Because the value of commercial real estate is primarily driven by the cash flow that the property generates, any strategy you employ has the potential to increase your cash flow, decrease your expenses, and increase your overall equity and the value of the property. Below are five strategies you should consider when determining how you can make the most out of your commercial real estate investment.



1) Make Improvements to the Property

Improvements can take the form of cosmetic improvements or substantial rehabilitation. Cosmetic improvements include such things as new paint or wallpaper, new d'cor to the common elements, new landscaping, new carpeting/flooring, etc. Substantial rehabilitation involves making structural improvements to the property ? for example a substantial rehab may involve redoing all the units of a multifamily property, or changing the structural fa?ade of a shopping center, or making major renovations to the lobby of a large office building. In any case, you increase the value of the property for not only your tenants, but for your own portfolio as well.

2) Increase Rent

The value of your commercial real estate property can also be increased by increasing the rent. In reviewing the historical data on a property, take notice of whether the tenants are paying market rent or whether there is potential for a reasonable mark up in rents. Determine how the improvements you make to the property can justify your rent increase. Pay close attention to both the upper and lower level of rents that are being charged for similarly situated types of real estate so you don't price yourself out of the market.

3) Decrease Expenses

Evaluate the historical operating statements of the property to determine if there are areas where you can decrease the expenses. For example, perhaps improving the property with more energy efficient light bulbs in the common areas will drastically reduce your monthly electrical bills. Or perhaps you find that the gas company can individually meter the units so that instead of paying for the gas, you can fairly pass that expense onto the tenants. In the vast majority of instances, a commercial property owner can cut expenses without significantly impacting the operations of the real estate itself.

4) Alter or Change the Property's Intended Usage

Often times, changing the use of a commercial real estate property can drastically change the value of the property. For example, suppose you find an old industrial warehouse in the middle of a bustling epicenter. Instead of keeping it as an industrial warehouse, you can seek a zoning variance to convert that warehouse to a hotel, or a condo building, or an office building, or any commercial use that makes sense for that location.

5) Add Amenities

Finally, you can also consider adding amenities to the property to make it more appealing and valuable. Value enhancing amenities can include something simple like creating a playground in a multifamily property or adding free wireless Internet for your retail tenants. Or you can add more extravagant amenities like a daycare center in your office building or an outdoor courtyard in a hotel property.

In sum, when scouting for commercial properties, look beyond the historical data and see what strategies YOU can employ to make the property more valuable. Know your property's potential before you close the deal. The best deals are made when you buy a property, not when you sell a property!