The advertised rent is rarely the real number. On the Westside, the average commercial tenant’s true occupancy cost runs well above the rate on the listing once NNN charges, parking, escalations, and operating expenses are added in. The same is true when you compare buying to leasing, or one landlord’s proposal to another. The right decision is almost never the one that looks cheapest on the first page. Lee & Associates West LA runs the analysis that shows you the real cost of each path before you commit.
This is where representation pays for itself. We put competing options side by side in the same terms, so you can see what you are actually signing up for and negotiate from a position of knowledge rather than guesswork.
Decisions backed by the real numbers
Every space decision is a financial decision. We model the alternatives so the choice is based on total cost and long-term fit, not on whichever proposal happened to land first.
How we help
- Comparing alternative proposals. Normalizing competing offers, NNN vs. gross vs. modified gross, concessions, escalations, and TI allowances, into a true apples-to-apples comparison.
- Purchase vs. lease analysis. Modeling the long-term cost, tax, and flexibility trade-offs of owning versus leasing your space.
- Existing building search. Identifying and evaluating the buildings that actually fit your criteria, including opportunities that are not yet widely listed.
Local knowledge that sharpens the model
A financial model is only as good as the market data behind it. We know what comparable space is closing for across Culver City, Santa Monica, Century City, and the wider Westside, what concessions landlords are actually giving right now, and where operating expenses tend to hide. That real-time market read is what turns a spreadsheet into a decision you can defend.
This work connects to the rest of our practice, including office space, industrial, investment sales, and multifamily.
Get our free Insider’s Guide
Want to understand the numbers before you negotiate? Our free guide breaks down how commercial costs really work in Los Angeles. Download: The Insider’s Guide To Leasing Commercial Space In Los Angeles (Free Guide).
Weighing your options? Talk to a Lee West LA advisor or browse our current listings.