You're not going to believe this story...in this economy...in this real estate market! I almost can't believe it myself! This is real time stuff that happened to me.
To set the stage, my client is a growing company that is led by a very bright CEO. He's young, aggressive, extremely accomplished, highly successful, hard-working, respectful, and takes no prisoners. He's a straight shooter who respects straight shooters.
The tenant occupies office space in a suburban New Jersey building, which is owned by an out-of-state landlord. This particular landlord promotes the stereotype of the mean and nasty commercial landlord, that dwindling minority of the industry that tries all they can to dominate every tenant and every deal. This landlord, a cheap suit wearing an open collar, gold chain, and way too much cologne, demonstrated himself to be arrogant, condescending, self-absorbed, not too bright, somewhat successful despite himself, probably a front man for other people with real money, and based on his antics, someone who still thinks he's in a landlord's market where tenants should pay homage to him and be grateful to be occupying his building. Based on how this landlord handled himself, he is a very strong candidate for president of the local bread line.
Here's the abridged version of what happened. You'll get a kick out of it!
- Our client, the tenant, sought to renegotiate its existing lease based on current market conditions, or to relocate to another building
- Our client had uncomfortable dealings with the landlord in the past
- We submitted an RFP to the landlord’s agent and provided specific guidance as to our tenant's requirements
- The landlord’s agent called us with a precise message from the landlord, one that I have never received before: “The landlord said if you play ball with him, he’ll pay you a commission. If you make it tough for him, he’ll only pay you half!” Wow! How to win friends and influence people! Was the landlord trying to intimidate us, create a conflict-of-interest, or just bring us over to the dark side? We advised our client of the conversation.
- Despite our guidance, the landlord submitted a proposal that was extremely one-sided and did not address our client's requirements
- The landlord attempted to circumvent us and meet with our client directly
- Our client authorized us to arrange a meeting with the landlord, which we did
- The landlord rescheduled the meeting twice and then swaggered-in 45 minutes late
- During the meeting, the landlord was disrespectful to our client, speaking down to both the CEO and the President, as well as, to his own agent
- The landlord arrogantly spoke to me, and after realizing that he was not the most important person in the room and wouldn't get his way, waved his arms, got up and stormed out
- Despite our email and voicemail requests for a revised landlord proposal, weeks passed without a reply
- I finally go the landlord’s agent on the phone one evening, when he sheepishly told me he was not authorized to respond, but didn’t want me to tell that to the tenant…Huh?
- We received an email directly from the landlord saying we were an impediment (To what…his ability to take advantage of our client?), and telling us that he instructed his agent not to deal with us ever again (Really? So, I should not bring my next 100,000 sq ft tenant to your building?)
- Our client said good riddance and instructed us to make a deal elsewhere
- Our client will be moving into their new facility shortly
- Oh, and did I mention that the landlord’s building is a 60% vacant class B building that sits way out beyond the western fringe of the central New Jersey market, where very little demand exists even in good times?
Anybody want to buy an office building…cheap?
Real Estate Strategies Corporation is a respected corporate advisory and transaction services firm that provides thought-leadership, decision-making, planning, project management, and transaction execution services to financial and senior executives at management team-led public, private, and portfolio companies, and not-for-profit organizations. Under the leadership of its award-winning CEO, Andrew B. Zezas, RealStrat’s clients engage the firm when acquiring, disposing, renegotiating, or enhancing occupied leased or owned real estate in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, and throughout North America. By creating and executing Business DRIVEN Real Estate Solutions and identifying hidden Opportunities, RealStrat drives greater operational and financial performance in support of its clients’ stakeholder objectives, M&A requirements, and exit strategies.
In the current economic environment, RealStrat’s efforts are focused on uncovering, capturing, and re-purposing hidden liquidity and minimizing risk in its clients’ leased and owned real estate. The firm provides counsel as to competitive advantage strategies in preparation for the eventual economic recovery. Visit www.RealStrat.com.
Acquire new ideas about commercial real estate at RealStrat’s blog at www.CorporateAdvisor.wordpress.com. Follow RealStrat and Andrew Zezas at http://www.Twitter.com/RealStrat.
Check out The Executive’s Guide to Understanding Corporate Real Estate Transactions.
Where is Andrew Zezas?
Copyright Real Estate Strategies Corporation 2010. All Rights Reserved.
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