Start with your objective.

Start here

Five questions everyone answers.

1. What is your objective? (Buy, sell or lease property, Buy a business, Sell a business, now or someday, Improve or grow a business, Understand what a property is worth, Plan a new venture, expansion or development, Energy or land site control (solar, BESS), Not sure yet)
2. Is this about a property, a business or both? Briefly describe it, including property type if applicable (Office, Retail, Industrial, Multifamily, Mixed-use, Land, Hospitality, Other).
3. Where is it located? An address, neighborhood or general area is fine.
4. What is your timing? (Within 3 months, 3 to 12 months, more than a year, just exploring)
5. What is the best phone number to reach you, and when?

Selling or acquiring property

1. Are you selling, buying or both?
2. If selling: what is the property, how long have you owned it, and is it occupied or vacant?
3. If buying: what types of property, areas and general size are you looking for?
4. Is anything time-sensitive, such as an exchange, a lease expiration or a partner decision?
5. Who else is involved in the decision?

Leasing or tenant representation

1. Are you a landlord seeking tenants or a business seeking space?
2. What type and approximate size of space?
3. Preferred areas, and must-haves such as parking, frontage, access or zoning?
4. When does your current lease expire, or when do you need to be open?

Broker Opinion of Value (BOV)

1. Which property or properties would you like valued?
2. What is prompting the valuation: a possible sale, refinancing, partner or estate planning, or portfolio review?
3. Is the property owner-occupied, leased or vacant?
4. When do you need the opinion?

Business brokerage

1. Are you looking to sell a business or buy one?
2. What kind of business, and roughly how long has it operated?
3. Does the business own or lease its location?
4. What does a successful transition look like to you?

Development and land strategy

1. Where is the site, and do you control it today?
2. What use are you considering?
3. Do you know the current zoning, or anticipate a zoning change?
4. Are other parcels part of the plan, such as an assemblage?

Energy: solar and battery storage

1. Are you a landowner or an energy developer?
2. Where is the land, and roughly how many acres?
3. Is the site near substations or transmission lines, if known?
4. Where are you in the process: early interest, site control, permitting or zoning?