When you look at your lease renewal or relocation, there are four lease elements that you should demand from your real estate adviser:
Must be able to add value by directing a team of experts to smooth the build-out/relocation process.
Here are a few questions you should ask your adviser:
1. Why do I need your advice?
Corporate real estate is one of the largest expense-line items in running any business.
A corporate move may only take place every five or 10 years. A landlord is in the business day-in and day-out, maximizing his return on his assets (his buildings). A tenant needs to meet his landlord on an equal playing field.
2. What can you do for me?
Because GVA Devencore does not take listings and has no conflicts of interests, we can negotiate much harder and create more leverage on behalf of the tenants. Rather than simply act as a tour guide, your real estate broker should help you define your real estate strategy, act as a focal point to bring in the ancillary services required to effect a smooth corporate renewal and/or relocation and significantly impact your corporate total occupancy costs, not just the rent. At the end of the day, in order to structure a decent renewal and /or relocation and not be cornered and pressured into making last minute decisions, a corporate lease renewal and/or relocation can take a minimum of six months but planning should start at least 18 months before the end of your lease.
Denis Shank, B.Ed., BA, DPM
Vice-president, Broker
613-235-1330 ext. 223
dshank@devencoreottawa.com
