Sometimes bad behaviors turn good during tough times; but will they ever last?

I've told any number of people that I see only one true silver lining in this bad business economy. Commercial landlords are hurting badly. Thus, leases on new office space are dirt cheap.

With only 15 months left on ours, I am salivating about what kind of deal we might get. I'm also giggling like a school girl with a crush because these once arrogant bullies (landlords) are exemplifying model behavior and doing most anything to show us tenants the respect that we have always deserved.

You see, this new attitude hasn't been seen since the last great depression. No, I've always been amazed with how this industry marches to its own drum beat. It's the only one I can think of where the main strategy is: Once the client (or tenant in this case) signs on the dotted line, the goal is then to provide as little actual service as humanly possible, while simultaneously stick us with as many hidden fees and charges that the tenant never could have expected.

It's truly a backwards industry. Case in point, your office space might be actually 10,000 square feet (as an example). But, landlords are legally able to find ways to keep adding new, fictional square footage to the space for every new lease. They claim its added space from the street, or building, or wherever. But, it's downright sleazy. So theoretically, that 10,000 square foot space in 2003, is actually listed and marketed at 12,000 square feet in 2009. That's right, twenty percent more space was magically created out of thin air in that time period.  

The other point is that with most landlords, trying to get them to service random office problems is truly frustrating. I know that our office manager (the saint that he is) spends a large chunk of his time pushing, prodding and (at times) yelling at their maintenance people just to get them to deal with broken parts, heating issues, etc.

So, let's get back to what's happening now, though. Because, that's the good part of this post. I've been invited to "exclusive" dinners by one big landlord, where I can meet any host of celebrities. I'm receiving email after email from their brokers promising a world of benefits and perks if I come and meet with them, or their boss (uh.. a landlord) and listen to their proposition. And, our landlord seems to be doing everything possible now (including offering much better service) to convince us to stay.

So, the real question is: Will this changed behavior last? Hell no. I'm not naïve. As soon as our economy begins to tip in the other (positive) direction, this industry will go right back to its typical "screw the tenant" ways. That's pretty bogus. But, for now, I'm going to continue to enjoy being treated like a king and take the perks for all they are worth.