Getting The Bus To Bring Your Target Audience To Your Front Door

Seeing the (below linked) article about the lack of protection from the sun at many bus stops in a major city got me to thinking about how this situation could be an opportunity for real estate and business professionals in cities large enough to have a bus system.

 

People often have to wait for several minutes, sometimes longer, for the next bus to arrive at corners where there is retail or office space in operation. Suppose these buildings have room in front for a few chairs where people could wait and enjoy the air conditioning, heat, and/or protection from rain, snow, and wind in addition to the sun. 

 

Let's say the average wait time is 5 minutes. If your building can "host" people waiting for the bus throughout the day, you could save your municipality thousands dollars of construction and improvement costs since they would not need to build a waiting station with protection. 

 

There are plenty of retail and office buildings next to bus stops which spend thousands of dollars marketing and advertising for new business. Meanwhile, they may be missing out on a consistent opportunity to attract their target audience.

 

Someone "waiting" inside their location can certainly get there, and likely on a regular basis. For some businesses, that is half of the battle. They are a captive audience for those few minutes, especially if it's every day. If they are going to use your chair to wait, they can watch or listen to information about your business, or buy your product or service at the same time. 

 

Depending upon the nature of your business, you could hire or allow a specialist to take care of people all day long while waiting. Perhaps they could get a quick trim, buy a beverage to take with, or do something like watch a video of a nearby apartment for rent or home for sale. Or, they can stand outside in the hot sun or the rain. You have a choice.

 

It's all about being where your target audience is.

 

 

https://wdet.org/2025/07/02/give-em-shade-nearly-90-of-detroit-bus-stops-lack-adequate-sun-protection/

 

 

 

Secure A Better Position As A Landlord or Investor

There are not very many things that tenants and landlords agree on, but increased security is one of them. With all of the real estate related concerns in Florida (infrastructure, insurance, disasters), it is nice to see a couple of updates to the newer home security regulations which went into effect in Florida at the start of this year.

 

An emphasis on increased security is not something which is (yet) being addressed with this kind of urgency in other states. Whether it is or is not in the state(s) you are involved with, there is a lot to be said for having these requirements, which are explained in the article linked below. The point of the Florida legislation is to hold property owners accountable for home security instead of leaving it more to the tenant side.

 

This is of interest to me because one of the items I point out when working with real estate investors and landlords is to highlight improved security features in proposals. Far too many landlords don't put in "enough" security, sometimes leaving tenants or potential buyers to take on the added expense. When they have an improved security system or method in place, I'm always suggested it be highlighted to potential tenants and buyers.

 

Those in states that do not (yet) have these home security regulations in place should, in my opinion, take note of what they are in Florida. They could very well be coming to your state(s) in the foreseeable future. However, there should be no need to wait until you are forced to make these changes. In these times when potential buyers are even more picky and potential tenants are looking more closely at amenities when comparing, having these measures in place before they become required adds value.

 

If your state does not have security requirements currently in place to match those of Florida, and your building does, chances are you have an important consideration to offer to your target audience. You could also get this done more cost effectively. It's not like prices and installation costs will drop the minute your state passes the legislation.

 

It's about finding every possible advantage to offer a potential buyer, tenant, or partner. Happy to collaborate to find advantages for your side!

 

https://www.wfla.com/bloom-tampa-bay/florida-law-requires-apartment-complexes-to-boost-security/ 

 

 

Saving Real Estate Documentation Can Save Time and Money

One thing I get questioned on by valued clients, students, and connections is how and why I keep track of anything and everything related to my business, and have done so for years. The range is from notes about phone calls and correspondence to storing hard copy of documents to keeping folders on the computer (or storage) about specific clients and accounts. 

 

Going back to the days before computers took over, I used a series of spiral notebooks and kept a journal about my activities every business day. There have been times while in my office that I have gone back through them and looked to see where I was, what I worked on, and who I talked to 30 years ago on that date. 

 

The inspiration for starting this came during the late 80s. A valued client revealed that they could no longer pay me the entire amount because they were involved in a lawsuit which could shut down the project. He then went on to show me all of documentation he was gathering for his attorney to support his case and get paid the amount he was owed so he could pay all of us promptly. That pile of papers contained memos, correspondence, invoices, and incredible detail about every step taken. I got a "This is why I save everything!" lecture.

 

By the end of that day, I brought him a stack of documentation I had about the entire project. It turns out that part of I brought to him wound up being crucial evidence which directly helped with the case, and helped me to eventually get paid. Lesson learned.

 

Never underestimate the power of a "Here is the email in which you said......." situation. I was reminded about this by the news story about a tenant getting fined thousands of dollars for his actions. Those actions followed the landlord causing problems for the tenant. My bet is that both sides WISH they had the documentation and records like I was trained to keep.

 

A few dollars for a new file cabinet or more online storage can go a long way toward protecting thousands of dollars for your time and effort.

 

https://www.12news.com/article/money/consumer/scottsdale-renter-fined-for-bad-review-of-denali-real-estate-property/75-6179d05b-33f9-46e2-9000-94558a5dbd06

 

  

Betting On Reaching Your Target Audience

In real estate, like with most businesses, the goal is to be where your target audience is. There is also something to be said for being "first in". Suppose you own or represent (broker, investor) a retail jewelry store which is looking to expand. 

 

There could be a good as gold opportunity (pun intended) on Broadway in Manhattan between 44th and 45th Streets for a new location ready within the next four to five years. You won't find that opportunity reading jewelry industry publications. The (below linked) story about a major casino project targeting that block with a 992 guest room hotel will result in a constant flow of "big spenders" going to that area, whether local or by travel. It's a chance to be where the target audience is. Or, in this case, will be.

 

Chances are that other jewelry store owners are not yet aware of this new information. Pouncing on the opportunity before they do could save many thousands of dollars. Perhaps it could be the difference of making the initial investment successful. Meanwhile, current landlords of retail and office space nearby may be looking for a strong long-term tenant and would be willing to negotiate to get one. The price you could negotiate today figures to be much less than what you would get a couple years from now when the casino and hotel are under construction and the word is out.

 

This is the same opportunity whether the jewelry business is in NYC or anywhere else. Of course, a jewelry store is just ONE example of the possibilities for upscale retailers. It's safe to say that some of the upscale retailers (if not most) are not thinking about positioning themselves for five or more years down the road. 

 

If your research person or team isn't coming up with future opportunities to improve your business and/or investing for the long term, you are missing out. Being "first in" leads to long term profits and benefits. 

 

https://newyorkyimby.com/2025/07/new-interior-renderings-reveal-caesars-palace-casino-proposal-at-1515-broadway-in-times-square.html 

 

 

If You Are Going To Spend A Lot, Create Better Results

When coaching or teaching business people and real estate investors and professionals I often use the term "indirect competition" within marketing strategies. One example of indirect competition is hair salons and skin care products because both are expenses regarding personal appearance.

 

In real estate, alternative solutions are often indirect competition, such as hard money lending vs. conventional funding. There are times it is as much about a faster or more efficient solution than extra costs involved. Perks or advantages can make a big difference when it comes to important decisions.

 

The story about a woman finding a way to make living on a cruise ship work is one such example. Her decision eliminated maintenance, grocery shopping, and having to do her own laundry, which decreases stress and frees up more time to enjoy life. Instead of looking at the same few blocks, she sees the world and meets people from all over. In this case, it is not about saving money.

 

While the subject woman's solutions may not be for everybody, I draw a lot from what she is able to do, which boils down to creating a new set of advantages for the amount she is used to spending. For real estate investors and professionals, creating advantages might be the difference for getting a deal done that would not have happened otherwise.

 

Let's connect and find some advantages! 

  

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/woman-77-moves-onto-cruise-ship-permanently-says-it-s-cheaper-than-living-in-california/ar-AA1HIojk  

 

 

Going Over 1,000 Miles For a Nine-Figure Contract Award

Over the years I have seen way too many real estate and business people with too great of an emphasis on geographic borders. There are times I get the answer (or, as I see it, excuse) of "I'm not going to take a chance in a market I don't know" before he, she, or they spend any time researching the market they "don't know". 

 

It is true that they could find one or more solid reasons not to pursue that market and feel as though their time was wasted. It is also true that the same research could reveal a solid revenue opportunity, or perhaps open a path to still another market which would lead to success. That "success" would happen specifically because they took the time to perform the research, and it would not have happened otherwise.

 

There is the line in the song "New York New York" that says, "If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere". Although "anywhere" does not apply to real estate, investors, developers, and brokers don't need "everywhere". They need to know how and where they can "make it".

 

More than 20 years ago, I was working on an opportunity for business expansion and found an ideal fit in another city. I was emailing, calling, and even sending snail mail to the executive in that city hundreds of miles away looking to get his attention and present the research I had for him to be able to expand to create a very profitable sale. After multiple attempts, he finally called me to rudely tell me that "I'm not looking to expand to (name of city) and stop calling me". He hung up. I will admit that, about four months later, I sent him a copy of the Press Release in the mail announcing the business similar to his in that city that had just sold for nearly $1 million dollars. Included was my note that he could have been the one receiving that six figure check and included my contact information. However, I never heard from him again.

 

Today, while doing my daily research, I came across the (below) story about a contractor starting on a $114 million contract for major work on two separate high schools in Austin TX. I wondered about how much research and preparation it took for that company to secure a bid of that magnitude, and how many more similar contracts it will likely lead to. A lot came from their ability to win that bid.

 

By the way, the company which won that bid in Austin is based in Minneapolis is more than 1,150 miles. Suppose Austin was a market they "didn't know".

 

https://www.constructiondive.com/news/austin-adolfson-peterson-texas-high-school/751820/