I just picked up a retail (commercial) listing yesterday and want to rent it out a.s.a.p. it's a small location in a strip mall (1200 SF) but I want to do well with it because this client can bring me million dollar properties sooner than later (buying and selling).

I ask because I normally deal with residential and investment property sales on a regular basis and needs as much help, tips, training and advice when it comes to commercial listings.

What approach do you guy's take to rent out small retail locations?

Any advice?

Is the landlord willing to give TI??

What's the existing unit mix there already? In other words what is not there that would be a good fit?

Once you determine a few possible choices that would do well there then compile a list.Then go on Costar and look up the tenant database. It will have needs of businesses criteria and expansion plans for the area.Also it will show tenant types you are targeting and when there lease is expiring.

You will have to entice them with some TI,reduced rent the first year,etc. to make a move.Make up fliers for your space and go visit the tenants with leases expiring in the surrounding area to drum up interest.

This should get you started....................

To be frank, small retail listings in strip centers can sometimes be the most difficult to lease depending on the quality of the strip center.

Can you tell us more about the center? What's the access (ingress/egress) and visibility like? Does the center offer signalized access? Or is it mid-block with right-in/right-out only access? Are there any national tenants or are they all mom & pops? How many SF is the center? Is the center parallel to the road or perpendicular? Traffic counts in front of the center? Is the center surrounded by other retail?

Regarding finding tenants, Costar can be good but also expensive. To be good at small store retail leasing, you really need to be out in the market talking to the retailers. For you, know what categories are missing at your center, and then get out there and hit up as many strip centers as you can in a +/- 3-5 radius.

Do you have a stock proposals/LOIs to use? Do you know what main points need to be covered?

Also, for a small store space definitely put it on Loopnet, and Craigslist (cycle it once a week).