Below is a list of things your agent needs to write an offer for you.  Email them, and the process will be much smoother.

1. The name or entity of the party that is purchasing the property.  It might be

-Bob Sheddy (a person)
-Bob Sheddy or Nominee (An entity that is buying for another entity)
-Sheddy Commercial Investments Ltd. (an incorporated company)
-1122334 Alberta Ltd.  (a numbered company)

It is best to discuss the ownership with your accountant before you make the offer.  If you haven't, then it might be prudent to put the offer in one person's name "or Nominee" and then discuss with your accountant at a further date.  

2. For commercial property, you'll want to have the GST number of the entity that is purchasing the property on hand.  If you don't currently have a GST number, your accountant can help you get one.  You can still make the offer, with the goal of getting the GST number before the deal closes.

3. Then you must come up with an appropriate down payment amount.  Most standard offers allow for the downpayment to be refundable during the condition period.  Because the deposit is refundable it doesn't really matter how much you put up during the due diligence period.  Once conditions are waived, most sellers would like to see 5-10% of the purchase price held in trust.  

4. The amount you want to offer.  Keep in mind that most accepted offers are within 5-10 percent of the asking price.  A good agent won't list property if it is extremely overpriced.  They should also be able to justify the price for you with appraisals and/or comparable solds.

5. Your agent will need your mailing address that you want on title, your cell phone and your email address.  This will be put on the offer, and this is how your REALTOR and your lawyer will contact you.

6. You then need to look at a Calendar and decide how much time you need for your due diligence and financing conditions, and what day you would like to take possession.  My Lawyer, Colin Kloot, of Herman, Kloot & Company www.drumhellerlaw.com recommends the best days to have for the condition and possession days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays.  These days allow the lawyers and legal assistants the most flexibility, and the deals seem to be completed with fewer hiccups if they are planned for these days.  

7. Your agent then needs to know your lawyer's name, Law Firm, Mailing and email addresses, phone and fax numbers.  You can usually google the lawyer's name for this information.


Once the offer is drafted, you can go through the offer, line by line, and add any additional items in pen on the offer.  By going through the 7 steps above, you are simplifying the process, and making a nice clean canvas to start the offer on.

Congratulations, you are well on your way to purchasing your next investment!

When I started in commercial Real Estate, I was only 20.  I wore collared shirts and cardigan sweaters all the time.  I styled my hair conservatively, and aligned my fashion with the goal of looking older.

According to a recent study, the average age of commercial real estate agents is 56.  I am now 30 years of age (this figure will be amended mid December to 31 years of age).

I have nothing against older people.  In fact, many of my clients are older and I think that they are far superior to me in many ways.  The problem with “older agents" in the commercial real estate industry is the inability -- or more so, unwillingness -- to adapt to today’s technology and ways of doing business.  In the internet age, where the web, search engines, cameras, computer software, etc, all change every month, my clients are expecting that I'm on top of this stuff.  

I’ve seen it all across Alberta, and all across Canada.

Problems with being old

    * They still think “good ol' boy clubs” are cool; they are sadly mistaken. You know the ones where they get together and conspire to keep all the information under lock and key.  They are reluctant to put this information on the web.
    * They believe real estate should be bankers' hours: Monday-Friday and 9-5. How does this help the consumer who drives into town on a short notice and is thinking about relocating and only has the weekend to look for properties?
    * From my dealings, the average phone call is returned withing 4-6 days and that’s being generous.
    * They still send faxes and courier large documents.

When I was in university, I worked for one of these large commercial real estate firms.  The guys who really did well have my complete and utter respect.  I think that they are true businessmen, and they deserve the high commissions they command.

But when I was just out of university, eager to conquer the world, I would ask why commercial real estate isn't organized like residential real estate is, they would scoff and say, "Why should it be…? We aren't selling doll houses, we're selling custom solutions."  They would say "MLS is a tool for taxi drivers and housewives," apparently using a derogatory slang to refer to residential agents. My response was essentially that our clients want the convenience of browsing the same database that we do.  

The reason I think it has taken the commercial real estate firms so long to put their properties on the web is that it wasn't a convenience for them… it was only a convenience for their competitors and their clients.  Now that customers are starting to look online, and buy commercial real estate from the MLS agents, the big commercial real estate houses are starting to take notice.  And I think they might be a bit worried.  They don’t know how to use resources to market property.

In 2010, 98% of our customers researched property on the internet before they called us.  If I was a building owner and my broker didn't have my property well displayed on the web, this would be worrisome. Many commercial properties are not listed in MLS resources for other agents to find, therefore the property goes unnoticed.

Of course these are just my observations from every day dealings up until now.

At BobSheddy.com, our principal service consists of representing commercial tenants and investors in Alberta. Our services provide our clients with a vast network of available properties through the local commercial multiple listing services (MLS).

Because of our capabilities to network with other brokers and building owners, we will find and complete the transaction much more efficiently than our clients could if they tried to find their space without the assistance of a tenant representation advisor.

Clients who work directly with our Commercial Real Estate Advisors will be provided the following:

• Extensive experience representing office, retail, medical, industrial and investment tenants and buyers on straight-forward or complex lease and lease renewal transactions.

• Fiduciary responsibility given solely to our clients. We listen carefully to understand our clients' needs, and work through a proven program to provide creative, flexible and cost-effective solutions.
• In almost all cases, our representation fees are paid by the landlord or seller.

• Flexibility. Our clients range from new business startups to existing local firms with a single location to Fortune 500 companies with multiple sites.

We offer a wide range of Real Estate services. While traditional agencies have a range of services for owners, many are in direct conflict with the corporate tenant's or buyer's interests. Serving distinctly different interests fractures a broker's focus and limits their ability to consider the larger picture from a tenant's or buyer's perspective. Ladin Ventures' Advisors represent buyers and tenants -- all day, every day -- so they can provide highly specialized and comprehensive service.

Just a few of examples of the many services provided are:
• Office, Industrial and Retail Facilities Lease Management
• Regional, National, International Headquarters
• Lease Creation and Amendment
• Sales Offices
• Review of Tenant's Financial Reports for Landlords
• Research & Development
• Review of Property Tax, Insurance & Other Operating Expenses
• Strategic Planning

• Acquisition / Consolidation Analysis
• Warehouse / Distribution

• Facilities Policies & Procedures Manuals
• Manufacturing Location Analysis
• New Market Real Estate Market Analysis

• Business Acquisitions

• Review of Transportation Costs vs. location
• Disposition of Excess Space
• Lease Renewals
• Employee Quality of Life Assessment
• Buy vs. Lease Analysis
• Source Build-to-Suit Solutions
• Source Equity Participation
• Construction Contractor/Subcontractor Selection

We also provide Exclusive Value-Added Services

BobSheddy.ca also provides our clients with exclusive value added services to help those who don't have already established relationships with the necessary products or services to get their business up and running. We have strong relationships with local Alberta contractors as well as in-house maintenance contractors who can assist us.

We have an 8-office business centre to help our customers as their space is being constructed. We also have direct access to copy/print management, office furniture, office supplies, business signage, accounting services, computer equipment, IT consulting, mortgage banking and financing relationships, Alberta insurance brokers, graphic designers, stationary systems and printing needs, and more. Our long-term relationships with our "preferred vendors" ensure our clients have the right team to jump start their business.

We're thrilled to announce that Century 21 has now released their FREE iphone app to allow you to look at Century 21 properties on your iPhone.

Description
The Century21.ca App makes it easy to search for homes on the go! This app leverages iPhone's built-in location technology to allow you to see available homes nearby and get directions to open houses in your area. Quickly view high resolution property photos with iPhone's intuitive gestures, and create an account to sync your saved properties with Century21.ca. Whether you're looking to buy, looking to sell, or just looking, the Century21.ca iPhone App helps you Get Connected to More™.

Features:

Search for properties on the go!
- Search for nearby properties within a radius of your current location
- View property details, including room layout, features & amenities, and upcoming open houses
- Click an address to get directions to the property using the Maps app

View property photos!
- Pinch-and-zoom individual photos
- View photo gallery using iPhone's native technology

Create a personal account!
- Save favourite properties
- Compare up to 10 properties at once
- Receive E-mail updates
- Run saved searches to get new results

Find a local representative!
- Search for an office or representative nearby
- Click-to-call an office or representative
- Click an address to get directions to an office using the Maps app

Multi-lingual Interface!
- English
- French
- Chinese

Rather than tell you all of the great functions, I'd rather you just download it and see for yourself!

http://ax.itunes.apple.com/ca/app/century21-ca/id395313525?mt=8#ls=1

Only at Century 21.

Bob

It was another stellar year for the stars of the CENTURY 21 System! Over 2400 CENTURY 21 System members and 220 offices were recognized for their various accomplishments in 2009, with outstanding individuals crossing the stage at one of the seven CENTURY 21 Annual Awards Gala events that took place across the country from March 5 – 15.

CENTURY 21 Canada is pleased to announce Century 21 Power Realty REALTOR's Gary Chambers and Bob Sheddy were once again awarded the Prestigeous CENTURION Awards each for their Outstanding Sales Production for 2009.  Both Gary and Bob have won these awards numerous years in the past.  They are currently on display at Century 21 PowerRealty.ca downtown Drumheller at 145 - 3rd Avenue West.

Shown L to R: Century 21 President Don Lawby, REALTOR Bob Sheddy, and CEO U. Gary Charlwood

Shown L to R: Century 21 President Don Lawby, REALTOR Gary Chambers, and CEO U. Gary Charlwood