You don’t need a broker to look at CRE. However, buying CRE can be very complex, even for insider pros. It’s not the same as buying a home—at all. There are three distinct advantages that come with working with a professional CRE broker. Market data and analyzation: Every property has different characteristics. Operating expenses, existing leases, upcoming capital expenditures and many other property overheads can affect viability and value. Working with a broker will increase your awareness and aptitude in deciding if a property is correct for you. Save time: Without a broker, the list of available properties and their favorability with respect to your business’s best market location can be overwhelming. Furthermore, some states, similar to Utah, are “non-disclosure” states where prior sales are not made public—only ownership and dates of transfer. Thus, the right broker should have access to recent comparable data to assist you with valuation. In addition to avoiding the heavy investment of time to find the property, brokers save time as the deal progresses in organizing inspections, negotiating and re-negotiating terms, completing paperwork and making offers. Simply put, brokers streamline the process of finding and securing office space. Expert who can negotiate: Negotiation is the name of the CRE game. And successful negotiation can be downright stressful. A CRE broker negotiates for a living and can provide a buffer between the sometimes-turbulent process and the client. Brokers are advocates for their clients and spot hidden charges or landlord profit centers.