Tag Archives: tenant representation

Benchmark Commercial finds Trips For Kids a new Home

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Last Quarter, Tanner Mason and Joe Lengyel had the opportunity to work with Trips for Kids.  We were able to save them money on their new lease, by looking at their space needs and navigating through negotiations with the landlord on their behalf.   Joe Lengyel was able to help this non-profit find 2,150 SF of space in Arapahoe County.  We are honored to have had the pleasure to work with such a great non-profit.

Trips for Kids Denver Metro is dedicated to giving under served and at-risk youth the opportunity to experience and learn more about the natural beauty of Colorado, from the seat of a mountain bike. Trips for Kids strives to give children the chance to see a different side of Colorado.  They also work to expand their understanding of what each child can achieve, and to make personal connections with the natural world.  Trips for Kids Denver Metro is a member of Trips for Kids, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Marin County, California. Founded in 1988 and now operating in over 75 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Israel (information pulled from Trips for Kids Denver Metro website).  Trips for Kids Denver Metro strives for excellence and quality in all facets of its programs starting with their values of safety, compassion, integrity, respect, and fun!

According to Joe Lengyel, “cost control and anticipating future expenses was paramount to getting a deal done. Being a non-profit, Trips for Kids has to have every dime spent approved by a board”. The starting ask was $12.00/sf/MG, including the NNN’s at 3.90, with $0.50 cent hikes scheduled every year. The Landlord was also asking for a personal guarantee and a Credit Check application to be filled out by a member of the board for security.  Joe Lengyel, with the guidance of Tanner Mason, was able to negotiate the terms to bypass the personal guarantee by explaining the purpose of the non-profit and showing them their exemplary track record and contribution to the community.

 The cost per square feet and $0.50 cent rate hikes were the next major negotiating points. Benchmark Commercial negotiated only $0.25 cent hikes, but the $12/sf price was cost prohibitive for the non-profit.  Ultimately Benchmark Commercial Real Estate was able to lower the rate to $11.50, and to ensure that the rate remained unchanged for the duration of the lease. Though the net effect of this is the same overall cost for the entire lease, we were able to give Trips for Kids the gift of seeing the future, which has allowed them to anticipate the upfront cost for the duration of the lease.

Benchmark Commercial Joins Exis Global Tenant Representation

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Benchmark Commercial announces its partnership with Exis Global Tenant Representation.  Exis, which was founded in 2013, is a global commercial real estate organization committed exclusively to representing commercial tenants and end users.  As part of Exis, Benchmark will have access to, and contribute to, their depth of international real estate knowledge.

Exis partners include some of the most trusted names in tenant representation around the world. As a proven Colorado commercial real estate company, with proven international capability, Benchmark has been invited to be shareholders of Exis.

As a previous board member of Exis, Glenn Blumenfeld of Tactix in Philadelphia has discussed that importance of quality over quantity, “We want to maintain the quality of the firms we are working with; we could have doubled the number of firms if we wanted dots on a map. We would rather have fewer dots on the map but the right dots on the map,” Blumenfeld said in an interview with Philadelphia Business Journal.

Benchmark has a depth in commercial real estate expertise that is second to none.  As a member of the Exis global platform, Benchmark will have access to use these global resources to better serve the Denver community.  With their worldwide team of industry experts, Exis is setting the global standard for tenant representation, delivering strategic consulting, and pragmatic solutions to Benchmark’s Colorado clients.  Tanner Mason, Managing Partner at Benchmark sums it up best, “This is a focused move to bring our local capabilities to a national and international platform which will allow the Benchmark team to provide consistent and measurable results now and into the future.  We look forward to be a part of the Exis global platform.”

The Exis organization is led by a worldwide team of professionals, who are bound by a shared commitment to providing conflict-free representation to tenants and end users of commercial real estate space. Their process makes the difference.  They know the needs of the markets by analyzing the competition and implementing plans to better service their clients. They do this by understanding client objectives, budgetary constraints, and space needs to define the desired outcome.  Benchmark will continue to identify real estate solutions to meet our Colorado clients’ needs and financial requirements while also ensuring that each landlord can deliver now and in the future.

Benchmark knows with Exis we’ll be able to help our clients globally as well as locally.  “We have selected other brokers outside our market in the past to solve client needs.  Now we can offer clients proven options in the US and around the world.”- Jeff Mason, Partner

Exis partners use strategic tools to facilitate the best process for the tenant representation side, similar to the services Benchmark provides in the Colorado market.  For more information contact us at: 303-395-0111 or visit our website at Benchmark Commercial Real Estate.