Where do you see the market going?
Plain and simple, this question shows whether or not your broker has their finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the industry, both on local and national levels, and whether they have the know-how to effectively advise you on how to strategically invest within a changing market. A top-notch broker will be able to help you determine what the best investment strategy is for today’s marketplace conditions and help you forecast how to adapt to future market conditions.
At NAI Mid-Michigan, our team lives and works in this community. We know the intricacies of the Mid-Michigan commercial market backwards and forwards. Our expert team can help you run a formal location analysis and feasibility study to inform your strategic investment plan. We use our local acumen every day to help our clients match with the right property in the right neighborhood, and navigate potential, hidden pain points of a particular market (think local regulations, tax implications that may impact your investment, etc.) As part of the global NAI network, our team has access to cutting edge technology, expert tools and templates. Which means our clients receive global reach with a local touch.
What is your level of experience and expertise?
Just like a job interview, asking this general opening question is a great way to see how this broker would sum up their professional accomplishments and characterize their client service. While years of experience is a great metric to know, make sure to also ask more specific figures on how many deals they have closed and a total estimation of dollars managed.
At NAI Mid Michigan, we have a robust team of local market specialists who have effectively managed millions of dollars in real estate sales. Our team members are all at different points in their career and come from a variety of professional backgrounds, meaning each of our clients benefit from the personal relationship with their individual broker and the team of people working alongside them for client success.
What businesses or property styles do you specialize in?
This question is essential for determining if your business is the right fit for this broker. Some brokerage firms do specialize in individual industries, such as office space vs industrial space. Will this broker be able to put themselves in your shoes and understand the unique needs of your investment strategy, your industry, your customers?
Many of our brokerage team members have come to us from different backgrounds in business and industry, which gives us a unique advantage for serving our clients. Many of them know what it’s like to start or expand a business or invest in a property. While our brokers all have diverse brokerage portfolios, they also have each other for collective professional support. Meaning that NAI Mid-Michigan can handle even the most unique CRE investment scenarios.
Can you provide references or success stories from previous clients?
References and success are a great way to get a sense for how the broker has previously addressed an individual client’s needs, and how they navigated that client through the long and arduous CRE process. After all, there are real people and businesses behind the broker’s professional metrics. Go the extra mile and give those references a call to learn even more about their experience with the broker.
Ask any one of our brokers at NAI Mid-Michigan and they’ll be thrilled to share their favorite client success stories with you. Here are two of our most recent success stories to get you started:
- Peak Performance — Surviving and Thriving in a Challenging Marketplace
- Peppino’s Pizza — Getting Creative with Existing Spaces
Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your brokerage needs. We’re NAI Mid-Michigan, your best choice for commercial real estate services.