Chicago tenant representation · $1.5B+ in transactions
Executive VP of Client Services & Broker
11 years at TAG · 14 years in commercial real estate
Tina Kearney
Executive VP of Client Services & Broker
Tina Kearney grew up in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design and Technology and a minor in Art and Design. After a brief stint in the fashion design industry in Los Angeles, Tina took a role at a commercial real estate firm in Chicago. She discovered her passion for the industry, and after a few months, she got her Real Estate Broker’s License.
Tina is an outgoing and hardworking professional. Her love for design drives her passion for exploring and learning about the rich history of Chicago’s architecture, which, coincidentally, is what drew her to office leasing.
A client came to us needing food production space with an unusually strict list of requirements — loading access, commercial vehicle parking, and enough parking for their whole staff. We sourced three strong options and they ended up in a space that checked every box.
Vacancy rates can vary from quarter to quarter and can have a significant impact on negotiating leverage. Generally, higher vacancy rates create more opportunities for tenants, while lower vacancy rates tend to favor landlords. A tenant representative broker can help you better understand current vacancy rates and how market conditions can impact your next lease or renewal.
The right time to lease depends on current market conditions. In a landlord-favorable market, it may be more challenging to negotiate favorable terms, while a tenant-favorable market can create greater opportunities for savings and flexibility. A tenant representative broker can help you understand current market conditions and determine how to best take advantage of them.
Average rental rates are influenced by supply and demand. When demand is strong and available space is limited, rental rates tend to increase. When demand is weaker and there is more available space, tenants may have more negotiating leverage and rental rates may be more competitive. Contact a tenant representative broker to better understand current market conditions, rental rates, and opportunities in the market.
The sublease market is constantly evolving. Contact a tenant representative broker to better understand current market conditions and identify opportunities to take advantage of what the sublease market has to offer.
Ideally, you should start looking 9–12 months before your current lease expires. This gives you enough time to evaluate your options, negotiate the best terms, plan for any necessary build-out, and avoid feeling pressured into a decision. For larger spaces or more complex relocations, starting even earlier can help ensure a smooth transition.
The right amount of office space depends on your current and future headcount, how often employees are in the office, your workspace needs, and how you use the space. It really depends on the industry, but a general rule of thumb might be ~150sqft per person for a tech firm, 200-250 sqft per person for a typical professional office, and as much as 350 sqft per person for a traditional law firm. A tenant representative can help you evaluate your space requirements, develop an efficient test fit, and make sure you’re not paying for more space than you actually need.
A short conversation is usually enough for us to tell you where the leverage is.
