Introduction

Yesterday was my last day as a commercial real estate property manager, I have spent the last two years overseeing over a million square feet of commercial real estate. Most of these were strip malls with a lot of small retail tenants and national franchises.

It is safe to say I will not be returning to this field. Real estate is a dog eat dog business and definitely not for the weak of heart. I wanted to write this blog while my experiences of the past two years are still fresh in my mind as a sort of public service. In the last two years I saw time and time again, first time business owners getting into a load of trouble and costing themselves a lot of money because they did not have enough knowledge about the workings of real estate leases and concepts.

The the lease you sign and the deal you make for your retail location can make or break your business. The rent, the upkeep costs, the renewal terms and liability can have a huge impact on the bottom line of your new business. I will do my best to give you insider knowledge, tips, tricks and expertise to help you get the most out of your future Landlord while minimizing the risk to yourself.

If you are reading this odds are you are well on your way to starting your own small business and I wish you prosperity as well as continued success for years to come.