Our guest on this episode is Steve Potts with the Potts Law Group (www.PottsLawGroup.com). Steve is an attorney and an expert on negotiating commercial leases from the tenant’s perspective.

What is the number 1 thing people should do first when negotiating a lease?

Why have an attorney in the first place?

Once a tenant and their tenant rep negotiate the business terms, isn’t that the time when an attorney should be brought into the picture?

One of the most talked about clauses in light of COVID has been force majeure. What is that and how does it work in practice?

Landlords are evaluating tenant credit more than ever and it’s likely to increase personal guarantees. What are your thoughts on those?

As tenant reps, we review leases and recommend lots of changes. But since we aren’t attorneys, we can’t offer specific language to properly document those recommendations. In fact, there are certain clauses we really don’t read at all. Indemnification is one of those. I almost always see attorneys make changes to this clause. Why?

Leases contain many, many time periods requiring tenants to do things by a certain time or something bad happens. Can you discuss some of those?

We often see landlords’ insurance requirements stated in the lease, but the actual coverage carried by the tenant doesn’t always match that. Have you seen this discrepancy come back to haunt tenants?

Is there a particular clause in commercial leases which causes tenants the most grief if not properly worded?

Is there a horror story of when a tenant didn’t take your advice and it ended in disaster?

What are the two most important recommendations you have for companies leasing space?

Thanks for listening to another episode of the Confessions of a Recovering Landlord podcast. And a big shout out to today’s guest, Mr. Steve Potts with Potts Law Group (www.PottsLawGroup.com).

At REATA Commercial Realty, we exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse space. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

Is there increased demand for industrial space?

How is demand affecting new construction?

Why is DFW so attractive for industrial tenants?

What’s creating the demand?

Is the demand primarily from Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk?

At REATA Commercial Realty, we exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse space. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

1.  Conduct maintenance and updates to HVAC systems

2. Install ultraviolet lighting in bathrooms

3. Remove porous materials, such as carpeting

4. Add signs and visual reminders to promote social distancing and single-direction foot traffic

5. Eliminate communal food and drink offerings such as coffee machines and water coolers

6. Ramp up cleaning with janitorial and maintenance providers

7. Place sanitizing dispensers throughout the office and reception areas

8. Stagger work hours or days to reduce the density of people allow telework

9. Replace elevator doors and buttons with a touchless experience

10. Reconfigure desks, tables, and chairs

11. Install a countertop shield barrier at reception desks

REATA Commercial Realty - exclusively serving companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse space. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

While rent and common area maintenance are the big obvious charges, there could be many other potential expenses that could surprise you.

At REATA Commercial Realty, we exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse properties. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

Why Commercial Leases are Getting Shorter?

How does this impact building values for landlords?

What does this mean for tenants?

The article to which we refer in this episode can be found here.

The Confessions of a Recovering Landlord podcast is brought to you by REATA Commercial Realty. We exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse buildings. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

Please subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating to help other people find us too. Thanks.

Brian Hutson of Assured Partners is our guest this week to talk all things insurance. Landlords require so much insurance in leases. Why and is that good or bad for tenants? Brian explains it all to us. It sounds boring, but Brian makes it very tangible and interesting. He's the only guy we know with a college degree in insurance.

Commercial general liability insurance

Auto liability

Excess liability/umbrella liability

Property insurance

Worker's compensation/employer's liability

Business interruption

Waiver of subrogation

Indemnification

What insurance protects you in a pandemic?

And so much more

The Confessions of a Recovering Landlord podcast is sponsored by REATA Commercial Realty, which exclusively serves companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse space. We never represent landlords. Call us at 972-667-0028.

No joke, the Dallas Morning News headline read: “Office Rents Are Headed Lower Because of the Pandemic”

Key take-aways Bob & Jan discuss in this episode:

· Only 2% of commercial real estate firm execs thought office rents would rise

· 77% said they expect more lease concessions as landlords try to lure tenants

· Office leasing in the 2nd quarter fell by 14 million SF in US

· DFW was 2 million SF negative.

· Tenants are expected to pause lease decisions for the foreseeable future

· They will opt for shorter-term renewals instead

· Almost half of the real estate execs expect warehouse leasing to rise

Bottom line:

If you lease office space, delay long-term decisions if possible.

If you lease warehouse space, it's business as usual, for now.

At REATA Commercial Realty, we exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office and warehouse properties. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

6 Amenities Tenants Will Want Post COVID-19

#1 - Strong Connectivity

#2: Touch-less technology

#3: Better ventilation systems

#4: Safer materials

#5: Traditional amenities with a safe spin

#6: Smart cleaning technology

Who’s gonna pay for all this?

What will it take to get you back in your office? We'd love to hear your thoughts:

· Are you currently working from home and is it temporary or permanent?

· Do you plan to return to the office and, if so, when?

· What will it take to make you comfortable there?

· Will all your employees return or will have staggered work schedules alternating between home and office?

· What changes do you plan to make in the office before returning?

The Confessions of a Recovering Landlord podcast is brought to you by REATA Commercial Realty, where we exclusively serve companies that lease or purchase office, medical and warehouse space. You can find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.

Why you, the tenant, are NOT the landlord’s primary client…and who is.

Who is the landlord’s secondary client and why.

Who is the landlord’s third place client and why.

How can tenants improve their leverage and influence with landlords to improve where they are in the pecking order?

The good news is that users of office and warehouse properties are REATA’s FIRST, most important and ONLY client! At REATA Commercial Realty, we exclusively serve companies and non-profits that lease or purchase office and warehouse space. We never represent landlords. Find us at www.TexasTenantRep.com or call us at 972-667-0028.