Tenant Improvements vs. Landlord’s Work Letter
The tenant improvement allowance tells you how much money may be available. The work letter tells you what actually gets built, by whom, and under…
Is Your Office Safe? A Practical Workplace Safety Checklist
A simple workplace walk-through can uncover blocked exits, overloaded outlets, unstable storage and other conditions that become easy to overlook during normal operations. Originally published…
Rats and Mice Setting Up Shop in Your Business?
By Arthur Katz, Contributing Columnist Rats and mice have become a serious problem for New York businesses this season. While they are year round pests,…
The Death of the Cubicle, and Other Workplace Trends
By Benjamin Osgood, Contributing Columnist As tenants transition from hard-lined telephones to VOIP, abandon private offices for open areas and clamor for “brick and timber” creative…
Hiring a Commercial Landscape Contractor: Look Beyond the Price
The lowest proposal—or the biggest contractor—doesn’t tell you whether the team can actually maintain your property to the standard you expect. Originally published December 18,…
Paper Towels or Hand Dryers in Your Bathrooms?
The better choice depends on the restroom, the building and what it takes to operate each option. Are paper towels less costly to your facility…
The Rent Is Negotiated. What Did Everyone Else Skip?
Some of the most expensive lease provisions aren’t the ones that dominate the negotiation. They determine what the tenant pays, what it can change, what…
Should you Refurbish or Replace Broken, Worn or Torn Office Chairs?
Before replacing a worn chair, find out what failed, what can be repaired and whether the chair is worth keeping. Office furniture ages over time….
Due Diligence Is Critical in Commercial Real Estate Transactions
By Link LeGrand, CCIM Contributing Columnist Financial due diligence is the process of verifying all statements of fact (or “finding where the bodies are buried”)…
Water Conservation Strategies for Your Facility
Before deciding how to reduce water consumption, understand where the building is actually using it. Updated October 2026 Let’s start with the basics: if you…
What can Commercial Real Estate folks do to help Sandy victims?
Written in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, when businesses across the New York region were trying to restore operations, find temporary space and reconnect…
How Do You Deal With Graffiti at Your Facility?
Quick removal matters, but the wrong cleaning method can leave the building with damage that lasts much longer than the graffiti. Updated October 2026 Graffiti…
How Much Space Does a Treatment Chair Need?
The answer depends on the clinical use, equipment, required clearances and the requirements governing the project. Updated October 2026 In 2012, I wrote about healthcare…
What is the best predictor of performance for a General Contractor?
The company may have an impressive résumé. The owner still needs to know who is actually going to run the project. Originally published October 2012….
How Often Should Rooftop Fan Belts Be Replaced?
The calendar is only one input. Equipment condition, operating environment and the consequence of failure should determine the maintenance strategy. Originally published October 2012. Updated…