NEWS: Update on Kuester Move

Update on Kuester Move

You’ve probably heard the news that Kuester's Charlotte NC property management office is moving! We’re very excited that our company has grown so that we’ll be relocating our corporate headquarters to a brand new office building that we’re constructing on Highway 160, near the location of our old headquarters.

Although work is progressing and the office space will be stunning, there have been some delays, and our new offices will not be completed until the end of 2009.

But no need to worry! We’ll continue maintaining our consistently high level of property management and HOA management for our clients from an interim space until the new offices are completed.

Beginning April 27, our interim offices will be located at 1300 Altura Road on the second floor of the InterNET building.

The one important change that you need to be aware of is that all appointments must now be scheduled in advance, since we’ll be in a secured access building, requiring that all visitors sign in and be announced before being escorted to our offices.

Our new mailing address will be changing from 108 Stone Village Drive to:
Kuester Companies
PO Box 3340
Fort Mill SC 29708

All payments will continue to be sent to Community Association Banc as normal.
(Your Community Name)
C/o Kuester Companies
PO Box 64893
Phoenix, AZ 85082-4893

Thank you for your understanding.

Our space may be changing, but our commitment and service to you remains as constant as ever!

Sincerely,

The Kuester Companies Team

-your Charlotte property management and Charleston property management leaders

Before You Sign a Commercial Property Lease

Dear Property Manager,

My partner and I are about to embark on a huge—and hopefully successful adventure as we take the “plunge” and start our own consulting business. We are looking at an office space in the Carolina area, either North or South Carolina in the Fort Mill, or Indian Land areas.

Being brand new in this process, we need to know-- what we need to know-- before we sign that commercial property lease!

Any guidelines you have you be much appreciated.

Tony L., Charlotte, NC

Dear Tony,

As I am sure you have noticed, renting office space in this area can be expensive, and quite complicated. That said there are also some great deals and wild differences in price from one place to another—and once you find the right place, then you get to start the lease negotiation process.

Since this is your first time renting a commercial space, there are a few things you should know before you sign anything. First, there are no standard lease agreements, and some include a lot of details, and others do not. No matter what property or leasing company you ultimately work with, you should have your contract reviewed.

Secondly, your lease is a legal and binding contract—one which you should not enter into unless you intend to fulfill your responsibilities. So before you sign on the dotted line, ask yourself (and your broker and landlord) these questions:

YOU:

· How long do I plan to stay? Will you be there 1 year or 5? The terms will vary depending on length.

· Can I get out of the lease? What are the penalties for breaking the lease if the business needs to close or relocate before the term is up

YOUR BROKER:

· What are your certifications? What recognized real estate associations does your broker have to distinguish them from the others in their field.

· What experience do you have in similar transactions? Commercial real estate is very specialized, and most brokers specialize on one or two property types, and certain property sizes. Choose a broker who has experience in the type of property, size and location you are looking at.

YOUR LANDLORD:

· Who are the current tenants? Are the tenants in the building compatible businesses? If you own a dry cleaning business, you may not want to be in the same building as another dry cleaner.

· What about a property manager? A manager probably won't be on site at a small building, but if a manager or maintenance person is not on the premises business hours, make sure you know who will handle emergencies and requests.

· What kind of build-outs and amenities are provided? Make sure you know if the landlord will handle and approve build-outs, and what extra amenities are available with the lease.

· Will you be allowed to sublease? If you have extra space, or need to vacate before your terms are up, some landlords will allow you to sub-let the apartment.

· What are the lease terms? The monthly rent is the most important term, however, you also need to know if rent may go up during your term, and if you're required to pay charges for maintenance, taxes or other costs.

Property Manager
Kuester Property Management

Expanding Business, In Charlotte

Dear Property Manager,

We see a significant opportunity to expand our business in the coming year. Despite the slow economy, our business is strong and we would like to take advantage of the availability and low prices. We are looking for a development / management company with which to partner so that we can make it through this process as effectively and efficiently as possible.

Can you send me some recent examples of how you have worked with similar companies to expand?

Petra K., N. Carolina

Dear Petra,

Thank you for contacting Kuester and congratulation on your success. It certainly is a great time to expand for many businesses, as properties can be purchased at a great price if you know where to look and if they are a good fit.

Kuester Development Corporation and Kuester Real Estate Services work in tandem to acquire, develop, lease, manage and sell assets and others for third party owners throughout the Carolinas.

Kuester Real Estate Services is a prominent commercial brokerage firm in the Charlotte area. Recently Kuester made the addition of the Shops at Stonecrest, (a 26,000 square foot development in front of the new Tega-Cay, SC Wal-Mart). KRES is engaged as well to manage the Promenade at North Market, a new 26,000 sf retail-office development in Wilmington, NC. We have extensive experience in all areas of commercial property development, acquisition and management and look forward to the opportunity to work with your company on its effort to expand.

If you would like more information, references or examples of properties that we have developed or worked with, please call Kuester at 704.973.9019.

Property Manager
Kuester Property Management

Looking for Retail Property in Matthews

Dear Property Manager,

I read a recent Forbes.com article highlighting Matthews, NC and this is amongst the reasons I am looking at opening up my retail store in Matthews in 2009.

Is there a list of available commercial properties in Matthews online like they have for residential properties?

Cam L.

Dear Cam,

Happy holidays.

We have several properties available in the Charlotte area, including Matthews for rent or sale that may suit your needs. Check out some options on the properties page of our website, or give us a call at 803.802.0004.

Today we are featuring a "for lease" property at 343 W. John St. in Matthews , NC in the CrownPoint/Matthews Submarket at the intersection of S. Ames St.

This plaza has great traffic and visibility for restaurants, retail, office & professional users. The previous tenant was a billiards hall, so the existing space is set-up for a bar & billiards, with an easy upfit for a bar or restaurant space--but the potential to be much more, depending on your needs.

We look forward to hearing from you soon, so that we can find you the perfect retail space in Matthews, or another great location in the Charlotte area.

Property Manager

www.kuester.com

Commercial Property Management

Dear Property Manager,

We own several properties around Charlotte, NC and are looking for a new property management company for 2009. We have some residential units as well as a retail center with over 40 tenants.

Can you manage both residential and commercial properties?

Wendell P.
Charlotte, NC

Dear Wendall,

Thank you for contacting The Kuester Companies.

The Commercial Property Management sector is a critical arm of our company, and it handles all aspects of property management including accounting, property maintenance, and asset management.

Kuester has experience in managing medical facilities, bank buildings, and apartment complexes, amongst others. As the property management company, Kuester acts as an administrator, or liason, to oversee the day-to-day operations of your commercial property. We provide financial services, communication, direction on policy development and asset protection--in short we look out for your best interests while managing all aspects of running the property.

As a professional property management and services firm, we have the ability to work at the beginning of a project with the builder/developer. Since we are a comprehensive services company, we have the versitility to understand the project from the ground up, utilizing the KRES development arm of the business. In this scenario, we have a cohesive knowledge and continuity during the transition to the commercial management services division of KRES. It is our honor to give you the peace of mind in knowing that whether we are coming in to replace another property management company--or if this is a new project, we can handle all aspects of the assignment.

Kruester can also supply a continuous evaluation of the maintenance of the facility, as well as identify and prioritize those maintenance needs effectively.

We pride ourselves on our extensive market knowledge, and strong relationships with developers. Should you choose to partner with Kuester, we will provide consistent superior customer service to you and your tenents, prospects and employess.

I hope that that answers your question, and we look forward to the opportunity to work with you. Please call us at 803.802.0004 for more information.

Property Manager
www.kuester.com

Tenent Representation in Charlotte

Dear Property Manager,

I work for a large manufacturing company that is opening a division in Charlotte. We are looking for a property that will work for us, and know that we may have to build. Our timeline is 9-12 months out. Can Kuester assist us in this?

Brett M.

Dear Brett,

Charlotte is a wonderful place to work and live, and I assure you that you will find this a great place to do business. Kuester's KRES Tenant Representation Services provides tenant representation which I believe you will find unparalleled. We work in conjunction with our clients to conduct market research, market development plans and site tours. Our goal is to provide you the best location and best deal for your business. We offer the following services:

Site Location Services
Trade Area Analysis
Site Package Process
Approval Coordination
Contract, Lease Negotiation and Legal Coordination with Analysis

We look forward to the opportunity to work with you on your new location. Please contact us at 803.802.0004.

Kuester Property Management