Apto Commercial Real Estate Blog

Cinemas often take a backseat to other tenants in shopping centers, but a recent deal in this retail-entertainment sector has pushed it into the spotlight.

AMC Theatres is now the nation’s largest movie theater chain after its acquisition of Carmike Cinemas for $1.2 billion. The deal gives AMC about 3,000 more screens, bringing its total to just over 8,200 with 659 theaters in total.

Given the magnitude of the transaction, it’s a good time to take a look at the role of movie theaters in experiential retail, which can help combat the effects of online shopping.

We all know the main commercial real estate sectors: retail, multifamily, office, industrial, hotel. But do you know how they’re performing in terms of rent, absorption, vacancy, etc? In the second half of 2016, multifamily and office stood out from the rest.

It’s worth taking a closer look at these two sectors so brokers, lenders, owners, developers, buyer, sellers and managers can know what to expect as we head into 2017.

If you’re relying on third parties for comps, you’re doing it wrong.

Comparables sales, leases and properties are an essential part of the commercial real estate business. From valuations in investment sales, rental rate negotiation in tenant representation, and competitive positioning in landlord representation, building and maintaining a comp database can put you a step ahead of the average broker.

Watch the video to learn how you can build and use a robust comp database to demonstrate your expertise to prospects and clients.

This article first appeared in Real Estate Tech News.

As much as we like to think that sales is about relationships, it is really a numbers game. Brokers that acknowledge this can add a degree of predictability to their business by analyzing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs).

Unfortunately, many brokers ignore the importance of these metrics, measure the wrong or incomplete information, or lack a system for tracking results. That’s a shame, since brokers can use KPIs to prospect better, grow and improve their business, and forecast with more confidence. Here’s how.

After what could have taken months of sales calls, demos and trial runs, you’ve finally found and purchased the new CRM tool that will allow your team to get organized, streamline processes, and close deals faster.

Now what?

No matter how high-tech or pricey the platform, if you don’t structure a successful implementation, your dollars will be wasted.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Fall Meeting was packed full of information that commercial real estate brokers need to know as they prepare for the year ahead.

I’ll take a moment to cover some of the most significant developments, all drawn from ULI's “Emerging Trends in Real Estate” report, which was released in conjunction with the conference. While covering all the data and trends would make this blog the length of a Russian novel, I’ll touch on the points that were covered most in-depth at the conference.

Ever been in a meeting where everyone talks and talks and talks, but no one says anything and nothing gets done?

Yeah, us too.

Meetings can be valuable, but they’re also easily abused. Sitting in a room and talking often feels productive, but to actually be useful, your meetings need to be thoughtful and organized.

Here are some tips to fine-tune your meeting strategy for maximum productivity.

When it’s time to make a pitch to a prospective client, you need to know both that client and the property inside and out. It’s your biggest opportunity to set yourself apart and win their business—and the right technology can help ensure this happens.

Russ Duncan, Customer Evangelist, explains how in the next installment from our video series on best practices for operating a commercial real estate brokerage.

Not all deals may be big enough to warrant a new story, but in the course of your career you’ll probably have at least a few that you’ll want to shout from the rooftops. It’s free advertising, of course, and the best kind of advertising because it’s centered around the work you’ve already done. It’s essentially a high-profile case study.

So whether or not you have a newsworthy deal at the moment, make sure you know the best way to contact and work with the media should the opportunity arise.

We’re excited to announce our latest ebook, The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Your Brokerage (And Yourself). This ebook lays out a simple but powerful marketing blueprint designed to keep the leads (and commissions!) flowing. That starts with setting yourself and your brokerage apart with top-notch marketing.

We talk about CRE tech all the time. It’s what we do. We want you to be informed whether or not you use Apto.

Our customers often ask us what the core pieces of commercial real estate technology really are. There’s so much out there, and it can get overwhelming very quickly. Even tech-savvy brokers have trouble wading through their options, or they just don’t have time to explore dozens of new products.

So let’s keep it simple. Here are the five core areas you need technology for if you want to be a better, more efficient broker.

Note: This article first appeared in GlobeSt

There’s a lot of prattle about new technology that allows sellers to communicate directly with buyers or renters, without the intervention or assistance of a broker. It makes for good reading, but its threat to the commercial real estate industry is often overstated. We will always need commercial real estate brokers, particularly those with extensive property and market knowledge and shrewd negotiation skills.

CRE tech innovation affects every corner of the industry. It can be helpful to look out at the space every now and then to see who is poised to change the game for related industries as well. Whether these companies work directly with brokers or with property owners or developers, it’s crucial to know the playing field.

Here are a few companies to watch.

Success and failure in commercial real estate often comes down to who you know.

While cold calling and targeted marketing can produce viable leads, many of your best clients and deals come from word of mouth. The “I know a guy” game is strong in CRE, but it’s not all take, take, take. Commercial real estate karma is at play, too, which is why it’s important to build a strong network of tertiary contacts who can assist your clients in ways you cannot.

A first meeting with a prospective client can be nerve-racking. After all, there’s usually a lot riding on the outcome.

Just like a job interview, the first meeting is all about first impressions—every detail counts, and there are no second chances. One false move and your prospective client is now someone else’s.

Coworking spaces are incredibly attractive to startups and early-stage businesses. The flexibility, community and perks characteristic of shared workspaces like WeWork and Galvanize take pressure off of over-extended founders, allowing them to focus on scaling their business, rather than running an office. But as a business grows, the frat-house-like atmosphere common in many coworking spaces can turn into a major liability, and coworking burnout often ensues.