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
12
Jul2012
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
25
Apr2012
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
10
Apr2012
Just because your lease contract says seven years doesn’t mean you can’t negotiate sooner. In fact, it may be in your best interests to do so. If you have two years left on your lease, think about a “blend and extend” option.What this means is starting with a fresh lease ... Read More
April 10, 2012Lynn Drake
02
Apr2012
When I made the decision to leave Equis back in December 2009, it took me almost a year to do the due diligence that came along with deciding how my new entity would look. I spent most of the year talking with franchisors about the cost of ... Read More
April 2, 2012Lynn Drake
20
Mar2012
The hours you spend pacing the floor, waiting for a family member’s first child to be born; the minutes you spend waiting for your computer to boot up; and the seconds you wait for a text message; each of these intervals remind you of that inescapable truth - timing is ... Read More
March 20, 2012Lynn Drake
29
Feb2012
New business people, infused with optimism, take delight in buying or leasing a business. They spend big dollars for awnings, neon signs and landscaping, not to mention signing a multiple-year lease. Some people invest their entire pension in a new enterprise with hope it will work.I may sound like your ... Read More
February 29, 2012Lynn Drake
01
Feb2012
When people find out I’m a commercial real estate agent they often sidle up close and whisper in my ear, “Let me tell you, I got such a deal,” and expect me to nod approvingly. Dare I frown? A deal isn’t always a deal.
A gentleman who coordinated real estate ... Read More
February 1, 2012Lynn Drake
09
Jan2012
Most people have set down their goals for 2012. It is my tradition to do this every year for myself and my business. This year Compass Commercial has a big hairy audacious goal in revenue. In addition to more revenue and less fat on my person my goal this year ... Read More
January 9, 2012Lynn Drake
29
Dec2011
As any commercial real estate realtor or broker can tell you, leasing a commercial space is complicated. The leases are long and full of tiny clauses meant to give the landlord as much of your hard-earned dollar as possible. If you don’t speak lease, you’re likely to hit a series ... Read More
December 29, 2011Lynn Drake