1. Start early; a year in advance is not uncommon for large tenants; smaller tenants can take six months or more. Note when your lease expires and hire an experienced broker before you have reached the above milestones.
2. Have a “Plan B.” Be prepared to “vote with your feet” if the Landlord is resistant and won’t make any rent or tenant improvements concessions.
3. Read the exhibits, floor plans, and work letter carefully; bring in an architect (Landlord’s or your own) to complete a pricing plan that meets your firm’s budget. In addition, if your firm has a little room in their budget, you should build in a little expansion room, so in twelve months you’re not looking for additional space again.

Your Broker will determine the current trends, custom and usage requirements of the retail or office market; your Lawyer can review the terms of the Lease and determine economic risks and legal parameters to be negotiated.

Rob Appleton
Dunhill Partners West
Dunhill Partners West is a San Francisco based commercial real estate brokerage and investment company specializing in real estate acquisitions, leasing and asset management. The company, founded by Mark Hutchinson in January 2005, was born out of his desire to provide a superior level of hands-on service to meet the unique needs of investors and principals.
rob.appleton@dunhillpartnerswest.com

http://www.dunhillpartnerswest.com

388 Market Street, Suite 850, San Francisco, CA. 94111
415-981-0805 Direct / 415-317-3636-Cell

Robert Gates
Erskine & Tulley, PC
Erskine & Tulley is a real estate and business law firm handling all aspects of business organizations, formation, contracts and real estate transactions and disputes. We pride ourselves on quick, cost-effective responses to client needs to help with planning and negotiation, solve problems and, if necessary, mediate, arbitrate and/or litigate.
bob@erskinetulley.com

http://www.erskinetulley.com

220 Montgomery Street, Suite 315, San Francisco, CA 94104
415-392-5431, EXT. 2051
FAX 415-392-1978

1. Bookkeeper
2. Commercial contractor
3. Electrician
4. Plumber
5. Real Estate appraiser
6. Florist
7. Event Marketing
8. Landscape design
9. Hair salon owner
10. Handy person

THE LEGAL POWER TEAM’S NEXT MEETING IS MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1:00 P.M., 555 CALIFORNIA STREET, 23RD FLOOR (DAN’S WELLS FARGO ADVISORS), BROWN BAG. TENTATIVE AGENDA:

(1) advertising presentation by Gabriel Gasca, with some focus on law and real estate; sharing of current advertising practices by members (e.gs., Angela, Jerry, Tom Redmond) and (2) FEEDBACK PROCESS with Reno Fernandez, Esq. This may be “more than an hour” if both topics are covered, so I solicit feedback as to (a) reducing the Agenda (i.e. deferring Reno), which can also be voted on at the start of the meeting or (b) expanding the meeting by 15-30 minutes (respond now on this).

COME ONE, COME ALL!! ANYONE CAN JOIN, COME, ETC., BUT DO R.S.V.P. SO WE GET SOME KIND OF “HEAD COUNT.”

Bob

Writing “Full Payment” or “Paid in Full” on the back of a check (above where the payee would endorse) does NOT result in a settlement for less than the full amount if the creditor strikes out or deletes the words before cashing the check. Civil Code Sec. 1526(a): 1526.

(a) Where a claim is disputed or unliquidated and a check or draft is tendered by the debtor in settlement thereof in full discharge of the claim, and the words “payment in full” or other words of similar meaning are notated on the check or draft, the acceptance of the check or draft does not constitute an accord and satisfaction if the creditor protests against accepting the tender in full payment by striking out or otherwise deleting that notation or if the acceptance of the check or draft was inadvertent or without knowledge of the notation.
(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the acceptance of a check or draft constitutes an accord and satisfaction if a check or draft is tendered pursuant to a composition or extension agreement between a debtor and its creditors, and pursuant to that composition or extension agreement, all creditors of the same class are accorded similar treatment, and the creditor receives the check or draft with knowledge of the restriction.”
Now, having said that, it works both ways. It can protect you as a creditor if you receive a partial payment and want to take it, but not forgive the balance. If you owe the money, it is still worth a try to put something like that on a check and see if your creditor crosses it out.

Much more can be said and there is an article if you are interested.

Paid In Full

Take the Work out of Networking