Occupier Service
Tenant Representation.
Single-point representation for occupiers leasing industrial space.
Overview
What it covers.
Tenant representation handles the full site search, evaluation, negotiation, and lease execution process for industrial occupiers. The goal is locating the right building for your operations and negotiating economics meaningfully better than you would secure alone. In Metro Vancouver's tight industrial market, most quality opportunities are pre-marketed or off-market, and information asymmetry between landlords and tenants typically favours landlords. Tenant representation levels the field.
The Process
Step-by-step execution.
01.
Requirements Documentation
Workshop your operational requirements — size, clear height, loading, power, yard, location criteria, growth horizon. Translate to a requirements document used for site evaluation.
02.
Submarket Strategy
Identify the submarkets that match your operational profile and economics. Eliminate submarkets that don't fit before consuming time on site tours.
03.
Site Sourcing — On-Market & Off-Market
Build the comprehensive list of viable buildings, including off-market and pre-marketed opportunities surfaced through landlord and broker relationships.
04.
Tour Coordination
Structured tour process with consistent evaluation criteria. Document operational fit, building condition, and economics for each option.
05.
RFP & Offer Process
Request-for-proposal to shortlist landlords, eliciting competitive economics. Offer development with disciplined comparable analysis.
06.
Lease Negotiation
Rent, escalations, op-cost handling, TI, free rent, term, options, expansion rights, exit flexibility — all modeled and negotiated together against the requirements document.
07.
Lease Execution & Occupancy
Coordination with legal counsel, build-out planning where applicable, and handover to occupancy.
Who This Is For
The right fit.
- Industrial occupiers evaluating relocation or expansion
- Tenants approaching lease expiry considering renewal alternatives
- Operators expanding into Metro Vancouver from other markets
- Businesses considering first-time industrial space
- Owner-occupiers also evaluating lease alternatives
What You Get
The deliverable.
- Operational requirements documentation
- Off-market and on-market opportunity sourcing
- Comparable-driven lease economics analysis
- Structured tour coordination and evaluation
- Disciplined RFP and offer process
- Lease negotiation aligned to your operations
- Single point of contact through occupancy
When to Engage
Timing.
Engage 6 to 18 months ahead of your required occupancy date. Quality industrial requirements in Metro Vancouver routinely take 6 to 12 months from kickoff to occupancy when factoring in site selection, lease negotiation, and build-out time. Larger or specialty requirements take longer. Early engagement creates room for off-market sourcing and avoids the compressed timeline that erodes negotiating leverage.
Why Me
The fit.
Industrial-only focus and direct relationships with the major Metro Vancouver landlords and developers provide access to off-market and pre-marketed opportunities that public platforms miss. The site selection is built around your operations, not the landlord's commission cycle. Single point of contact accountability ensures continuity from first call through occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tenant Representation, answered.
What does tenant representation cost?
Tenant representation is typically compensated by the landlord through standard commission structures built into commercial lease transactions. From the tenant's perspective, tenant representation is generally cost-neutral relative to going direct — but the negotiated economics on rent, escalations, free rent, TI, and term flexibility typically deliver materially better results than self-representation.
How long does it take to find industrial space in Metro Vancouver?
Typical timeline runs 6 to 12 months from kickoff to occupancy, including requirements documentation, site selection, lease negotiation, and build-out where applicable. Larger requirements (50,000+ SF), specialty assets (cold storage, manufacturing, rail-served), or constrained submarkets (Vancouver-proper) routinely take longer. Compressed timelines are achievable in some cases but erode negotiating leverage.
What's the difference between off-market and on-market industrial opportunities?
On-market opportunities appear on public listing platforms (CoStar, ICX, LoopNet) and are accessible to any broker or tenant. Off-market opportunities — pre-leasing, landlord renewals not yet exposed, distressed sublease scenarios — surface only through broker and landlord relationships. In Metro Vancouver's tight industrial market, off-market access frequently makes the difference between finding the right building and accepting compromises on operational fit or economics.
Should I sign a tenant representation agreement?
A clear tenant representation agreement defines the broker's mandate, scope, and compensation structure, protecting both parties through the process. It allows the broker to invest in research, off-market outreach, and tour coordination knowing the engagement is genuine. From a tenant perspective, the agreement creates accountability and ensures focused representation.