Stiles’ Norm Adams Represents First ‘Virtual’ Lease Transaction To Relocate Tenant HQ From NYC To Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Stiles Senior Vice President Norm Adams overcame the challenges of leasing in a COVID-19 world, utilizing technology and a wealth of online tools to get a new tenant signed despite the tenant never seeing the space in person.

Through a series of livestream video conferences, virtual tours and presentations, and electronic brochures, Adams and Senior Associate Sheila Roux conducted the showings and negotiations to attract TruCapital Partners FL, Inc. into a three-year sublease for 4,176 square feet at Broward Financial Center in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

TruCapital Partners FL, Inc. is relocating its corporate headquarters from Manhattan to Fort Lauderdale. Paul Levine of Commercial Space Realty represented the subtenant.

“In this new environment, we used technology to find new ways to show space and process transactions,” Adams said.  “This lease was completely negotiated and inked before the tenant ever stepped foot in the space. The new tenant got a close look at everything from the layout of furniture to IT racks and connections so phones and computers could be ordered before arriving in Fort Lauderdale.”

Roux added, “We walked the entire space on FaceTime focusing on areas of importance to the tenant. Appropriately, as the space itself is a high-tech, plug-and-play office formerly occupied as prior HQ for JetSmarter, a private aviation software company.”

Stiles is a 69-year-old, full service commercial real estate firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale.