WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT REAL ESTATE

If the alternative is to have someone with little to no commercial real estate experience manage a transaction, going at it alone is a great idea. Just as many of us would never dream of diagnosing and attempting to treat a medical condition on our own without consulting a doctor, buying or leasing commercial property without the insight of an expert in the field can prove to be equally disastrous.

In a 2009 article by the Harvard Business Review, “What every leader should know about real estate” the author, Mahlon Apgar IV, points out that real estate is taken for granted by company managers and that the most efficient companies team with real estate service providers. The decisions that surround commercial real estate are complex and time-consuming. Often executives do not understand all that is involved, so the decision is then delegated to inexperienced managers. Apgar points out that real estate is generally taken for granted by those managers and that the wisest companies decide to team up with real estate service firms that have salaried professionals or “relationship executives”. These “relationship executives” salaries are not maximized entirely on the size on the transaction but also on the satisfaction of the client. Therefore aligning the incentive of the real estate professional with that of their clients.

Here at A-Treasures, we contend that such delegation of important real estate issues should be avoided. Whether you’re just now beginning in the real estate game, or you already have a bevy of transactions under your belt, there are quite a few reasons why going it alone is a great idea, if you are prepared and experienced.

There’s little room for instinct or rookies in a commercial real estate deal. As many before us have proved – and many more after us surely will continue to prove – making high-dollar decisions based on nothing more than your gut is the equivalent of taking an uneducated stab in the dark. When it works out, it’s dumb luck. When it doesn’t, it’s just dumb.
Real estate intelligence is contingent upon information that you likely aren’t privy to, or that you might not maximize even if you were. Having great real estate IQ involves not only being on the pulse of the market, but also having the ability to plan for your needs in the future, understand your alternatives, asking the tough questions from the others involved in the transaction, and ability to come-up with creative solutions.
By trying to master the ins and outs of commercial real estate on your own, you run the risk of becoming the archetypal jack of all trades and the master of none. Commercial real estate is a full-time job that leaves little room for other pursuits. Pursuits such as the primary duty of running your company.

We have found that working with a capable, qualified real estate broker can save up to 15% on your facility costs and is your best bet to making the kind of sound decisions that will make you look incredibly smart. Enjoy your day