Situations
Start with what’s going on in your space.
Find your situation below. Each one covers the options, the traps and the first steps, for leasing, buying, selling and moving. If yours isn’t listed, search or give me a call and tell me what’s going on.
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Leasing
- I’m paying too much rent
- My lease is up for renewal
- I’ve outgrown my space
- I have more space than I need
- I need to move my business
- My landlord isn’t holding up their end
- My building is being redeveloped
- I’m opening my first location
- My location isn’t working
- I’m selling my business and the lease has to go with it
- I need office space
- I need retail or restaurant space
- I need industrial or warehouse space
- I want a small space or a short lease
Buying
- I want to buy a building
- I want to own the space my business uses
- I want to buy the building I lease
- I want my first investment property
- I want to add to my portfolio
- I want to buy a business
- I want to buy with partners
- I want to defer tax when I buy and sell
- I want to buy a distressed property
- I want to buy a building with the owner staying on as tenant
- I want to buy an RV park or campground
Selling
- I’m ready to sell my business
- I’m planning to sell in a few years
- I want to sell my building
- Should I sell, hold or refinance?
- I want to sell my building and stay put
- I’ve inherited a commercial property
- How do vendor take-back mortgages work?
- I want to sell and retire
- My partners and I want to split up
- I need to sell under pressure
- I want to sell a building with tenants
- I want to plan the tax before I sell
Every situation
Pick the one that sounds like you
Tenants
Leasing, renewing, moving or fixing a lease that isn’t working.
- Your lease is up for renewalFind out if the renewal number is fair before you sign for another five years.
- You think you’re paying too muchBase rent, CAM bills or escalations that don’t add up.
- You’re outgrowing your spaceMore staff, more stock, more customers, same four walls.
- You need less spaceHybrid work, a slower year, or a team that shrank.
- You need to moveLease ending, building redeveloping, or the space doesn’t fit anymore.
- Trouble with your landlordRepairs, surprise bills, slow consents or redevelopment notices.
- Your building is being redevelopedA rezoning sign, a demolition clause or a notice from your landlord.
- Your location isn’t workingFoot traffic, visibility or the neighbours aren’t what you were promised.
- Your first commercial spaceFirst shop, studio, café, clinic or office.
- A small space or a short leaseMicro leases for first-time entrepreneurs.
- You need office spaceFrom a few desks in Gastown to a full floor downtown.
- You need retail or restaurant spaceWhere the location does a lot of the selling for you.
- You need industrial or warehouse spaceClear height, loading and power, checked before you sign.
Owners and landlords
Selling, holding or planning the exit on a building you own.
- You want to sell your buildingPricing, marketing, buyers and getting it to completion.
- Sell, hold or refinance?Run the numbers on each before you decide.
- Selling a building with tenantsHow leases shape the price and who buys.
- Sell your building and stay putFree up the cash and lease it back.
- You’ve inherited a commercial propertyWhat to check first, and your options.
- Plan the tax before you sellTalk to your accountant before the deal, not after.
- You and your partners want to split upBuy out, sell or divide, with as little friction as possible.
- You need to sell under pressureLenders, deadlines and still getting a fair price.
- Thinking about a vendor take-backHow carrying part of the financing works.
Buyers
Buying a building, land or an investment property.
- You want to buy a buildingOwner-users and investors buying office, retail, industrial or land.
- Own the space your business usesStop paying rent and build equity.
- Buy the building you leaseHow to approach your landlord and price it.
- Your first investment propertyWhat to look for, and what to avoid.
- Add to your portfolioFinding the next building that fits.
- Buy with partnersAgree the structure before you write an offer.
- Defer tax when you buy and sellHow Canada handles it, since there’s no 1031 exchange here.
- Buy a distressed propertyWhere the opportunity is, and the risk.
- Buy with the owner staying as tenantA sale-leaseback from the buyer’s side.
- Buy an RV park or campgroundSeasonal income, licensing and land use.
Business owners
Buying or selling a business, and the lease or building that goes with it.
- You’re ready to sell your businessGetting the business and the real estate ready together.
- Selling your business, and the lease has to go with itAssignment, consent and release.
- Planning to sell in a few yearsWhat to do now so the sale goes smoothly later.
- Sell and retireTiming, tax and what comes next.
- You want to buy a businessThe real estate side: the lease or the property.
Homes
Buying, selling or renting where you live.
- You want to buy a homeFrom the first viewing to completion.
- Your first homePrograms, costs and how the process works.
- A condo or townhouseStrata documents and what to read first.
- A presale condoDeposits, assignments and the rescission period.
- You want to sell your homePricing, prep and getting it sold.
- Your house is too big nowMoving to something smaller.
- You need a place to rentFinding a place and knowing your rights.
A bit of everything? Most situations are a mix of a few of these. Tell me what’s going on and I’ll help you sort it out.
Give me a shoutGo deeper
If you’re looking for more details
Not sure which page fits?
Most people fit more than one. A business that’s outgrowing its space usually also has a renewal coming up, and someone paying too much rent often has a landlord problem too. Start with whatever is keeping you up at night.
I can help you see the rest on the first call.
The three dates that run every lease
- The renewal notice deadline. Often six to twelve months before the lease ends. Miss it and your option can be gone.
- The expiry date. When you either have a new deal or you’re overholding, usually at a higher rent.
- Your real decision date. Twelve to eighteen months before expiry, so there’s time to compare and move if you need to.
Use the lease expiry countdown to work out yours.
Next step
Tell me what’s going on with your space.
Fifteen minutes is usually enough to work out what you should do first. If I’m not the right person for it, I’ll tell you and point you to someone who is.