Category Archives: Commercial Real Estate

Be A Real (Estate) Wise Guy

By on

Comments : Reply

Why? What? How? – A 3-Part Series. Part 1: Figure out Why You Need Real Estate in the First Place Part 2: (Below): Address the What in the Real Estate Decisions Part 3: (Upcoming): Discuss How you will execute   ​“We just got the contract,” Keith said joyfully. He took a sharp breath in and lowered his voice. “We need, er, need enough space for 85 staff in 90 days,” he said with stress suddenly present. “That’s wonderful news, Keith and congratulations on that new business, I know you've been pursuing this deal for along time” I said. “We will get you taken [...]

Cyber-Security and #CRE

By on

Comments : Reply

wopr

Like you, I’ve seen a lot in the press recently about cyber-attacks and computer hacking. It all sounds like a 1980’s movie. I didn’t really think I had much to worry about in the world of commercial real estate. I don’t cover the blinking lights – that’s the CTO’s role along with his or her team of consultants. Plus, aren’t the cyber bad guys after military and high-value civilian facilities such as nukes? Two things happened recently to change my mind. Allow me to share two vignettes that happened only a couple of days apart from each other. "Shall We Play A [...]

Lets Get Real (Estate)

By on

Comments : 3

lets_get_real_1_500x375

My friend Justin Bedecarre of 42 Floors reached out to me recently with such a simple request. “Ashley, can you write a short little blog about how to lease office space?” his request read. Given that I’ve done this exercise a few times in my 18-year career, I thought it would be simple to write about how to lease office space. But when you actually think about the process of securing the company’s next lease, there is A LOT that goes into a significant real estate decision (and are there any insignificant ones)? Also, if you Google “leasing process” you’ll find some pretty dull [...]

The 4 – Hour CRE

By on

Comments : Reply

  (Atlanta) Its that time of year again. We evaluate our performance in the current year and make (big) plans for what is to come in the new year. In that vein, Tim Ferriss, the entrepreneur turned book author and public speaker has made a fortune by telling folks to keep it simple. By repackaging the Pareto Principle (the rule of 80/20) and weaving in his own interesting life story, Ferris has spent more  than four years on the New York Times Best Seller list. His flagship book The 4-Hour Workweek has been translated into 35 languages and has currently [...]

Extreme Office

By on

Comments : Reply

EXTREME

(Orlando) Let’s just ditch the whole physical office thing. Everyone can leave and work from anywhere you want, wherever you want. Since the Middle Ages over a thousand years ago, offices have been an important part of getting work processed, organized, and facilitating communication. Prior to the rise of the personal computer, one almost had to be physically present to be part of the workflow.  In the last century, your physical office was not only necessary for work; it helped define your status.   The role of physical space in corporate America began to change in a significant way when [...]

Tim Cook’s #CRE Challenge

By on

Comments : 2

The Man with the iPlan

What if the CEO of the largest company in the universe called you and said he had a little project he'd like you to work on? He thinks you’re a pretty swell leader, and he wants you to shake up the office landlord business. What would you do to make Mr. Cook a happy man? Even under normal circumstance, being a landlord is a daunting challenge. Running a modern office building requires tremendous skill and knowledge in building systems, finance and budgeting, sustainability, and leasing, just to name a few issues. You also have to be part diplomat (with the fire [...]

Curb Your Enthusiasm

By on

Comments : Reply

"I learned that IHOP is not the place to order fish" - Larry David

Uh oh. I just read the latest Cushman & Wakefield US office market report and I think we got a little ahead of ourselves in calling the real estate depression of the last five years completely over. So, apparently, did landlords who are trying to float major increases in asking rents. I’m a positive guy, and I’m positive that landlords have unrealistic pricing expectations in some US markets as they attempt to score rate increases. The industry’s prognosticators (including yours truly) forecasted that a swing back to a landlord-favored market was under way.  After almost five years of beating on [...]

Dolly Parton and #CRE?: Working Nine to Five

By on

Comments : 2

Bet They Could Have Used a Starbucks!

The conversation about remote work and so called alternative workplace strategy has been going on for over 25 years now. Back in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, when things started to heat up in this arena, there were several practical limitations on what is now being called “distributed work.” First, management techniques were much more likely to be the primitive type displayed in the 1980 movie Nine to Five. One of the stars of this "how not to manage" film is none other than country music icon Dolly Parton. This was her first feature film, and Parton portrayed secretary Doralee [...]

Meet George Jetson! The Future of CRE

By on

Comments : Reply

jetson

As a kid, I remember watching the mesmerizing Jetsons cartoons in the mid to late 1970’s. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera, and was the space age counterpart to one of my other favorites, the Flintstones. After launching their careers at MGM, Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera opened their own studio. They went on to largely invent the TV cartoon show format and in the process won seven Oscars and eight Emmys. In my mind, The Jetson's was one of their masterpieces; it certainly captured my attention. In the show, the Jetsons family lived in the year 2062 – a [...]

iCampus

By on

Comments : Reply

apple-space-ship1

In an incredible announcement over the weekend, Apple has gone public with its plans to create a $304 million dollar campus for more than 3,600 people in Austin, Texas. This is on the heels of their $500 million dollar Cupertino, CA campus that is now under construction. Wow, hope they sell a gazillion iPad 3s. The Cupertino building famously looks like a space ship. It will be interesting to see if Austin gets in on the “space” program as well. (Has the Eagle landed in Austin?). Dan Whisenhunt, Apple’s Director of Real Estate and Facilities, must be the busiest real estate professional in [...]