2. Marketing to commercial tenants has always
posed a challenge for property owners. Markets
continue to evolve, and meeting the changing
needs of tenants can often require forethought
and creativity.
3. Investors who specialize in commercial office
space have had to adapt to a rapidly evolving
marketplace by marketing to specialized office
tenants, a difficulty that may not be associated
with other types of commercial properties.
4. Following are five things to keep in mind when
faced with vacant office space:
5. 1. Understand the Market
Office tenants typically
require access to
technology. They often
need access to multiple
phone lines as well as extensive Internet and
networking infrastructure. Since many office
tenants have also become more image-
conscious, marketing green-building features
will draw more attention to your building.
6. 2. Advertise Where Office Tenants Are
Looking
Particularly with office
tenants, you’re dealing
with busy professionals
who are looking to
maximize their time.
While advertising vacant
office space in trade publications is still
warranted, you will seriously limit your ability to
attract tech-savvy office clientele if you do not
have an Internet presence.
7. 3. A Bad Website Is Worse Than No
Website at All
If your website is poorly laid out and hard to
navigate, prospective tenants will look else-
where. If you are not prepared to put in the
time, effort and money required to develop an
effective website, you are better off having
nothing at all.
8. 4. Define What Makes a Good Tenant
and Advertise the Features That Will
Attract That Type of Tenant
Who is your ideal tenant?
Every landlord has one.
What can you offer that
meets their needs?
Create your marketing
plan around this factor and attract the tenants
you want. Typically, office space attracts tenants
looking to rent for a period of three to five
years.
9. Commercial landlords are always looking for
clean, stable and financially secure tenants,
regardless of the type of property, so ensuring
tenants meet these characteristics is essential.
10. 5. Use a Real Estate Agent
Commercial leases are
complex legal documents,
and screening tenants can
be time-consuming. A
professional real estate agent can offer advice;
plan effective print, online and word-of-mouth
marketing strategies; and connect you with
qualified potential tenants.
11. If you choose to go it alone, then seeking sound
legal advice is essential to ensure that you are
protecting your investment and safeguarding
your interest in a property. Marketing has
become a large component of any real estate
sale or lease venture. Investors need to be
aware of current market trends, what tenants
want and the fair market value for an available
lease space.
12. By setting up an effective marketing strategy,
you can attract the type of high-quality, long-
term tenants who are willing the pay the rental
premiums you desire.
