Commercial buyers

“The factors that drive the success of commercial real estate investment are very different to residential property.”

For many investors, commercial real estate can be a highly profitable component of their overall property investment portfolio. Where investors go wrong is to assume the rules for investing are the same as for residential property, or that they can do it all themselves.

There’s a world of difference between commercial property and residential property, and if you don’t understand what it is, then what looks to be a gold mine can quickly turn out to be a black hole, financially.

At Property Wizards, we can show you ways to reduce your risk through careful selection and screening, using methods most people don’t know. This applies to investing or buying a commercial property as premises for your business.

One of the traps is the assumption that you’ll enjoy a higher cash flow through better rental returns. However, there is also a higher vacancy risk if it’s the wrong property, and this can place added pressure on your cash flow.

What’s absolutely critical is the selection of the commercial property, which requires comprehensive research, due diligence and experience. Then there’s the often complex lease agreement, which needs to be thoroughly investigated in terms of wording, paragraphs, clauses and fine print that can leave you locked in with nowhere to go.

The comparison of residential and commercial properties below may assist you in deciding whether commercial property is right for your individual needs and circumstances.

COMPARISON CHART OF RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

	RESIDENTIAL	COMMERCIAL
YIELD	Lower yields	Usually higher yields
TENANT ISSUES	Need a good property manager to avoid niggly tenant issues	Need a good property manager to optimise rent and value
LEASES	More standardised	More complex and they can affect the property value
CASH FLOW	Lower cash flow in exchange for future growth	Better cash flow and tenant pays the outgoings
CAPITAL GROWTH	Generally higher but not always.	Generally lower but in superior area growth can be high
GEARING	80% plus, so you need less cash	Usually 70% or less and there are higher start-up costs
TERM	Loans are normally 30 years	Loans are normally 10 to 15 years.
TENANTS & VACANCIES	Generally easier to find tenants	Smaller pool of tenants and vacancies can be costly
PRICE	With homework and research, assessing what to pay is easier	Price is affected by lease, tenant quality, comparative yields, etc.
BUDGET	Can be bought for most budgets, small or large	Possible on a lower budget, but it’s very competitive and there are fewer quality opportunities.

“We provide considerable research, skill and due diligence to locate excellent performing commercial property.”

How We Help Commercial Buyers

Step 1 – We establish your requirements.

As your buyer’s agent in Perth, Western Australia, during our initial free consultation we’ll discuss the type of commercial property you’re looking for, whether it’s office, retail or industrial, and what your objectives are.

Step 2 – Commercial Property search

Once you give us the go-ahead, we’ll commence a comprehensive search of commercial properties available for sale in WA within your agreed criteria. Not only do we have access to every listed commercial property available, our networking skills enable us to find many “silent sales” before they come on the market, which often represent exceptional value for money.

Step 3 – A shortlist

We then investigate a ‘shortlist’ of commercial properties on your behalf and prioritise the best candidates.

When assessing the merits of one commercial property over another, Property Wizards considers:
• The location and its prospects
• The existing tenant and lease
• The likely tenant base
• The current rental yield and likely future prospects
• Potential for capital growth
• Your investment objectives
• Your budget

After guiding you through the selection process, we inspect your property with you on video or in person. We show you the good and the bad so you can get a real feel for the commercial property.

Step 4 – Due Diligence

This is where our experience really comes into play. Once you are keen to proceed, we evaluate and assess the property in more detail. We look for ‘potential problems’ or expenses to factor in. We also include a range of protective conditions in the Contract of Sale that are in your favour, not the seller’s.

Step 5 – Accurate Pricing

We obtain up to date information about the property, the lease and tenant, as well as comparable yields and sales data to assist in assessing its true worth, which ensures you’ll never pay too much. In some cases we order a valuation of the property.

Step 6 – Acquisition Strategy

Now we’re getting to the pointy end of the process. Once we’re convinced the commercial property ticks all the boxes for your strategy, and it’s at an attractive price point to begin with, we negotiate with the agent on your behalf, using all our legal tricks-of-the-trade, to ensure that you obtain the property for the lowest possible price. Once purchased, we oversee the conditions inserted in the contract to protect you all the way.

GETTING STARTED

We’d love the opportunity to help build your wealth through property. To start the ball rolling, please take a moment to tell us what you’re looking for by filling out the no obligation enquiry form below or call us on (08) 9381-7450. We’ll then have one of our key staff contact you shortly.

Get Started Now