Lynn Drake

Lynn Drake’s status is well known in the industry: She’s the commercial realtor focused on maintaining “true north” for her corporate clients. It’s a reputation built on 35 years of commercial real estate experience. Lynn became a commercial realtor in 2001 after 15 years in corporate real estate. Thus far in her career, Lynn has successfully completed over 1,500 real estate transactions ranging from small business tenant leases to the sale and purchase of industrial complexes.

27

Sep2012

Detroit VS The Suburbs

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Detroit, Leasing, Tenants
Most of my career the vacancy rate in the City of Detroit has been extremely high.   Yet as 2011 turns into 2012 we see the City of Detroit making real progress with occupancy.   According to Co-Star which measures all of the statistics Detroit is seeing improvement quarter over quarter.  The ... Read More
September 27, 2012Lynn Drake

13

Sep2012

Landlord and List Agents, Please Help Us Out

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants
As a tenant representative this is my advice for landlords and agents representing them:Don’t over promise improvements when showing the space.  My clients will remember what you told us and think the landlord doesn’t want them when you can’t deliver.  Under sell and over deliver is always better. It does matter ... Read More
September 13, 2012Lynn Drake

21

Aug2012

Playing Cash Flow Taught Me About Myself

by Lynn Drake / / Accounting, Goals
Friends of mine  introduced me to a great game called cash flow. It was developed by Kisosky(author of Rich Dad Poor Dad).  Cash flow is a real life game that teaches you that no matter whether you are a truck driver or a Doctor you can obtain wealth.  This game ... Read More
August 21, 2012Lynn Drake

08

Aug2012

Your Dreams Are Waiting…

by Lynn Drake / / Entrepreneurs, Goals, Trends
A couple of years ago I thought it would be fun to complete a sprint triathlon.  Anyone who has met me knows I’m not an exercise fiend, nor do I sport that lean, lithe body. But I dream big and follow through!I’d just turned 50 and needed to do something ... Read More
August 8, 2012Lynn Drake

26

Jul2012

My Extendable Ears Were Ringing

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants, Trends
While sitting at Boston Market in Troy enjoying a chicken pot pie and a newspaper I had this uncomfortable feeling I was one of the only people in the place.  How could this be?  The food is good and healthy. The service is better than most family diners.  Yet crowds ... Read More
July 26, 2012Lynn Drake

12

Jul2012

What’s the most ridiculous lease clause you’ve encountered?

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants, Trends
Over the next few weeks, let’s exchange some lease clauses that drive us crazy. During my 25 years in corporate real estate I had to live with some mighty repugnant clauses, prohibiting such things as sub-leasing a portion of space, occupying the building on weekends or hiring a satisfactory janitorial ... Read More
July 12, 2012Lynn Drake

20

Jun2012

Too Much Space – Oh, What Can You Do?

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants
Do you remember the childhood nursing rhyme, “The Old Woman in the Shoe?”  She had so many children, so little space she didn’t know what to do.   Even as the economy is smoothing out and rumbling forward, many tenants find themselves with more space than they can accommodate.  They have ... Read More
June 20, 2012Lynn Drake

23

May2012

From RFP to Lease

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants
“Promises, Promises,” is a long-running Broadway production. The title song speaks of alibis and dashed promises and yet other promises that bring joy and hope and love.  Promises in commercial real estate mean nothing unless they are in writing in official “request for proposal”  and “contract” format.Don’t trust anything written ... Read More
May 23, 2012Lynn Drake

10

May2012

Bells & Whistles – You Betcha!

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants
Talk to any child and you find they have a perfect dream for the basement train set or the equipment needed to have their Wii system rock out.   Talk to a grown-up whose business is on the edge of expansion and you see the bright, shining eyes of a child.  ... Read More
May 10, 2012Lynn Drake

25

Apr2012

Should You Put Your Office On A Diet?

by Lynn Drake / / Brokers, Leasing, Tenants, Trends
When you think about renting property, how much space do you REALLY need? Will the need to gain space? What if it looses space? How can I forecast in this turbulent world? Who tells the truth?All too often clients come up with a round number that feels right in the ... Read More
April 25, 2012Lynn Drake