The world, and particularly the world of CRE, is one of change. If you think this isn’t a world that changes quickly, you don’t really understand what CRE is. Sure, some of the basics still look the same as it used to be – brokers work with clients and landlords to connect them up. That’s like saying, transportation hasn’t changed much since the horse and buggy. People still travel on roads in a vehicle that travels in the direction you point it.
The great Duke Long responded to a comment on his blog recently about how nothing has changed and nothing will change. It can be easy to miss it if you have your eyes closed and blinders on but CRE has changed dramatically in the last decade:
- How space is used is very different with agile working, mobile tech, work from home policies, etc.
- How space is designed is very different with fewer offices, more wellness features, greater emphasis on sustainability.
- Basic lease terms and conditions have shifted.
- Business requirements about why and where they need space have shifted.
Brokers that think a trip to the golf course gets a deal done haven’t been paying attention. You need to bring more than a financial model to the table now. Often times, the client is doing a lot of this heavy lifting on their own because the brokerage community doesn’t do full-service well yet.
But just because you don’t see the change yourself doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.