Why Tenant Representation Matters in El Paso

Here's something most tenants don't realize until after they've signed: the friendly broker who showed you the space works for the landlord.

That's not a scandal. It's just how most of this market is structured. But it does mean the person walking you through the building has a legal duty to get the best deal for the owner — not for you.

What a tenant rep actually does differently

A landlord's agent has one building to fill. A tenant rep has the whole market to search.

That difference shows up in practical ways:

• You see options the landlord's agent has no reason to mention — including second-generation space and off-market vacancies that never hit CREXi or LoopNet

• Someone is comparing your deal against what other landlords in the same corridor are actually agreeing to right now

• Business terms get negotiated on your behalf — not just base rent, but escalations, NNN exposure, improvement allowances, and how long you're locked in

• You have leverage, because the landlord knows you have somewhere else to go

The cost question

The most common objection is that hiring representation costs money. In most El Paso lease transactions, the landlord pays the commission and it's split between the two sides — meaning tenant representation typically costs you nothing extra.

If you go in unrepresented, that money doesn't come back to you. It just goes to the other side.

Why I only work one side

I made a decision about how I run this business: for leasing, I represent tenants and buyers. Not landlords.

The reason is simple. A broker can really only be fully committed to one side of a deal. If I'm representing a landlord, I'm limited to their building, and my job is to fill it. Working tenant-side, I can put every option in front of you and be honest about which one is actually the right fit — including the ones I don't have a stake in.

When to bring someone in

Earlier than most people do. If you're within twelve months of a lease expiring, or you're starting to think about a second location, that's the moment representation is worth the most — while you still have time to create options.

Once you're sixty days out and the landlord knows it, your leverage is mostly gone.

Michael Reyes, Anchor Point Commercial Group

MReyes@AnchorPointCommercial.com

Who was representing you the last time you signed a lease?