Advice for negotiating lease rate
I have a small business in an absolute shit location of Nashville and have wanted to upgrade for a while.  I figured now would be a good time to get some lower rent on a nicer place but no dice.  What gives?  I see vacant CRE all over town, stuff that was vacant for months prior to COVID.  No way they fill now.  Are LL really willing to let their units sit empty for a year waiting for someone willing to pay their price?

In general, how willing are you guys to negotiate your listed price, and has that changed?  Any tips on leverage to get the price down or some build out credits?
[{"id": "fng8iv2", "text": "I am in a different state. But have you used a realtor for this? Do NOT use generic realtor services, you need one with a track record. Leasing is more of a art. \n\nWhen looking for a new location what exactly are you doing?  At the end of the day the leasing agent has a number they need to hit. They may have a location that need improvements.  You may offer to do this for X amount of months off rent. But what type of business do you have? \n\nA couple of items to keep in mind:\nAre YOU willing to do improvements to the location? Most LL would love to have no expenses for the local for X amount of months off rent. So let's say you have a NNN lease that needs some cosmetic work. A landlord probably would not mind giving a couple months off rent to get an overall \"better\" space. \nWhy type of business do you have? A self sustained barbershop I would be more lenient than a call center due to income vs. Expenses. \nHow long of a lease are you wanting? \nItems like this play a large part in getting a deal. Reach out to local leasing agents. They may surprise you on the deal you can get. \n\nIn this crisis- I would really need to know what type of business you have and what type of location you are looking for to really give you advice. \ud83d\ude42", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fngax3c", "text": "Everything is negotiable", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fngeoci", "text": "Decrease in rent? Not likely right now. Free rent got a few months? Maybe. Tenant Improvement? Is it valuable to me? Can we amortize into the rent?\n\nYour best bet for a deal right now is free rent for a few months while COVID blows over, but the Landlord is going to want to know you are going to make it because if anyone else that is better or more secure comes along we are stuck with you for years. That's the trade-off. Too much free rent and you are seen as a credit risk.\n\nGet a realtor", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fnguybv", "text": "Answers to this question will vary wildly by product/submarket, but generally speaking, I do believe the COVID situation has changed these dynamics substantially.   I believe you will find most landlords to be more flexible and motivated.  Event like this will reduce the number of tenant prospects out looking.  \n\nAs for leverage in getting price down, I think if there are a number of spaces that would fit your criteria, just negotiate aggressively.  Free rent is easier to get than cash for build out.  Tough to say much more than this without knowing more about office vs industrial etc and a little more about your business.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fnhl8qa", "text": "Same reason you dont start slashing prices at your store when there's a slow period.", "replies": [{"id": "fniay0l", "text": "Ahh but I don't deal in inventory costs.  Every place that does, like a car dealership, will be slashing prices AGGRESSIVELY because of this situation.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]