Can I view an office space with the building's broker but then bring in my own agent to sign the lease?
My mom's a real estate agent and I always like to go through her but I've inquired about a space and have been in communication with the building's broker. I can set up a tour with them, but I don't know if this means they think they are my buying agent or if I can just look at it with them and then when ready to sign I can bring in my agent. Is this professional?
[{"id": "fyroze8", "text": "Signing a lease is different than buying a house. \n\nI would go to the viewing, the value of a agent on your side is to review the terms of the lease, not view the property, IMO.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fyrpcb3", "text": "It's pretty shady but people do it. My concern would be if your mom is a residential real estate agent or a commercial agent because they 2 are very different and use different contracts the she does not have access to. But if it's a basic little strip mall location or something like that she can probably handle it. If it's anything larger then I'd stick with the broker who has the listing", "replies": [{"id": "fyrpk6k", "text": "It's a tiny 300SF office space if that makes a difference. And are you saying it's shady because they're a family member or because I've already set up expectations with the broker? They don't know I'd have an agent I just don't know if going to a viewing with them definitely creates that expectation that I am not represented.", "replies": [{"id": "fyrqe75", "text": "Will they even pay a commission on 300 sf?  Or how much would it be for your mom?  Tbh you might consider just having your mom help and not claim a commission at all.  At some point you have to ask if its worth the hassle you are going to create if its over a 200 commission or whatever", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "fyrrv9s", "text": "Expectation. The other agent did the work. If they didn't ask if you have representation though, then that's on them. That's one of the first questions you ask.", "replies": [{"id": "fyrv9qw", "text": "This is not true. The other agent is the leasing agent, which is why they are doing \"the work\". Bring your own broker, it doesnt matter. But like the person said below, for 300 sf you are worrying way too much.", "replies": [{"id": "fyrw735", "text": " If his mom wants to represent him she should be scheduling the viewing for him. That's how it works in the industry. This is exactly why agents get jaded. They show clients properties, they answer all their questions and then the clients send an offer from their own agent.", "replies": [{"id": "fyryll6", "text": "I am confused.  The leasing agent is paid by the owner of the property. It doesn\u2019t or shouldn\u2019t  matter what kind if any representation the other side has.  Sometimes when you do deals without an opposing broker their is a slight bump in the commission but a leasing broker showing space in the building is their literal job.", "replies": [{"id": "fys7lmm", "text": "Exactly this. The way it was described, the broker showing the space is the landlord rep. It\u2019s his job to show and lease that space. And for 300 sf, the commission split is minimal.", "replies": [], "depth": 7}, {"id": "fysj70h", "text": "If OP's mom wants any chance of getting paid, her involvement should be noted from the outset.  Even then she may not get paid.", "replies": [{"id": "fysltd8", "text": "I agree that if he plans on using her it should be mentioned at the outset and at the very least before an LOI is drafted. I don\u2019t have a problem paying someone\u2019s mom/brother/friend who is a residential broker but I am certainly figuring it into the rental rate.", "replies": [], "depth": 8}], "depth": 7}], "depth": 6}], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "fyz4myz", "text": ".", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fyrprds", "text": "If your mom is your agent tell her to schedule a tour for you.  How is she sopposed to do her job if she has never seen the spaces you are looking at?\n\nAt the very least mention it to them.  Yes its unprofessional to ask the agent to do your moms job then have her stick her hand out at the end.  She should be involved from the start", "replies": [{"id": "fyrqb9f", "text": "Ok thanks that's what I thought. I've never done this before. I've only reached out initially when i found the property online. I guess that's still work I should've done with my own agent. Is it early enough to switch to my own agent without stepping on any toes?", "replies": [{"id": "fyrqiu2", "text": "No not at all.  Just give them a call and say you hired an agent who will also be there and wanted to let them know.  Its fine", "replies": [{"id": "fyrqtjt", "text": "Thanks so much", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "fysbktu", "text": "Also, if his mom is a residential agent, he should find himself a commercial broker. Having a residential agent broker a commercial deal is like asking a dermatologist to do open heart surgery.", "replies": [{"id": "fysevjr", "text": "I can\u2019t emphasize this enough.  If OPs mom isn\u2019t well versed in commercial lease transactions, her involvement will not be beneficial to anyone.", "replies": [{"id": "fyvfcyv", "text": "+1,000,000\n\nI despise dealing with residential shmucks. I occasionally deal with them when they\u2019re representing a client or space. I can tell it\u2019s a residential shmo from the first 2 minutes of talking to them. All you have to do is tell/ask them what the rent is. They won\u2019t tell you $X/sqft but rather tell you $X/month (gross number). Then when you ask or tell them what the per sqft break down is they look at you like a deer in headlights.", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fyru2xw", "text": "In commercial as in residential an agent is generally owed a commission if they are deemed to be the \"procuring cause\". i.e. did the agent \"bring\" the Buyer/Tenant to the property. In both cases however you are entitled to your own representation and can bring them in at anytime and say \"hey, this person represents me\". \n\nDepending on when you bring your mom into the process that news will be viewed differently. If, for example, you tour the space and mention on the tour you are represented then no harm no foul..... the longer you wait the more grounds both the landlord and listing agent have to deny your mom's claim to a fee. Basically the more of your moms work you make the listing agent do they will be less inclined to pay her. \n\nMore importantly than the above statement its poor form and in bad taste to surprise a landlord/listing agent with news there is a cooperating broker later into the process. As in residential the listing agent has a listing agreement in place with provisions to pay a tenant rep broker, however in commercial there are likely discounts (if only a small amount) in place for the landlord if no tenant rep broker is in place. \n\nLastly, office leasing commissions for tenant rep brokers are generally $1/sf/year. I.e. if you signed a 5 year lease your mom is likely looking at $1,500 ($900 for a 3 year lease etc.) so were not talking about a lot of money. You can look at this two ways: 1 - its not a lot of money and certainly not enough to warrant the landlord or listing agent getting bent out of shape over or 2 - its not a lot money (to your mom) and not worth starting a relationship with your new landlord on the wrong foot. \n\nYou didn't mention if your mom is a commercial agent? If she is a residential agent I absolutely would not introduce her into the process as she has very little, if any value at all to add.", "replies": [{"id": "fyrv8ig", "text": "Thank you so much. She is residential and the office space is only 300SF so sounds like it's not worth it.", "replies": [{"id": "fyrxib4", "text": "I would say your best bet is to understand that the LL MIGHG be saving some money on fees and hope to negotiate a slightly lower rate with that information. \n\n Good luck.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "fysfk1e", "text": "You are spot on about everything except for tenant rep fees.  In my market, LLs pay 4% on the gross, office or industrial.  $1/sf/year works out great for industrial, but the office brokers would lose their shit...", "replies": [{"id": "fysfw2k", "text": "I\u2019m an industrial broker, working across two states, in both of those markets office brokers are paid $1/sf/year and industrial tenant rep is 5% for years 1-5 and 2.5% thereafter. Obviously there will be variances from market to market, for this particular example it doesn\u2019t much matter as OP is talking about a 300SF space.", "replies": [{"id": "fysmoex", "text": "I definitely agree with you regarding OP.  My comment was more my own curiosity.  I was just talking with one of my asset managers about how different things can be from market to market.  For example, the county just to the north of me pays 5% on the net rather than 4% on the gross.\n\nStill, office brokers here would make substantially less money if they were paid $1/sf/year.  The ones who are representing large, credit tenants earn seven figure commissions somewhat frequently (but many of those are portfolio clients and there are a lot of mouths to feed at those tables).", "replies": [{"id": "fysx8u3", "text": "Agree, even within my primary market the fees vary greatly between submarkets.", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fyrudmc", "text": "You see a space you're interested, so instead of calling your agent you want to work with you call the listing agent??\n\nYou're not the first or last to do this so dont sweat too much. I just dont understand it at all.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "fzb8loj", "text": "What a dirtbag move, I hope the owner protects the broker", "replies": [{"id": "fzbog9u", "text": "\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]