Leasing sees huge growth
Burgess Rawson’s regular portfolio auctions in Melbourne and Sydney have long been the agency’s calling card ad continue to drive the majority of the firm’s business.
Less known but still punching well above its weight is the agency’s leasing activity, which has quintupled in size over the past three years.
“Our market presence might be dominated by our sales division and iconic auctions, but our leasing team’s reputation and results are making real noise in the commercial property industry,” Burgess Rawson Melbourne director and head of leasing David Mark told the Herald Sun.
“Our team of agents has changed the leasing landscape with unique service offerings that have seen the client base swell significantly.
“We have broken new ground in the project leasing space, where specialist agents are involved from before a block of land is purchased, guiding developers through the entire purchase, planning approval, building and tenant acquisition processes,” Mr Mark said.
That end-to-end expertise has become a major point of difference for the agency, and one that is seeing clients increasingly seeking it out.
“It’s the way we get involved from the very beginning right through to the end, which is ensuring clients have their proeprties optimally tenanted,” he said.
“Along with our regular leasing work, we’re also a ‘developer’s agent’ in that we’re engaged right from day one to ensure developers are able to get the highest and best use out of their land and secure the best possible tenant mix as early as the planning phase.”
Mr Mark says the process is also resonating with tenants.
“It’s more of a holistic approach to project development and leasing, which more often than not will result in tenants signing on prior to a development approval even being lodged.”
This approach has seen Burgess Rawson tackle a number of long-term major projects in 2019, including the completion of the $100 million Craigieburn Junction large format retail centre in Melbourne’s north, along with the current development of 10 fuel and fast food ‘super sites’ across Victoria.
Burgess Rawson is also changing the game when it comes to typical commercial property leasing, with investors now entrusting the future of their assets to the same agency they buy and sell with.
Whether it’s offices, retail, medical assets, childcare centres, fast food, mixed-use developments or any number of other asset classes, the agency has every leasing need covered, Mr Mark said.
“We secure top tenants for established commercial properties right through to consulting on building a project from the ground up.
“We’re a developer’s agent, a project leasing specialist and we also work across various sectors, from large format retail to shopping centres, childcare centres, mixed-use developments, fuel and fast food sites, and strip retail.”
He added that the agency ‘doesn’t get ahead of itself’ like other firms do only to fail in servicing clients properly.
“It’s important to us that we’re providing existing clients with the service they deserve.”
Published in the Herald Sun