From the space program to move-in, the steps a tenant-rep broker takes — and why the landlord usually pays for it.
Photo: Omar Flores / Unsplash
A tenant representative works for the tenant, not the property. The job is to understand what the business needs, find every space that could meet it, and negotiate the lease so it serves the tenant for the full term.
The four steps
- Program — size, location and budget, set before the search begins
- Survey and tour — every viable option in the target submarkets, compared side by side
- Negotiate — competing proposals, so landlords compete for the lease
- Occupy — coordinating improvements and move-in with the landlord
The best lease is negotiated before the tenant falls for a space.
Commissions for tenant representation are usually paid by the landlord under the listing agreement, which means the tenant gets an advocate at little or no direct cost. Terms vary by deal, and we set them out at the start.
Starting a search, or facing a renewal?
