FAQ’s

I’m thinking about moving my office or leasing a new office. Where do I start?

The first thing is to decide if moving into a new space is the right choice. Ask the following questions:

Do we want to find space on our own or hire a tenant representative to assist us?
Is it a good time to move?
How important is location?
How much space do we need?
How much can we afford?
On what date do we need to move into a new space?
How will the new space benefit the company and its future?
What does it cost to move?
What else is involved in moving (furniture, phones, computers, copy/fax/postage machines, internet access, etc.)?
Can we afford to lose business or employees during the transaction?

How does the commercial real estate (CRE) industry work?

Most owners of commercial real estate hire real estate agents to lease their property on their behalf. The real estate agent’s responsibility is to represent the owner in leasing the property; not to represent the tenant.

Is finding a space without hiring a broker a good idea?

Generally speaking, the answer is no. You, as a tenant, enter into a lease every so often. A broker, however, deals with leasing negotiations daily. Think of it this way: Would you go into an IRS office without having your CPA as a representative? Again, the answer is no.

Whom does a broker work for?

Brokers generally work in two capacities: as a listing agent or as a tenant representative. Some, if not most, do both. This means that they have property listings and they also work as a tenant representative. If you work directly with the property listing agent, keep in mind that the listing agent is representing the property owner. If you hire a tenant representative, you should consider hiring an exclusive tenant representative that has no property listings. This will ensure you that the tenant representative is working solely for you.

What is the difference between a leasing agent and a tenant representative?

The leasing agent has the listing of the property and represents the interest of the owner of the building. A tenant representative (rep) represents the interest of the tenant in the lease. Some agents work exclusively on listing while others take on tenant representation only. Other agents will work with both.