Many professionals come with their fair share of sub-specialties. Take medicine, for example. You may have two individuals who are licensed as medical doctors, but one may be a podiatrist while the other specializes in radiology. Both are noble and important callings, but the distinction between them is important: If you have pain in your foot, you want to make sure you’re seeing the podiatrist, not the radiologist.
In the same way, there are different kinds of real estate brokers—with the two big categories being residential and commercial. Both of these jobs are important, and there’s a lot of overlap between them. There are also some differences, however—and before you hire any kind of real estate broker, you want to be sure you’re choosing someone with the correct proficiencies to meet your objectives.
What Sets Commercial Real Estate Brokers Apart?
So what sets commercial real estate brokers apart? Well, in a lot of ways they are similar to residential brokers. Both are concerned with buying, selling, and leasing properties. The main difference is the type of property. A residential broker focuses on private homes, whereas a commercial broker emphasizes properties that are being used for business purposes—which could mean rental properties, office space, retail stores, restaurants, etc.
And there are a few other distinctions, too:
- “Commercial” Listing Services. While residential agents have access to one multiple listing service (MLS), commercial brokers may have access to two or three different online commercial listing sources, which is what a client needs to make a smart decision on what to purchase or where to move.
- Credentialing. All real estate brokers have certain credentials, and those credentials reflect their specific training and experience. So, a commercial broker might be credentialed as a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), to name just one example. This denotes a particular field of expertise, and a bank of knowledge that residential brokers won’t necessarily possess.
- Connections. When seeking a real estate broker, you always want someone who has a robust local network. For example, your residential real estate broker is someone you can turn to for a good local handyman, lawn care service, titling attorney, or mover. A commercial broker, on the other hand, can help you get in touch with a good IT vendor, commercial attorney, furniture provider, or architect. In short, a good commercial broker can help you find other professionals whose services will help you set up shop.
- Market knowledge. One final area of distinction? A residential agent will possess immense knowledge of local neighborhoods, school districts, etc., but a commercial broker will be more helpful when it comes to the area’s business trends, such as build out allowances, free rent, price per square foot rates, etc. If you’re looking to get the best lease terms or to find a location that gets great foot traffic, for instance, a commercial broker can provide you with the necessary expertise.
The bottom line is that, if you’re seeking real estate to be used for business purposes, it’s important to select a broker who has the specific qualification to offer you the very best guidance—in short, a commercial broker. And at Kuester CRE, we have provided commercial real estate brokerage to Carolina business owners for many decades now. Learn more by reaching out to Kuester CRE today.