Greetings!
What are the three top values of your company? In our company they are:
1. Clients before commissions
2. No conflicts of interest
3. Experience
Clients before commissions. We stay in business and grow it only through the repeat business and referrals of clients. So we always put their interests before our own. Furthermore, our fiduciary responsibility requires this. In one recent case, we strongly recommended a solution to a client in which our commission was only $1,000 instead of the $15,000 that it would have been if they went to the other option. In another case, the numbers were the reverse, but in both cases we advocated what was in the client's best interest. Often, the space chosen is not the biggest or most expensive. We want to establish a relationship, not just revenue.
No conflicts of interest. We represent tenants and investors only. When a broker tries to work both sides of the table things can get fuzzy. There is no such thing as dual representation in Texas. An intermediary role is available, but the broker can't really advise either side. He basically becomes a deal facilitator - not an advisor.
Experience comes from 25 years in the business. Bob spent the first 20 years of his career on the landlord's side of the table. Who better to represent a tenant than someone who knows how landlords think and operate?
|
| Free Rent, Anyone? |
|
Some landlords are stooping to desperate measures in an attempt to lure tenants, offering incentives like free rent, stepped rent, moving costs and subsidised refurbishments. Tenant expectations of office quality have risen as budgets have tightened.
We recently placed a client in an office/warehouse space in Richardson where the landlord dropped the rental rate by 20% and increased their improvements allowance by 25% as compared to their initial quote. Another client is getting 15 months of free rent, turnkey improvements, all moving costs paid and a really low rental rate on a 10-year deal.
What's surprising is that not all landlords are getting this aggressive. Some seem to have their heads buried in the sand. We are recommending that clients talk to us about their real estate strategy if they have 2 years or less left on the lease term.
| |
|
Plano Economic Development Board, Inc. |
|
Did you know that Forbes Magazine ranked Plano 5th in the magazine's list of the best large-size cities and 32nd overall? In 2008 the Plano Economic Development Board made huge progress in attracting and retaining corporations. Several new companies proudly made Plano their home.
Take a moment and look over their newly launched website at www.planotexas.org and see why Forbes Magazine feels like Plano is one of the best places in the nation to relocate or expand your business. 
Photo of PepsiCo by Craig Kuhner |
| Have You Skyped? |
This is one of the coolest new inventions we have found and are currently using. We heard of it several years ago, but it wasn't as user friendly as it is now. Our son recently traveled with his university to Italy. As we looked for a cheap way to communicate we gave it try again and signed up. Skype let us talk with him FOR FREE! The quality of picture and speed is not the greatest, but it's a great tool for keeping in touch. You are basically making a long distance phone call on your computer with a video of the person and it's free as long as you are calling Skype-to-Skype. Calling a mobile phone or land line has a small cost which is usually around 2 cents per minute or less. For more info visit www.skype.com. |
| Forward & Past Issues |
|
We welcome your testimonials and your referrals. Thanks for your business and support.
Bob Gibbons
972-679-1142
 Jan Gibbons 972-998-3305
| |
|
|
|
| Who Said That?..... |
 |
"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." ~ Winston Churchill
"Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!" ~ Pericles
"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin." ~ Mark Twain
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." ~ Ronald Reagan
|
| Need a Speaker? |
 |
|
In the last couple of months, Bob has spoken to a business networking group and the McKinney Lions Club, and participated in a panel discussion on real estate sponsored by Ameriprise Financial. He would welcome the opportunity to speak to your business groups, trade associations, networking groups, and service organizations.
You can see his speaker's bio and topics on the Speaker Coop website. Here is a link. |
|
|
