Author: Jim Schnur

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

Remote work, once considered a perk for a select few, has become a standard operating procedure for companies worldwide. Organizations, recognizing remote and hybrid teams as the future of work, are now faced with the challenge of designing flexible office spaces for this new work model. Understanding the key considerations and strategies for creating office environments that foster collaboration, innovation, and productivity in this dynamic work environment is critical for organizations to succeed moving forward.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

The commercial real estate market was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with various sectors experiencing different challenges. Commercial landlords had to adapt to allow for more flexible solutions to offer tenants due to the increase in remote work, restructuring, and relocation. 

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

Industrial (manufacturing & distribution) space is definitely not “one-size-fits-all.” The right-sized space can make all the difference between efficiency and chaos. Choosing the optimal industrial space is a critical decision that can impact productivity, workflow, and ultimately, the bottom line. You need to consider several factors to determine if an industrial space meets your needs. And, these criteria will also help you find that new space that provides for today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

The Covid lockdown prompted a new paradigm in how organizations work, with hybrid and remote work becoming ubiquitous. Companies no longer needed all their office space, prompting them to drop lease renewals and seek smaller spaces for the fewer employees returning to the office. For example, a March 2021 Chicago Tribune article by Ryan Ori reported that at year-end 2020 15.5% of the city’s downtown office space remained unleased, an increase of 12.8% over the previous year.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

Since the pandemic, businesses have become painfully aware of supply chain challenges. At the same time, the rise of online commerce presence and social media have heightened consumers’ expectations for rapid product delivery. Whether selecting a site for its manufacturing facility, for its warehousing needs, or both, a business must consider supply chain logistics in its decision.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

The relocation process demands increasing time and effort to stay on course once it starts, making it difficult to step back and properly evaluate if all the necessary checks and balances are in place for a successful business move while keeping pace. Executing a successful business relocation requires proactivity, coordination, and precision prior to jumping feet first into the process, which is why it is imperative to establish a move timeline and milestones well ahead of time. 

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

When businesses find a space that fits their current and future needs, they are motivated to remain in that space. But business owners that are renting have their steadfast resolve tested every time their lease comes due for renewal as it means entering into a negotiation where the power is potentially unbalanced. Loyalty to a space and wariness about searching for a new space to rent can make renewal conversations daunting, especially for those that don’t want to “rock the boat” with their landlords. Just as often, though, this fear leads to business owners leaving valuable renewal terms for their new lease term unexplored and off the table.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

One of the core reasons businesses search for a new location is to find a space that is optimized for current and future business needs and success. But available locations on the market require additional aspects and improvements to help them align with the precise vision of business owners’ picture of the new space where their company is successfully thriving. The required renovations, updates, and modifications to allow a business to function after relocating need to be planned out long before signing the lease or taking over the space because the work necessary for those changes requires a significant amount of resources – in time, labor, and money. 

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

There is a tremendous amount of pressure on business owners and operators going into the office relocation process. For many, the hunt for that ideal building or office, the itch to be out of the space they are in, and they want to move through the relocation process quickly leads to overlooking or ignoring critical considerations while rushing into a space that ultimately isn’t the right fit for their business. And in committing to a less-than-perfect fit, the business and its future potential suffer. It is understandable why business owners just entering the relocation process would be hesitant or overwhelmed while vetting locations and scouting new office spaces.

By James A. Schnur, CCIM
President and Designated Managing Broker
Integrated Real Estate Solutions
LinkedIn

The rental rate for a commercial or industrial space typically includes more than the base cost of rent and the company’s share of the utilities. Often, this concept catches business owners off-guard, especially when they have worked hard to prepare a budget for a new space ahead of time without considering what other expenses play a factor in their lease.