CFO Studio Magazine - Curt Allen, CFO, Subaru

I n our corporate real estate practice, I have the distinct pleasure of currently advising some incredibly bright and accomplished executives as to the real estate implications of their company’s business decisions. I really enjoy that aspect of our service model. They learn from us, as we learn from them. And we accomplish some truly creative things for our clients. Yet, every once in a while, I’ll come across an executive from a company we do not advise, who demonstrates his or her complete lack of intelligence. Not too many areas of specialization in business are simple these days—not stocks, finance, law, taxes, operations, manufacturing, technology, benefits, sales, distribution—and certainly not corporate real estate. Occasionally, however, an executive will say something like: “Real estate is no big deal. After all, it’s only about rent!” Really? And brain surgery is only about having a lot of Band-Aids! After a recent version of this same conversation, I had had enough. When I got home, I sat down at my computer and began writing, as I had done so many times over my 30 years in corporate real estate. I listed in the form of questions as many issues of importance as I could think of. Yet, this time, I was determined not to stop writing until I had enumerated every possible item that this not-so-bright executive hadn’t considered. I wrote question after question and could not stop. I thought that if I could get close to 100 questions, I would really make an impression and maybe prove that corporate real estate, like other business initiatives, was complex, and that being the case, required experience, expertise, and yes, intelligence, in order to properly protect a company. After passing the 100-question mark and still being fired up, I found myself becoming more and more inspired. When I passed 300 questions, I became even more excited, thinking how great it would be if I could get to 400 questions. I continued writing all weekend, frequently coming back to my computer to add more questions. On Sunday I passed 600 questions, then 700, and then 800, thinking this was very cool, and actually being surprised that I had more to write about. Late that Sunday night, I finished my last question…number 1041! I was exhausted and exhilarated! My new book, entitled Your Company Does NOT Need to Hire a Real Estate Broker...If You Can Answer These 1041 Questions...Or, At Least, Most of Them! was born. It actually is a darned good resource for anyone seeking to understand if, in fact, he or she has the requisite knowledge to plan and execute a major real estate transaction without the assistance of expert advisors. Let’s be clear, not everyone needs to hire real estate experts. Some companies do have the internal resources to handle real estate on their own, and should do so. But, for the real estate layman who figures that his company’s transaction is only about rent, or who, because she bought a house, thinks she’s a negotiating wizard, read Your Company Does NOT Need to Hire a Real Estate Broker... If You Can Answer These 1041 Questions...Or, At Least, Most of Them! But here’s the catch: Your Company Does NOT Need to Hire a Real Estate Broker...If You Can Answer These 1041 Questions...Or, At Least, Most of Them! only contains the questions. If you want the answers, you’ll have to hire Real Estate Strategies Corporation! C ANDREW ZEZAS, SIOR CEO, Real Estate Strategies Corporation 40 WWW.CFOSTUDIO.COM 1st QUARTER 2015 Andrew Zezas, SIOR, is the award-winning CEO of Real Estate Strategies Corporation, a NJ-based real estate advisory and transaction services firm that advises and represents only corporate occupants in the acquisition, disposition, and restructure of occupied real estate in markets throughout North America. Licensed in nine states, having completed engagements in 31 states and five Canadian provinces, and having represented the North America real estate interests of companies from 14 countries, the firm offers sophisticated real estate services and M&A support, and is most often engaged by CFOs, General Counsels, and other management-team members. Visit www.RealStrat.com or call (732) 868-0000 ext. 111. Test Your Real Estate I.Q. If you pass, your company does NOT need to hire a real estate broker Visit www.cfostudio.com/publications to request your free copy of Your Company Does NOT Need to Hire a Real Estate Broker...If You Can Answer These 1041 Questions...Or, At Least, Most of Them!