When a commercial property is to be taken to the market for sale there are 3 alternatives available to the property owner:

* Market and sell the property themselves without an agent involved
* Market and sell the property using a specialised commercial real estate agent
* Market and sell the property using multiple real estate agents on an open agency basis

Now most owners would like to save marketing money and commission so it is tempting for them to sell the property themselves (or think they can). This will cut out any involvement of real estate agents and in theory saves on commission and possibly gives lower advertising costs to the property owner. If the owner finds a purchaser then the owner’s solicitor will do the contract of sale.

Whether the property owner likes paying commission or not, the experienced commercial real estate agent will always bring high value expertise and market knowledge to the property sale process. Those two elements can help with the price obtained and the time on market.

The single agent chosen to market the property should have a solid record with the following:

1. History in the area as a successful agent in sales and leasing
2. Good staff that are experienced in the type of property
3. High level negotiation and documentation skills
4. Awareness of prices that have been obtained recently
5. Clear understandings of the target market for the property
6. Ability to tap into prospects immediately before local media marketing commences
7. A clear marketing method and strategy that taps into the target market
8. A database that reflects current local property enquiry and provides an efficient way to communicate selectively into the database the details of the current property
9. Complete awareness of other local property with which the subject property will compete
10. Internet and email technology that will support the marketing process for the property
11. Copywriting and word smithing skills that stand above the competition in drafting adverts and promotional material
12. Communication processes that keep the property owner up to date during the campaign
13. Methods of sale that match the property and the market

A property owner simply does not have this capability outlined in the list; a good real estate agent does. When all of these elements above are fully utilised in property marketing, a property can sell quickly and at the best price given the prevailing market conditions. That is worth much more than any saving a property owner thinks they can achieve by selling the property themselves.

With regard to the owner that thinks that multiple agents (on a conjunction or open list basis) will sell the property faster, think again. When you list a property to sell in this way it is simply a disaster waiting to happen. Buyers are not attracted to property that is open listed, and agents do not promote the property with focus and strategy. The sale if it happens in this way is a product of luck more than intention. Property owners should do justice to themselves and their property at the time of sale; choose the best agent with the best track record.

No matter what type of real estate you choose, there’s definitely money to be made. As the real estate market changes so do your opportunities for making money. When the market is lower you can by at decreased prices and later sell for more. On the flip side, when the market is high, you can enjoy getting the most out of your investment by renting it.

Whether you purchase residential or commercial real estate, you will receive many benefits. Residential real estate allows you to develop housing areas, provide rental units to those who can’t or don’t wish to buy a home and buy and flip homes that are in vast need of improvement, then sell them to people who didn’t have the resources to flip but won’t hesitate to purchase.

On the commercial side of things, buildings can be purchased then rented out to those wanting office space. You can make a lot of money renting out to small business owners who just need one room to call their own.

Real estate is a good investment because it is stable. While the market changes, there will always be a need for homes and businesses. There will always be people who need to rent instead of buy and those who will buy a home from you after improvements have been made.

When making a real investment, you will need to find ways of protecting it. If your income ever drips below the expenses you are incurring as a property owner, you could find yourself in real financial trouble. The key is to keep that income high and continue raising it. By keeping your property rented, you will have a steady cash flow going. No vacancies means no added expenses without the requisite income. Choose your tenants carefully. This is a great way to reduce vacancy rates and continue the stream of cash flow.

Consistency will take you far when it comes to the real investment. Real estate is like any other type of investment and should be treated as such. It has certain risks associated with it and definite advantages one receives when purchasing. Fortunately, the good outweighs the bad which is why so many people are making good money buying and renting or selling property.

Coming up with a strategy helps when trying to plan your investment. A plan will be one of the most important assets you will have and is what will help you to begin really making money. When you take the time to strategize about how you will spend the money you make and what you will do with various properties, you will have money to put back into your business on a regular basis. When money is going out and coming in you have the potential for profit. The key, of course, is to get more coming in than is going out, but keep in mind this will take time and you must be patient for it to really work.