pair of residential units.

“This really is a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial barn with planning for conversion. The barn occupies a wonderful position in a rural setting with beautiful countryside surrounding and is located close to the Monmouthshire Brecon canal.

“The barn may also offer scope for alternative use such as tourism or commercial (subject to necessary planning consent).”

“The village of Llanellen lies approximately three miles south of the bustling town of Abergavenny with its wide range of amenities, shops, schools and restaurants/bars and has good road links to Newport and the M4 motorway.”

The barn, along with some eighty other properties, will be sold online at the next Paul Fosh Auctions sale which starts from 12 noon on Tuesday, July 25 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, July 27

www.paulfoshauctions.com

GWENT fundraisers are still going strong more than forty years after first raising money to support a local hospice as it found its feet by publishing a cook book.

Sallie Slade and Paddy Landers are founder members of what was initially called the Cwmbran Support Group of St David’s Foundation.

Now the pair, along with some 25 other women, continue to raise funds for Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care and are also part of Soroptimist International Cwmbran & District (SI).

Joint presidents this year Paddy and Sallie joined the Soroptimists some twenty years ago after initially attending Soroptimist meetings for St David’s Hospice Care cheque presentation events.

Soroptimist International Cwmbran and District was chartered in March 1980 . Dr Edith Price was one of the founder members  and is still an active member to this day. She was club president during the 40th anniversary year.

Sallie Slade said: “When my late mother passed away in 1977 there was nothing like St David’s Hospice Care. The hospice started two years later, in 1979 and I have been involved in helping the raise funds, along with many other members of the Cwmbran support group, ever since.

“S. I. Cwmbran & District have organised a whole host of events over that time which have been a lot of fun and have involved many, many people. We have raised some £25,000 for the hospice in those years.

“We have raised probably double that for many other charities which we have supported Including  Medaille Trust , Mary’s Meals,  Guide dogs for the Blind,  St Anne’s Hospice, Sight Cymru , Alzheimer’s,  to name just a few.

“For at least  25  years the main fundraising event each year for St David’s Hospice Care has been a Strawberry and Fizz lunch held at the Glenyravon Hotel, in Usk . Owners, Mr and Mrs Clark, were very supportive because the money being raised was for St David’s Hospice Care which they supported. In the early  days people used to take garden chairs with them and sit outside .

“One year, when the weather was very inclement, people sat on the stairs  and they opened up the bedrooms for people to sit in. We even had twenty people in the bridal suite. I believe it added to the enjoyment certainly  people still remember it  many years later! A marquee was then used for weddings and our events were held there before the extension to the hotel was built.

“These events are always very popular and raised a great deal of money. We also participated regularly in the sponsored walk over the first Severn bridge.

” One of the early and very successful fundraisers was for the hospice was the production of a recipe book. Called, Our Favourite Food Fare, the 48 page book was packed with all sorts of recipes with two to three on each page. It sold like … well, hot cakes. I still have a copy which I bought before I became a Soroptimist.

“St David’s Hospice Care is an ongoing charity that S. I. Cwmbran and District members have supported for forty years.

“We are the local club of Soroptimist International. We’re part of Wales South Region which altogether has 13 clubs. We are the only one in the whole of Gwent.”

The group, which currently has a membership of 27 women, meets on the second Monday of the month at Greenmeadow Golf Club, Cwmbran, at 7pm. The majority of the meetings take the form of a short business meeting followed by an interesting speaker ending with light refreshments and a chance to socialise.

Sallie said: “Fun is the first three letters of fundraising so we try to only do those sort of events which involve fun! One of the most popular things that we stage are musical events. In fact we booked Only Men Aloud before they became really famous and won the Last Choir Standing.

“We also have fashion shows, lunches, afternoon teas, arrange trips, have sales of pre-loved items and jewelry, that sort of thing.

“As Soroptimists we  undertake projects and raise awareness of current social issues that affect women and girls. We have run public meetings and attended events on diverse issues such  as modern day slavery/trafficking; gender-based violence; teenage girls and alcohol; fish and chip babies in liaison with Life for African Mothers and have been involved in lobbying on a number of relevant subjects.

“The group has also been involved in initiatives and projects such as the provision of Comfort Teddies for  emergency services, hospitals, schools with some 1,600 given out to date.”

“The group supports STEM. The group have  given copies of the book Women in Science 50 Fearless pioneers who changed the world  by Rachel  Ignotofsky to 75 Primary  schools in Gwent.

They support dementia charities by raising money and volunteering with more than £7000 raised to date and have been instrumental in setting up  and continuing to run ArtRegen in Pontypool. Like lots of Soroptimist clubs S.I. Cwmbran has  always supported local Women’s Aid groups.

“Members have supported a girl through Plan International since 1986.  The girl the group are supporting at the moment is in  Indonesia. Who we support changes when the girl attains 18 or Plan International  leave an area.

“Since the new  Grange University  hospital opened  we have established a relationship to support them, and have provided them with Comfort Teddies and baby clothes.”

Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of around 66,000 club members in 120 countries. Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist International’s advocacy is its work across seven UN Centres, where UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard.

The membership works on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.

Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) has 6000 Members in 270 Clubs in 18 countries including Great Britain, Ireland and countries in Asia, the Caribbean and Malta, who work at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls,

Why join? Sallie says women should join the group as they can join other women who want to make a difference while having fun and making friends. Contact us via www.sigbi.org/cwmbran   or visit the group’s Facebook page and then come and meet us  and sample some of our events and meetings.

A couple of planned fundraisers are an evening of musical entertainment with Harmonize on Friday, October  13 at Ponthir Village Hall and a Sunday lunch in March 2024 at Greenmeadow Golf Club Cwmbran.

Kris Broome, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “The work that the Cwmbran Group and the Soroptimists do in partnership to aid the hospice is simply magnificent. Only recently they handed over a cheque for a further £1,500.

“The money raised by the group, the events they have staged and the awareness that this has created over the very many years that they have been operating, is priceless.

“We are enormously grateful for all that they have done and that they continue to do to support the hospice in the work that we do throughout the community of Gwent and south east Wales, including south Powys.”

GWENT accountant  Gareth Pinder is half way through his ‘year of pain’ and counting off the events in his  12 months of fund raising.

Gareth, aged 39, from Newport, set himself the target of completing at least one gruelling fund raising event each month of 2023 in a bid to raise £10,000 by the end of the year.

All the money raised will be donated to Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care in memory of his father, Graham, who was diagnosed and died of cancer last year and who was cared for by the hospice.

Gareth, a director of  Newport-Based Parker & Co. Accountants, just completed the gruelling 101 km distance in the Dalmatian Bike Ride and is now set for an even more challenging event.

“The 101km event was tough. Te Cardiff Legends 70.3 Triathlon a 1.9k swim, 88k bike ride, 21.8k run is next.”

Gareth has already completed the Chepstow 10k; the Afan Fforest Hoka Half, the Newport Half, the 5k Kolor Dash, Newport, the Lydney Olympic Triathlon, 750m swim, 48k bike ride 10k run and the 105 mile Tour of Pembrokeshire.

How’s he feeling half way in? “The training is the hardest thing. I do at least one exercise a day with no rest so it’s a real toll on my body and I am definitely feeling it. I am starting to feel a real struggle to get motivated but it is all for a great cause: so head down and crack on!

“And yes, it’s a lot harder than I’d imagined when I set myself my target.  I didn’t think the training would be this intense, the events are actually not that bad as I have a rest day after them…sometimes!

“It’s the guilt factor as well as I do have to take a lot of time away from the family. Doing 10-plus hours of training a week is very demanding.

“What keeps me going is that when I’m in a real low place I just think about how my dad was in his last few days. He never moaned or complained about any of it and just accepted it for what it was. All I’m doing is running, swimming or cycling, so I can’t really moan so again I just think, head down and crack on!”

Gareth is encouraging people to support him and the hospice. “St David’s Hospice care are incredible. The more I complete these events the more people I meet who have had such positive experiences with them. They are such a worthy charity and do such amazing work in our community.”

“”My father, Graham, was diagnosed with and died of cancer in 2022. Throughout this time, he and my mother, Janet, were cared for and supported in the most exceptional way, by the carers at St David’s Hospice Care.

“Anyone who has either been diagnosed with, or has friends or family who have been diagnosed with cancer, will understand how devastating and cruel this disease is. But, incredibly, St David’s Hospice Care managed to alleviate some of the pain.

“St David’s Hospice Care provided the equipment and nurses to keep Dad comfortable and at home in Newport until the end, but they did so much more. They provided support to my mother, helping her navigate the situation, both practically and emotionally and they turned up and sat with the family during Dad’s final hours.

“The hospice does the most difficult job with incredible warmth, empathy and humour. They don’t work on auto pilot or just follow processes to ‘tick a box’. St David’s Hospice Care provide a truly essential service.

” I am raising money for the hospice, to help them continue to provide the exceptional care and support that Dad and my family received. I have never been more conscious of the fact that anyone could need the support of St David’s Hospice Care  at any time, and without notice.

“I’m glad I have completed half my programme of fundraisers. After the Cardiff Legends I have the Ironman Swansea, Tough Mudder 15k – 30 obstacles in August, Ironman Weymouth in September and the Full Ironman in October. Events in November and December have yet to be finalised.

“I’ve called this my a year of pain and it’s been tough but I keep at the forefront of my mind the fantastic care that my dad received from the hospice which keeps me going at the hardest and lowest moments of my challenge.

“All monies raised will go to St David’s Hospice Care. Parker & Co have agreed to pay all entrance fees and I will self-fund any travel required.

“If you can support me then please go to my just giving page and donate. To follow my progress through training and the events you can search for me on Strava and Instagram.”

You can support Gareth with a donation at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gareth-pinder1

LEADING South Wales accountancy practice Parker & Co has further boosted growth with a merger with fellow Newport firm Nigel Davies Accountants.

Gary Parker, head of the enlarged business, said: “The new business, called Parker and Co incorporating Nigel Davies Accountants, will be based at our offices in Waterside Court, Crindau. The business will have a staff of 16 including two coming over from the merged practice.

“The merger is the first step in the retirement of Nigel Davies but in the meantime he will very much be a part of the new merged business, helping to ensure a seamless transition.

“The merger with the very reputable practice, which we have come to know well over the years, presented an opportunity to further expand Parker & Co. The merger extends the depth of experience we have as a whole.”

Nigel Davies, who established his practice in 2002, was previously finance director of a division of HSBC and remains a non-executive director of Thomas Carroll Group Plc.

Parker & Co recently invited Nigel Davies Accountants clients to a meet and greet at their offices.

Gary said: “The priority now is to get to meet all of  our new clients and reassure them that it will be business as usual and that there will be no interruption in the services that they have received.”

Mountaineer Gary, who has led expeditions to some of the world’s most inaccessible places as well as tallest mountains, said: “Our ethos is Business is an Adventure – enjoy it. It is a theme which we have emphasised on our new website, one which we live by on a daily basis and one which is shared by our clients.”

“We offer an efficient, valuable, proactive service to all of our clients. Not just accountancy but also planning both in terms of clients business and tax but also Will writing, business valuations, access to our preferred financial advisers, fund raising assistance, credit reports and more. We also offer a first class payroll bureau service.”