Frequently Asked Questions:

How does Tenant Representative differ from a traditional broker?

A Tenant Representative is a real estate agent who specializes in a special niche of commercial real estate brokerage—representing the interests of business owners only, not landlords, not property owners, not property management companies.  A traditional real estate broker does both landlord/seller and tenant/buyer representation; an exclusive commercial real estate Buyer/Tenant Representative does not list property and so avoids the serious conflict of interest the traditional broker has.  See “Conflicts” tab to the left.

When should you use an exclusive Buyer/Tenant Representative?

An exclusive Buyer/Tenant Representative is most valuable whenever your business’s real estate needs change.  Typical changes are:  expansions, contractions, relocations to improve image or increase visibility, lease expirations.

What is the typical cost of Buyer/Tenant Representation services?

For services involving a transaction, lease or purchase, there is generally no cost to you since the Buyer/Tenant Representative usually shares in the commission the landlord or seller pays to his agent.

Is a written representation contract really necessary?  Other brokers don’t require it to show me property.

Yes it is necessary.  When you hire an exclusive Buyer/Tenant Representative, you are engaging an agent to work diligently for you and put your interest above all others, including his own.  Your agent will expend time and money to further your ends with the expectation of payment when the job is complete.  While a broker may not require an agreement to show you property, you can be sure he has a listing agreement with the landlord or property owner whom he represents.

How do I know my Buyer/Tenant Representative is showing me everything that’s available?

No representative can promise 100% market awareness, partly because even the best representative cannot know everything and partly because properties are constantly coming on and going off the market.  However,  since a qualified Buyer/Tenant Representative has access to specialized reporting services, on-line databases, his own local market knowledge, and good working relationships with local brokers and owners, he is much more likely to be closer to that 100% market knowledge than is someone looking for property on their own.  In addition, many properties that are not being actively marketed are actually available—your Buyer/Tenant Representative has an excellent chance of identifying them.

Should I use a Tenant Representative for my lease renewal?

Absolutely.  A Tenant Representative can help insure your renewal rate and terms are comparable with the current market.  See the “Lease Renewals” tab to the left.

Suppose I find a property myself?

Your Buyer/Tenant Representative still represents you.  Tell your Buyer/Tenant Representative about the property and let him investigate on your behalf.

How about hiring more than one Buyer/Tenant Representative?

Not really possible.  First, it would breach your Buyer/Tenant Representation agreement.  More importantly, however, it would be very counter-productive.  One hard-working Buyer/Tenant Representative working exclusively for you will always uncover more opportunities than several traditional brokers working only a little, or worse—only showing you their own listings