The Indianapolis office market, mirroring national trends, is navigating through a period of adjustment. With a vacancy rate that has climbed to 9.4%, surpassing the long-term average of 8%, and tenant demand seeing a downturn…

Attention, all you business warriors! If you're ready to take your company to the next level, it's time to unleash the force of motivated and engaged employees. These rockstars don't just show up for a…

As the business world evolves and employee expectations shift, retaining top talent has become a significant challenge for companies. The cost of employee turnover goes beyond recruitment and training expenses – it includes lost productivity,…

Are you a Chicago small business owner who's tired of being squeezed by high rents, taxes, and the general malaise of a city that's lost its edge? Do you feel like you're fighting a losing…

As of January 1, 2022, companies are required to comply with the new lease accounting standard, ASC 842. This standard replaces the old lease accounting standard, ASC 840, and significantly changes how companies account for…

Chris Carmen began his commercial real estate career in 1985 with Duke Realty Corporation. While at Duke, his responsibilities included office and industrial property leasing, culminating with his role as Vice President of Duke Realty…

Many businesses exited the COVID pandemic with a changed office model. Some organizations transitioned to an ongoing work-from-home model, some requiring employees to come back into the office as they were prior to the pandemic,…

Highlights Do you lease office space for your business or own a building that leases space to tenants? If so, you will need to get up to speed on ASC 842 sooner rather than later.…

Over the last two years, we have read about the bleak future of the office market and high vacancies to ad nauseam. The bigger question is what will happen to office buildings that will not…

Amazon is delaying its industrial real estate footprint due to supply chain issues, slowing growth, and decreased need to store inventory. They are postponing the opening of their $200M San Antonio, TX and several others…

As a resident of Carmel and a member of the greater Indianapolis business community for over 35 years, I've been privileged to have been one of the original TechPoint board members, as well as being…

Recently, I read a good article about record spending by landlords on improvements to their office properties and tenants making improvements to their office suites.  It seems counterintuitive for each to be spending money in…

I believe the increase in demand for sublease office space is occurring while many companies are sorting out the post-COVID office market. Although many companies have adopted hybrid work models allowing for employees to work…

A number of factors influence the effectiveness of the aboard of company directors. One of these is definitely the behavior of the members from the crew. Individuals behave differently in groups when they are surrounded…

In the coming weeks, I plan to provide you with real-life experiences with office models that are occurring at the business next door and not the solutions being spewed from theorists who have never had…

Let's go ahead and say it; these are extraordinary times. How many times recently have we heard that phrase or seen those words in print? While many of us are wrestling with the trials of…

DOWNLOAD PDF GRAPHIC HERE Hiring a tenant rep broker is the BEST thing you can do when beginning to start the search for new office space. Without one, you are putting yourself at risk to…

Landlords make their biggest profits on the renewal of existing tenant leases. Ironically, most Commercial Tenants believe that during their preceding lease terms, they’ve built a ‘best buddies’ relationship with  their Landlords and assume incorrectly…

Technology is taking over the world of commercial real estate by storm. New tools, online platforms, and decision-making algorithms are popping up constantly. Some real estate professionals even declare that nowadays, technology is the master of…

As you might imagine, over the 24 years I’ve owned and operated my Indianapolis based tenant representation firm, CARMEN Commercial Real Estate Services, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the many missteps tenants take…

When counseling business owners and managers on leasing office space and industrial property in Indianapolis over the past 25 years, since founding CARMEN Commercial Real Estate, one of the most common questions I’ve been asked…

My team had a recent experience that provided us with a discouraging view of the commercial real estate brokerage industry.  Arthur Rutenberg Homes is a medium-sized Florida-based company that recently opened its first Indiana office.…

Imagine you’ve decided to buy a new car and instead of taking on the dreaded task of walking into the car dealer on your own, you’ve decided to hire your friend and auto buying expert,…

“What could be so hard about finding office space for my company?” Sounds like a fair question.  And honestly, finding commercial property for lease isn’t all that hard. It’s finding the perfect space for the right…

This is the question we’re often asked by Indy entrepreneurs contemplating or starting a new venture. The reason? Because there are no hard and fast rules that define when is the right time to move to traditional office space.  …

https://youtu.be/0dIkJWcuTxg It’s a year and a half before your office lease is up.  There are many reasons why you might be considering a move to new office space: maybe you’ve experienced growth, want to attract…

There is a fairly simple way to break down where most of the dollars go for your cost per square foot. It divides into base rent, operating expenses and real estate taxes. What you may not…

A business retains an outside accountant for financial support of the business. They have an attorney for questions regarding the legal aspects of running the business. But with the office facilities playing such a significant part in…

With so many elements involved in planning and relocating or expanding your office space, it is easy to overlook some of the most important functional items. One of the most underestimated variables is the amount, size, and…

Has your office jumped on the open office layout bandwagon? If not, you are in the minority according to a Washington Post article. The International Facility Management Association states that 70% of U.S. offices are…

The following is excerpted from Entrepreneur’s Ask the Money Guy, Joe Worth.  When a concerned reader asked, “Any advice on how to lease my new location without getting ripped off?”, Entrepreneur’s Joe Worth had some answers. He shared…

You are driving around or browsing online and you see it:  The office building that looks perfect for your company.  But you don’t know anything about it.  Is it an available office space? What is the…

I recently participated in a discussion on the most important variable in making start-up and early-stage companies successful:  funding of capital or a talented leadership team.  My firm, CARMEN Commercial Real Estate Services, is a professional…

Let’s face it: we now live in a millennial-driven workforce. The demand for modern, creative, and appealing office space creates a massive opportunity for sharp business owners who are clever enough to retain and attract…

Indiana has done a stellar job of attracting companies to relocate within its borders over the past few years, actively recruiting businesses with financial incentives, low corporate taxes, and low operating costs. These companies have…

The concept of “Blend & Extend” with regards to commercial office industrial space leases is certainly not new.  However, throughout the downturn of the economy, there’s been a considerable amount of new life breathed into the practice,…

You are moving your company to bigger and better things but having to pack up your entire business and relocating it to another new place can be quite complex and stressful. What amount of investment…

As you might imagine, over the 24 years I’ve owned and operated my Indianapolis-based tenant representation firm, CARMEN Commercial Real Estate Services, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand the many missteps tenants take with…

The following blog was originally published on American Express’ Open Forum by Nicole Cober, Esq., Small Business and Legal Analyst, NewsChannel 8. @Niccober. *Original content has been edited and modified for length. As you think…

I’m always intrigued by the comparison of office rental rates with industry colleagues located in other U.S. and major foreign cities.  When you look at Indianapolis office space versus other major cities around the world, the…

Indianapolis and the surrounding areas of Carmel, Fishers, and Noblesville have become some of the best communities in the USA for families to live due to their low costs of living and high quality of…

If you’re looking for new office space in Indianapolis, you probably have a checklist list in your head (or maybe even on paper) to make sure the lease gets done right. You want to pay…

Do you ever wish you could be a fly on the wall of your competitor just to know what they do to grow their business? What are these things that they are doing that you…

You’re not alone in considering if it would be a better decision to purchase your own office space instead of continuing to lease office space. Yes, every organization is unique with its own set of…

Indianapolis is continually rising as one of the best cities to live in terms of cost of living. Businesses are continuously considering relocating to Indianapolis due to the growing popularity of the Midwestern city as…

There isn’t a state in the U.S. that isn’t competing to strengthen its economy.  The competition?  Every other state in the union.  The prize?  Companies….which bring jobs, keeping the populous happily employed and creating a…

An article in the Indianapolis Business Journal chronicles the story of a couple who moved from Chicago’s northern suburbs to Carmel, Indiana. Not surprisingly, they are finding that their dollars go a lot further in…

Disputes between landlords and tenants can take many forms.  We take a look at how this business aggravation can be remedied with the guidance of tenant representation and present options for managing a tenuous landlord situation. Dealing with a…

Indianapolis has quickly become a hidden secret in the digital marketing and tech community. With heavy hitters like Salesforce, Angie’s List, and ConstantContact calling Indianapolis home, it’s no wonder. We have a strong, deeply connected…

Indianapolis does not have a shortage of advantages when comparing the Midwestern city to others throughout the country. One of the most highly influential factors is the cost of living. A recent study conducted by Point…

You’ve concluded that an office relocation is imperative.  For any number of reasons, you’ve made the decision to move. Maybe you were in your old space and believe an image makeover is needed to attract new talent. Or…

I recently read a peer’s blog post titled “5 Signs You Need New Office Space”, which I thought was valuable and worth sharing.  However, I believe what might be more relevant is the top reasons today’s…

Most tenants are unfamiliar with negotiating an office lease renewal. Some may not even realize they have the opportunity to do so! Typically their broker advised them of their current lease, so they are not…

With recent announcements of expansions and relocations of tech companies to Indianapolis, there has been an increase in the demand for top talent, particularly with computer science skillsets. The new Silicon Prairie is gaining recognition for its…

Indiana continues to be the new home of tech companies with the relocation of Emarsys’ headquarters to the state’s capital. The news of the Austrian company’s relocation to Market Tower was released early 2015. Emarsys’ expansion…

Startups are becoming increasingly familiar with the tech industry surging with growth, innovation, and talent. Although starting a tech business may seem like an exciting endeavor, plenty of uncertainty tends to hover around the idea of creating…

For years, researchers have theorized about the amount of productivity gained or lost from employees working from home. Each business is different in its potential to allow employees to work remotely, depending on the industry, time spent…

When a business owner or manager considers relocating the business, it’s not uncommon for them to consider a number of locations to find the best fit for their business. Although each business has its own…

Today, Determine Inc. announced the relocation of its corporate headquarters to Carmel, Indiana. The San Mateo, the California-based company, a provider of SaaS management and solutions, marks another win for Indiana as it grows in…

“Don’t allow yourself to be backed into a corner.”  I’ve repeated this phrase to countless business owners and managers when discussing office lease expiration.  I’ve spent much of the past 31 years negotiating office leases…

It’s common knowledge that the technology industry is booming, with new startups emerging at a rapid pace. With newfound growth, these companies are also considering relocation and the criteria that merits a move. Indianapolis has emerged as…

Since starting my career leasing office and industrial space over 30 years ago, real estate abatement has consistently been a tool that landlords use to procure new tenants. In addition to simply being a landlord incentive for tenants…

The following blog was originally published on American Express’ Open Forum by Nicole Cober, Esq., Small Business and Legal Analyst, NewsChannel 8. @Niccober.  *Original content has been edited and modified for length. As you think about business expansion, several key characteristics should…

The ongoing debate around the ideal work environment – open office layouts, co-working space or a remote workforce, leads to the inevitable question of: “How will we choose?” This post is a reference for several options for…

Top commercial real estate agents, Indianapolis agents, and agents elsewhere will agree.  Working directly with tenants or potential tenants can be challenging. Why? Well, it isn’t the tenant’s fault, but they are typically unfamiliar with…

When you’re searching for a home, you have to consider the costs that you may incur with realtors on the buying and selling side. But when tenants consider who they hire for leasing or buying office…

It’s 18 months before your lease it up and if you are like most people, lease renewal and/or office relocation are the last things on your mind. Timeframes may vary based on a number of…

I began my career in Indianapolis commercial real estate nearly 30 years ago and launched my own business, CARMEN Commercial Real Estate Services in 1993.   In the 22 years since starting CARMEN, I can…

Whether it is the start of an office lease or a lease renewal, the lease negotiation process is a critical time for determining a successful outcome of the tenant’s lease utilization. The negotiation process offers the opportunity…

As a design partner for Carmen, clients often seek my expert advice on colors to use in their office space. We find that many companies are increasingly interested in how they can use color to create a productive, functional, and aesthetically pleasing design in their workspace environment. Have you ever…

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