Customer Reviews

Office Space: The Tenants Guide to Profitable Leasing

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"Office Space, A Tenant's Guide to Profitable Leasing is an incredible resource for any business owner, especially a small business owner looking for office space for the very first time. As a real estate salesperson I've found this book to be an invaluable resource when working with clients looking for a business location, after I've helped them find their home.

Jack Saltman has created a gem. If your looking for office space or you just want to learn the ropes of commercial office leasing this book is a must read.

It is usual for a prospective tenant to assume that a lease is carved in stone. ABSOLUTELY NOT! Never before has a writer been able to smack me in the face with the hard core reality that I have power when dealing with commercial leases, if I choose to use it. Clearly, J. Saltman has an aversion to abusive landlord practices. It is great to see someone that is willing to educate the public about the options that exist everywhere in this country. Tenant representation should be a law, not an option! Of course, we can buy this inexpensive book.

After 23 years in the real estate business, I found this to be the best publication of its kind. It was well written and quick to the point. It is a must read for anyone who is looking to lease office space.

Saltman has created a smooth read with precise examples of what contract situations tenants must try to avoid. This is a work to be feared by unethical and abusive landlords.

This book is written by a wealthy broker. Many of the cute stories stroke his own ego, and will probably appeal to fellow brokers.

I am not a broker. I am a first-time leasee (running a 2-person software dev. company) looking for our first real office space, and trying to learn all I can about it. Maybe it's the engineer in me, but I like to see information presented in a very logical manner, with useful bullet items, tables, etc. I like reference books; this book is written in more of a narative. Many points are repeated, not for clarity, but due to overlapping topics. Bullet lists (imported from outside sources?) overlap. I think this book would have greatly benefited from more time in the outlining phase.

The anectdotes often seem targeted to elevate the status of the author rather than educate. And even though the title would have you believe the book is targeted at leasees, there is some bias towards brokers. For example, at one point the author describes what can happen in market conditions that are pro-landlord: he tells (to his own shock) how a landlord may refuse to pay a broker commission when a leasee renews a previous lease. As a future leasee I was shocked to learn that a broker actually expects to get paid for doing nothing! (Sure, the landlord pays the fees, but you know they have to be passed onto your rent.)

There are many great insights and tidbits everywhere in this book, which is why I think a broker will like it... they already know the big picture, so they will enjoy the "Easter egg hunt". The book is just not organized well enough for me. It is frustrating to a novice, especially when I know I'll want to reference bits of info later.

The index is a testamony to my complaints: most index items have many page numbers listed, all throughout the book. Topics should not be so scattered!

I just bought "Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Leases" by Martin I. Zankel. It looks better to me so far. Look for a review from me in the future once I've read more.

What a great Book!! Lots of knowledge & great tips & helped me save lots of money when I helped my client lease space. Judy Palmer Associate Broker RE/MAX Showcase Homes 912 S.Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009 248-647-3200