Real estate is generally your company’s number two expense after human resources. The process of choosing a facility that offers the right balance of economics, functionality, flexibility and image is complex and time-consuming. Making the wrong decision can be costly. Casten Associates has the tools, commitment and experience to help you make the best decisions for your company.

Casten Associates’s tenant representation professionals can guide you through the space procurement process every step of the way, from evaluating your space needs and recommending creative solutions, to lease negotiation, to moving into your new space. Every tenant is unique, so we employ a custom approach that meets each client’s need for a variety of transaction types:

We provide essential background information on issues that may materially affect the decision-making process and have significant financial, legal or operational repercussions on the company and business unit.

The Best Possible Advice

Navigating the countless issues and challenges associated with real estate distracts you from pursuing your core business objectives.
Casten Associates’ experienced professionals tackle these issues every day. Engaging the expert skills of our professionals minimizes the disruption of your business and helps you determine the correct real estate solution.

How do you know what the best possible location is for your operation? If you need more space, should you seek it in the same place or will space in an alternative location serve you better? You may be a skilled negotiator, but do you have the experience necessary to negotiate the best possible lease terms? The different sites available to you may vary widely not only in rent and location, but in taxes, construction costs, energy efficiency, employee demographics, and a host of other variables.

Casten Associates professionals guide you through the entire process. We’ll help you identify and choose from the most appropriate options and negotiate the best possible agreement for your chosen location. Our process includes:

• In-depth assessment of your business and real estate needs
• Compilation of decision-making data
• Transaction negotiation and execution
• Creation of performance standards
• Identification of real estate alternatives that satisfy guidelines of a strategic plan
• Integration of additional services (program management, construction)
• Establishment of a strategic real estate plan guided by your corporate objectives
• Performance assessment—benchmark goals and objectives versus final outcome

For each potential location, we will evaluate:

The Benefits

Confidentiality:  Tenants can search for a building with the least amount of publicity through an exclusive tenant representative who is acting as a fiduciary. This prevents the tenants' employees from becoming unduly alarmed as a result of the news of a possible relocation. It also permits tenants to expand or relocate without being scrutinized by current landlords, competitors, various sales people and the public in general.

Time Efficiency:  Since the exclusive tenant representative will know the client's requirements and specifications, the tenant's time is saved by only viewing appropriate, qualifying properties. Also, since only the exclusive representative will be actively searching, market research is not being duplicated. 

Objective Evaluations:  Since a tenant representative has no interest in promoting one building over another, a more objective evaluation of that building can be presented. These alternatives are presented free from the bias associated with having to lease buildings which are also listed by that representatives company. The tenant representative works for the tenant, not for a particular building or owner.

Market Knowledge: Tenants will achieve greater flexibility and leverage by being educated about the market as a result of the tenant representative's expertise and ability to create a competitive environment among different candidate buildings. This quickly puts tenants who are unfamiliar with a specific real estate market on the same footing as a knowledgeable local landlord.

Future Landlord Relations:  Since the tenant representative acts as a mediator and negotiator, the tenant does not have to be directly involved with face-to-face negotiations. For this reason, a toughly-negotiated lease will not create ill will between landlord and tenant.

Landlord Comfort:  A developer or building owner will be assured of a tenant's qualifications and ability to negotiate a lease when a qualified, experienced, tenant represenative is involved. This involvement permits the landlord to acquire all necessary information quickly so that an expedient decision can be made.

Fiduciary Responsibility:  By law, a real estate agent has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interest of his/her principal. A real estate broker retained to represent a tenant is obligated to negotiate the best deal for the tenant consistent with what he/she believes the landlord will accept. This is true even though he/she will be paid by the landlord if a lease is effected between the landlord and the prospective tenant.

Market Research

Market intelligence is a critical tool in managing risk and making decisions grounded in facts. Casten Associates’ research and information services play a critical role in the analytical process. Our research analysts provide a variety of support information, such as: