Renew, Relocate, or Renegotiate? How a Tenant Rep Helps You Decide.

Written By Robert Hunt

Your lease is ending—should you renew, relocate, or renegotiate? Here’s how a tenant rep broker helps you decide!

When your commercial lease is nearing renewal, it’s decision time. Should you stay, move, or use your leverage to renegotiate better terms? In fast-moving markets like Raleigh-Durham—where vacancies shift quickly and build-outs are costly—this choice can define your bottom line for years.

1. Start the Process Early

Begin reviewing your lease 9–12 months before expiration. Early planning gives you leverage, since landlords know you have time to explore alternatives.

2. Evaluate Your Space Needs

Ask key questions:

  • Is the space still efficient for your team size?

  • Are you over- or under-paying compared to market rates?

  • Does the layout reflect how your business operates today?

A tenant rep broker can benchmark your lease rate against comparable spaces in RTP, Downtown Durham, or North Raleigh.

3. Analyze Relocation Costs vs. Renewal Savings

Moving isn’t cheap—think construction, downtime, and new utilities. But staying put could mean paying above-market rent if you don’t renegotiate. A broker will compare:

  • Tenant improvement allowances (TIAs)

  • Free rent concessions

  • Market trends and vacancy levels
    to help you make a data-driven choice.

4. Use a Broker as Your Negotiation Shield

Tenant reps represent you, not the landlord. They handle market comps, financial modeling, and lease term redlines—often saving clients 10–20% on renewals or relocations.

Robert Hunt
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