RE45C10: Overview to Industrial Real Estate - Basics

Approved Jan. 4, 2010

1. Introduction of Industrial and its Definition (15 mins)

  • Industrial real estate includes :
  • All land and buildings either utilized or suited for industrial activities. Such activities are defined as:
  • Production, Manufacturing, Assembly, Warehousing, Research, Light Storage, Distribution and some related Office requirements of tangible goods rather than service-related users.
  • The broker wants to understand the definition to profile users for target marketing and for a cold-calling campaign.
  • Discussion on the physical components of warehouse vs. office segregation in an industrial building
  • Illustration of industrial building floorplan and components of a building for warehouse vs. office

2. General Rule for Industrial Users (20 mins)

  • "Industry tries to select a site or building where the cost of productionoverhead and distribution is at a minimum. The location will affect the greatest profit or the lowest costs."
  • Economics of an industrial company
  • Profit-margins and the expenses relevant to an industrial user
  • The impact of real estate costs, rents and occupancy costs to the balance sheet of an industrial user
  • Breakdown of other operating expenses to an industrial users
  • Explanation of why industrial buildings have to be low cost facilities with low cost building materials
  • Wholesale v. retail businesses and how it impacts decision for affordable industrial rents

3. The Design of an Industrial Building (25 mins)

  • Percent of warehouse to office ratio
  • Location of office in a building
  • Location of a building to highway and rail and why it is important to lower real estate costs
  • Intermodal transportation costs and the impact on industrial user
  • Column spacing, dock location and ceiling height of a building that impacts rent and user's operations
  • Physical characteristics that influence a tenant's decision for a building

4. Industrial Lease rates and Surprise Costs to a Tenant (20 mins)

  • Gross Lease
  • Definition of "triple net" lease
  • Definition of operating expenses that may be reimbursed
  • Operating vs. Capital expense responsibilities to a tenant
  • Operating expenses of contention
  • Review of an Annual Operating Data Sheet and possible operating expenses
  • How does a landlord mechanically charge back reimburseables?

5. Review of the construction of an industrial building (40 mins)

  • Construction slide show, powerpoint or equivalent of beginning to finish of an industrial building and the different components
  • Construction items that a industrial broker needs knowledge when working with an industrial user
  • Design items that are important to an end-user in making a real estate decision

Reference:

"Industrial Handbook" by the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors

"Industrial Development" by Urban Land Institute

Annual Operating Data Sheet by CCIM Program

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback