Landlords play key role in tenants future and prosperity.

In an ever-changing commercial real estate market, landlords play an important role in the future and prosperity of their tenants.

The responsibilities of a landlord often overlap that of a broker to create an unofficial partnership between landlord and tenant, which contributes to the growth and success of both parties.

The first step in building a healthy landlord/tenant relationship begins with placing the tenant in the best space.

It is important not just to know your potential tenant's business, but to know their five-year plan. It is the responsibility of the landlord to ask questions and, as I like to say, "take the temperature" of the tenant.

Choosing a space should not solely be based on what the tenant wants, but about what makes the most sense in the present and future.

With increasingly expensive commercial rents and the high cost of setting up office services, moving is often the least desirable option for a tenant--it is both time consuming and costly.

As a landlord, I learn my tenant's business needs and, more importantly, their goals. Once I have a good idea of where the business is now and where it is going, I can then focus on affordability, location and size.

It is crucial for a tenant to take on a rent they can afford so as not to create undue stress or inability to pay.

In some cases, it may make sense to start with a smaller space to avoid being in a situation in which a tenant is financially over their head. It is important to keep tenant healthy and pushing a tenant beyond their means benefits neither landlord nor tenant.

Even with careful planning, landlords and brokers still have to be creative and prepared for change. A company's need for space can change in a matter of months, depending on the industry, and a good landlord is flexible enough to accommodate tenant's needs when they shift.

This is where the role of the landlord becomes most influential and where trust is built.

Recently, a tenant who just leased office space came to Adams & Co. saying they suspected they may need additional space.

In a show of good faith, we let them try out a larger space for two week's time during which they realized they did need the space and wound up taking an additional half floor.

We helped the tenant make the fight decision by working with them and were rewarded tenfold through their increase of business and trust.

A strong landlord/ tenant relationship is marked by both parties promoting the advancement of one another. By creating trust and removing worry, a land lord can give a tenant more time and energy to focus on their business.

A tenant can in turn nurture the suetess of a landlord with its own growth and loyalty.

Landlords and tenants are ultimately on the same side and equally dependent upon the success of one another.

Real estate is an industry based on relationships. While it is impossible to plan for everything in today's constantly evolving business landscape, building healthy business relationships is a vital safeguard.

It is important to keep in mind when a new lease is signed that it is not the closing of a deal so much as it is the beginning of a partnership.

BY JEFFREY SCHWARTZ 

SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR,

ADAMS & Co. REAL ESTATE