There is certainly a lot of discussion lately about “going green.”  As a business owner, taking steps to reduce waste in your commercial space in Boston’s Metro area not only helps the environment, but can save your business money as well.  It’s easier than you may think to implement some green strategies within your company.  Here are some simple ways to get started!

Recycle Old Electronics
You’ve updated your office technology, but what should you do with those old computers?  According to the EPA, only 18% of e-waste is actually recycled.  You may not know that old electronics can contain toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and arsenic.  Before you toss those old computers in the dumpster, check with your town, city, or county.  Many areas have recycling for electronics – dropping them off at a designated site ensures that they will be disposed of properly.

Switch Out Your Light Bulbs
Lighting costs account for approximately 35% of energy usage in offices.  Replace old incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs – they use 66% less energy and can last 13 times longer!

Put Your Computers to Sleep
Here’s an amazing statistic: putting just one computer to sleep in your office can prevent approximately 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide emissions each year!  Putting computers in sleep mode also means that they use less energy, which translates into lower utility bills.

Utilize Teleconferencing
Of course, face-to-face meetings are sometimes necessary.  Utilizing teleconferencing, however,  is a great way to help your business save on fuel and other travel costs.  This is especially helpful for businesses with multiple office locations – instead of traveling between locations, hold meetings via Skype or another teleconferencing service whenever possible.  ”Google Hangouts” is ideal for small online meetings!

Get Employees Involved
Sustainability in business is a daily commitment.  Involve your employees by forming a team that will meet to come up with new green strategies.  Implement their best suggestions, and reward them when their ideas turn into results.

As your commercial real estate agent in Boston’s Metro area, I enjoy passing along information to business owners, commercial property owners and investors. If you need information about commercial real estate in the Boston Metro area, I would be happy to help you!

Contact me today to learn more about the excellent options that are available for property leases and purchases!

Jay Nuss
Jay Nuss Realty Group, LLC
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There is always something going on in the Boston Metro area.  There are some great events and ongoing activities coming up in the month of June that provide great opportunities to get out and enjoy all that the area has to offer!

South Shore Art Center Arts Festival In addition to almost one hundred juried exhibitor booths, the Arts Festival features a juried art exhibition and members’ show, live music performances, artist demonstrations, children’s art activities and a young artist exhibition.  This is a great event for the family!  The festival takes place June 14 – 16 in Cohasset.

Sunset Cruises If you’re looking to head into the city for the evening, enjoy amazing views of Boston’s beautiful skyline on a sunset cruise!  A 75 minute cruise around the Boston Harbor is the perfect way to relax after a long day at the office.

Braintree Farmer’s Market Discover amazing local products from around the Boston Metro area!  Fresh produce, local seafood, honey, artisan breads, gourmet cupcakes and more are offered at this great farmer’s market, which takes place on Saturdays in Braintree, the capitol of the South Shore.

Waltham Riverfest The Waltham Riverfest has a spectacular line up of music, activities and events along the Charles River in Waltham.  Enjoy a River Walk, boating on the Charles, Pet Parade, Farmer’s Market and more!  The Riverfest takes place June 14– 15 in Waltham.

The Acoustic Nights Free Concert Series This free concert series showcases great emerging artists from near and far. Concerts take place on the lawn of the historic Hedge House, overlooking Plymouth Harbor.  The first concert in the series is on June 29.  What a great way to spend a warm summer night!

I hope you will be able to take advantage of some of the great events happening this month in the Boston Metro area!  If you would like information about buying or selling a commercial property in Boston’s Metro area, feel free to contact me.  In the meantime, maybe I’ll see you at one of the fun events happening this month!  

Jay Nuss
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If you’re running a business in the Boston Metro area, chances are you’ll need to conduct job interviews from time to time.  Whether your company is growing and taking on new employees or you’re replacing an employee who has resigned, knowing how to conduct great interviews is essential to the success of your business.  Forbes has some great tips for conducting the most effective interview possible, making it much easier to hire the right candidate for your company.

Interview the Right People

Set the bar high for the candidates that you interview, and you’ll be doing your Boston Metro area business a huge favor in the long run.  To get great candidates interested, make sure that you’re communicating why your company is a great place to work.  This can be done through your website, or with flyers and interesting information if you attend career fairs.  Often, those who get excited about your company’s culture, mission and values are a great fit in the end!

Be Prepared for the Interview

Know who you are interviewing!  Check out the candidate’s resume before the interview.  What questions do you want to ask?  Is there a particular position on their resume that you’d like to know more about?  Planning out some questions in advance can help you feel more comfortable in the interview, and ensures that you won’t miss out on discussing an important topic.

Encourage Elaboration

This is an essential tip.  We all know that there are standard interview questions for which many candidates will rehearse answers.  How can you get away from these rehearsed responses and learn more about the candidate’s accomplishments and skills?  One strategy relates to our previous tip of being prepared.  Choose a project or notable success on their resume, and come up with some questions that will encourage them to elaborate.  Ask about their responsibilities on that particular project, how they made a difference in the end result, or how their other team members would describe working with them.  This type of question will encourage detailed responses, and can help you gain the insight that you need to make a good decision for your office team.

Implementing these tips will help you interview successfully, allowing you to hire employees that will help drive your company in the right direction.  If you have any questions about finding commercial space for your Boston Metro area business, don’t hesitate to contact me and ask! I’d be happy to give you guidance on the ins and outs of the process.

Jay Nuss
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Jay Nuss Realty Group presents our Before & After Building and Building Feature Pinterest Contest!  We want to see your interior or exterior building makeovers.  We’ve got some great prizes, including an artist’s rendering of your building, Red Sox/Patriots tickets and dinner for two!

Head over to Pinterest, create a board with the before and after pictures of your makeover, and tag #JayNussRealtyGroup in the description! We’d also love to hear about the transformation process, or any tips and tricks you found useful along the way.  Send us an email with a link to your board so that we can repin and share with our followers.

An independent third party group of judges will pick our winner, which will be announced on our Facebook page on June 14, 2013!  We are looking forward to seeing your amazing makeovers!

Jay Nuss
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Since 1985, the Beige Book, also known as the Summary of Commentary on Current Economic Conditions, has been among the key financial reports distributed in the media. The report is published by the United States Federal Reserve Board eight times a year.

If your eyes are already glazing over, don’t worry! We’ve read the most recent report for you, and we are sharing the highlights that apply to the Boston Metro Area!

First, it is important to understand that this report is a collection of observations and anecdotal information from business leaders within each Federal Reserve district. While not full of hard facts, the Beige Book is a trusted assessment of economic conditions by people in the trenches. Here’s what they have to say about the Boston Metro Area:

1. Respondents to the Federal Reserve survey collectively agree that the office leasing market has firmed, and that vacancy rates are down significantly from one year ago.

2. The Boston seaport district is experiencing high demand. There is also a strong absorption rate in the financial district.

3. Investment sales activity is described as “brisk” – especially for multi-family buildings.

4. The planned development of mixed-use projects is a good signal for additional job growth.

5. The Boston Metro Area is expected to remain attractive to investors due to the strength of the health care and education sectors.

6. While the majority of respondents had a positive outlook, some expressed concern that commercial property valuations in some markets may be trending ahead of income growth. This is a practical concern, and another reason why the services of  commercial real estate professionals are essential to investors and business owners.

7. Manufacturing sectors reported strong growth in medical equipment production and pharmaceutical products. The glass is half-full for most of the respondents. Four firms reported plans increase staff; three are holding steady with no plans to add or remove positions. Five reported plans to reduce staff. The variety in these plans reflects the diversity of our manufacturing base and their respective experience in the current economy.

In summary, commercial real estate demand in the Boston Metro Area is expected to grow at a sensible pace, given the market conditions observed in the latest Beige Book. If you are planning to begin, expand or relocate your business, or you are seeking commercial investment opportunities, let us help you! We will provide complete location search assistance and square footage cost analyses.

Contact us today to find the ideal space for your business needs!

Jay Nuss
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The New England Real Estate Journal reports that the Boston Metro area’s multi-family housing sector remains a hot commodity! In fact, trends are pointing to strong demand by both investors and tenants for the foreseeable future. Here are the facts you should know!

Thanks to limited inventory and low interest rates, investors are actively seeking multi-family properties for purchase. Sales activity has been on a steady climb for the past 2 years.

In 2011, Boston had 100 multi-family property sales; in 2012, Boston saw 167 multi-family property sales. This is the first time since 2007 that we saw consecutive increases in both the number of transactions and the total dollar volume.

Meanwhile, tenant occupancy of multi-family properties remains at all-time highs. Most of the Boston Metro area has little or no vacancy, which supports high rent thresholds. Tenant demographic trends suggest that demand will remain consistent. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Tougher residential mortgage requirements have made it more difficult for both former homeowners and prospective first-time buyers to purchase a house. During the housing boom, the ease of sub-prime mortgages caused tenant attrition. Now that borrowing money is not so easy, people are renting longer.

2. Recent college graduates are choosing to live close to their employment. They prefer urban living with access to public transportation, instead of living in the suburbs and relying on cars. This seems to be a lifestyle preference as well as an economic factor.

3. Empty-nesters and retirees are downsizing their residences. As home values continue to recover, we can expect to see more of these homeowners “cashing out” and transitioning to renting. They are drawn to low-maintenance living in urban areas that provide social opportunities and entertainment.

New rental developments are in progress to address burgeoning demand, but they are unlikely to get ahead of the curve and abate pressure on rents. Multi-family properties will remain attractive to Boston Metro area investors for years to come.

If you are planning to begin, expand or relocate your business, or you are seeking commercial investment opportunities, we have the resources and experience to help you! We provide complete location search assistance and square footage cost analyses.

Contact us today to learn more about the excellent options that are available for property leases and purchases!

Jay Nuss
Jay Nuss Realty Group, LLC
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Spring cleaning isn’t just for the home. If you are a commercial property owner, or you lease commercial space in the Boston Metro area,  presenting a clean work environment can mean higher income and better employee productivity.

If you’ve been thinking of commercial cleaning as just another business expense, consider these points from the New England Real Estate Journal:

1. Image counts! The appearance and cleanliness of a commercial property enhances value and improves marketability. A sparkling workplace is important, whether you’re trying to impress prospective clients, lease your commercial space or sell the building.

2. Consistent cleaning will preserve and protect carpets, hardwood floors, tile surfaces, fixtures and equipment. It prevents excessive wear and extends functional lifespans. Spreading your cleaning service too thin in frequency or quality can cost you more money in the long run.

3. A clean, healthy building pleases tenants and creates a welcoming atmosphere. It shows pride in the workplace, which encourages employee productivity and collective effort.

4. There is a direct correlation between a clean work environment and improved employee health. A clean environment can help reduce employee sick days. Clean workplaces also contribute to mental clarity and positive attitudes.

Overall, clean commercial properties improve employee attendance, sponsor greater productivity and support customer satisfaction. On the other hand, cutting corners on cleaning can result in a noticeable decline in the workplace environment, which leads to apathy among tenants and employees. If you want your tenants or employees to care about your building, you have to set the example!

As your commercial real estate professionals in Boston’s Metro area, we enjoy passing along information to business owners, commercial property owners and investors. And whenever you need information about commercial real estate in the Boston Metro area, we will be here to help you!

Contact us today to learn more about the excellent options that are available for property leases and purchases!

Jay Nuss
Jay Nuss Realty Group, LLC
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Thinking about relocating your company to the Boston Metro Area? The timing could be right for relocation, according to a recent article by UrbanBound. The improvements in the economy, along with the progressive recovery of the housing market, have made more Americans willing to move.

During 2012, about 36.5 million people moved households, an increase of 1.4 million from 2011. The  mobility trend shows no signs of slowing down. During January and February of 2013, moving activity is already up by 5.4% over last year.

Not only are more Americans on the move, more of them are relocating out-of-state and cross-country. This is a signal that career motives are behind some of the trends.

According to a survey by Mayflower, this is especially true for young adults between the ages of 18 and 34, who have been frustrated by the slow start to their careers. Surveyed adults in the 40+ age group also indicate a willingness to move, though dual-income households are less likely to pull up stakes.

Meanwhile, corporate relocation activity has picked up after a long slump. Reduced unemployment and an increasingly-mobile workforce caused employers to revive relocation benefits to attract top talent. Relocation of interns is also a growing trend as employers seek to draw the best and brightest college students from around the country.

In the Boston Metro Area, we are fortunate to attract companies and start-ups that take advantage of our diverse, well-educated workforce. Both job-seekers and employers are drawn by the opportunities here, which should support demand for commercial and residential properties, as well as business and consumer services.

The Boston Metro Area is a terrific choice when you wish to relocate a business! Finding the right location is essential to success. As your experienced commercial real estate professionals in Boston’s Metro Area, we will provide you with excellent options for property leases and purchases. We also provide a cost analysis based on square footage, location and the type of building, so that you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Contact us today for your commercial real estate consultation!

Jay Nuss
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The face of commercial real estate in the Boston Metro Area is always changing. Our global economy and advances in technology did not arrive without consequence; changes in the business world happen faster than ever before.

As a result, companies have become leaner, meaner and more versatile. Business survival and growth depend on the ability to adapt to change.

Despite this, some commercial property owners are focused on the past use of a property and the income it provided. Investors can also be too quick to pass up a property for similar reasons. Yet some of the best opportunities in commercial real estate could be in the acquisition and re-purposing of certain properties.

The New England Real Estate Journal made an excellent point in this respect; real estate is about location. A number of commercial properties that are on the market today are in need of repair, new tenants or re-purposing. While this can be daunting, it’s important to remember that you are buying location. When a great location becomes available, you must have the vision to see beyond the past history.

It has been said that the most valuable aspect of a McDonald’s franchise isn’t the profit on hamburgers – it’s the value of the real estate beneath the restaurants. Even if you never wanted to own a McDonald’s, you might be interested in owning the location!

This is not a new idea, but it’s worth refreshing the notion in today’s market. Interest rates are low, making it feasible to finance renovations and redevelopments. Zoning restrictions must be considered – but it is not impossible to re-zone a property, and the potential improvement in value, once accomplished, could be well worth the effort and expense.

The commercial real estate market in the Boston Metro Area is dynamic and highly localized. Whether you have a business idea that needs a location, or a location that needs a new business idea, professional guidance is a must. If you are considering the purchase of commercial real estate, we can help you find the best opportunities!

As your experts in Boston Metro Area commercial real estate, we enjoy helping commercial property investors and business owners! Contact us today for your commercial property consultation!

Jay Nuss
Jay Nuss Realty Group, LLC
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Image Credit: Boston Redevelopment Authority

The Boston Metro area’s future housing needs could be solved by micro-unit apartments, according to a recent article in the Boston Business Journal. Is this the face of modern housing, or just a fad? Here are some highlights from the article, with our own thoughts in the mix!

First of all, micro-housing is more than just an abstract concept in Metro Boston. About 195 micro-units are planned within five building projects in the Innovation District. These residential units will range in size from 300 to 350 square feet, and are expected to fetch a minimum rent of $1,200 a month.

What kind of tenants will seek these units? If you answered “Generation Y“, you are correct! In fact, micro-units could be the perfect solution for young professionals who want to live in urban centers, but who are priced out of traditional housing.  The Innovation District is the perfect location to test this concept.

Of course, price alone does not make a lifestyle, and for micro-housing to succeed, it must offer a good mix of common areas and amenities. Our best analogy would be to compare micro-housing to college campus living.  The average dorm room can range from 160 square feet to just over 200 square feet. Therefore, recent grads won’t object to a 300 square foot apartment. So long as there is an on-site fitness center, social area, and shopping and dining within easy walking distance, it won’t be much of an adjustment!

Recent college graduates aren’t the only ones who would adapt well to micro-housing. Experienced business travelers know that the average U.S. hotel room is about 325 square feet. In some countries, hotel rooms are as small as 48 square feet, with a shared bathroom as a common area. We are used to thinking big when it comes to commercial real estate in America, but going small makes a lot of economic sense.

For commercial real estate investors and developers, high-density micro-housing could prove to be an attractive niche. It would supply much-needed, entry level housing in the Boston Metro Area, while providing potentially lucrative returns. The key is to place such units in walkable areas that offer plenty of convenience, with proximity to employment and public transportation. Location is everything!

Speaking of location, we can help you pin down the best buildings, lease arrangements and sites in the Boston Metro Area! Our many years of experience will help you find the ideal location for your business needs. As your commercial real estate agents in Boston’s Metro area, we offer professional market guidance for business owners and investors.

Please contact us today for expert assistance!

Jay Nuss
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