Commercial Real Estate Broker - Karen Warner

Interview with Commercial Real Estate Broker - Karen Warner

If you are not familiar with a Commercial Real Estate Broker, their job is to make sure all of the headaches are taken away from the stress of moving to a new office space or commercial property location.

A commercial real estate broker, is a licensed professional who offers a helping hand to clients in the buying, selling or leasing of properties that will be used for retail, commercial and business purpose. They represent their clients and act as a mediator between buyers, sellers, landlords and lease-hold companies.   

About Karen Warner. 

Recently, I caught up with Karen Warner, an expert, published author and a public speaker in the Commercial Real Estate Market, to find out more about what's involved in a typical real estate brokers daily schedule.  

Karen began her commercial real estate career in 1995 as a tenant representative. Karen immediately recognised a lack of resource tools and information that can help tenants negotiate a fair lease and to plan and execute a successful office relocation. 

Karen, holds a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), and specializes in commercial real estate sales and leasing in Boise, Idaho. Karen's experience has aided many businesses in managing a smooth transition to their new location. 

Karen Warner is also known nationally as the “Office Relocation Expert” and works with many business owners, office managers and corporations developing office relocations, strategies for office space design and office lease negotiation. Karen is also the spokesperson for Fellowes, Inc., representing their Bankers Box SmoothMove© product line of office moving boxes and supplies.

  The video above, Karen represents Fellowes, Inc., Bankers Box SmoothMove© product line.

Karen has become known as one of the top commercial brokers in her market and therefore decided to draw upon her skill and experience by writing a book on how to manage an office move. Karen's first book, was published in 1997 and quickly became the best selling business relocation title on Amazon.com and was quickly followed up with two other titles in 2001 and 2006.

Karen Warner - Author of Move Your Office, Office Relocation Planner, and Winning The Office Leasing Game

Read on to find out more about Karen's daily business and her publications.  

Q.1 How did you get started in the Serviced Office industry?

A. I began my career in commercial real estate as a broker in 1995 and quickly gravitated toward exclusively representing tenants. I enjoy working with businesses to help them find the perfect office space.  

Q.2 What is the best thing about your job and why?

A. The best part of my job is meeting business owners and learning about their unique business models and the challenges they face. The right office can contribute to defining a company’s culture, enhance employee productivity, aid in attracting and retaining team members and can dramatically impact the bottom line. Helping a company achieve success through their physical location is very satisfying.  

Q.3 What is a typical working day like for you? i.e A busy hectic day often or a mixed variation of quiet days and hectic days?

A. My days are a mix of meetings with clients, touring properties, analysing proposed lease terms and reviewing lease documents. My schedule is usually fairly hectic, juggling face-to-face client meetings and phone calls along with quite a bit of financial analysis and paperwork.  

Q.4 Why did you choose to write about the Serviced Office Industry?

A. I’m fascinated by office space and how companies can use their space to improve their business. I also found when I began my career that there was a lack of information about office leasing and office relocation. While there is a significant amount of information available on residential real estate, with regards to buying a home and moving into a new home; there was very little being written about commercial real estate and office space in particular. As a tenant representative and office relocation expert, I believed that I could fill that gap.  

Q.5 What is the most challenging part of your job or industry?

A. The most challenging aspect of my job is time management. I manage multiple transactions at any given time and there are often deadlines that must be met.  

Q.6 What inspired you to become an author on the Serviced Office industry and where did this inspiration come from?

A. I began writing about commercial real estate in 1995 when I recognized a need for a guide to help businesses move into new office space. My first book, the Office Relocation Planner, published in 1997 was created as a blueprint for finding new space, planning and executing an office move. Once the book was published, I continued to write other titles and to blog about office leasing, workplace design and corporate relocation. In addition to the Office Relocation Planner, I’ve also written Winning the Office Leasing Game (2001) and Move Your Office (2006).

All three books are available on my website: www.moveyouroffice.com and on Amazon.

Make Your Next Office Move Your Best Move!

Q.7 Do you have any more plans to publish another book in the near future?

A. Yes, I’m currently working on a book about workplace design and office organization.  

Q.8 Which is better value, a serviced office or a lease-hold

A. It depends on the client’s particular needs. For a small business that would otherwise need to hire a receptionist and/or administrative assistant, a serviced office can be the more economical choice. A medium to large-sized business may find that a lease-hold office makes more sense.

Q.9 Based on question 8, why would you recommend a serviced office option over a lease-hold option to your clients?

A. There are several reasons to recommend a serviced office, especially:

1. A business only leases and pays for the square footage they need, rather than leasing a space that may be a little larger than they require or have an inefficient floorplan
2. A serviced office is usually designed and maintained at a higher-level than your average leased office space
3. A serviced office may have amenities that aren’t available to a typical office tenant, such as video-conferencing equipment, multiple meeting room options, sophisticated telephone systems, faster internet speed, etc

Q.10 What expert tips do you have for someone new starting out in the Serviced Office industry?

A. Network with local businesses, follow up consistently with prospects and maintain an excellent relationship with existing tenants.  

End of Interview.

I wish to thank Karen for taking the time out of her busy schedule to do this short interview for us. It was a pleasure to connect with Karen and seek advice from such an expert within the serviced office and commercial real estate industry.

I would like to also say thank you for taking the time to read my interview. If you enjoyed this article, then why not sign up to our mailing list and we will let you know when we have similar articles available.