How can a consultant in commercial real estate stay up-to-date with the latest trends?

1 Read industry publications

One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in commercial real estate is to read industry publications regularly. These include magazines, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, and reports that cover various aspects of the sector, such as news, analysis, forecasts, best practices, case studies, and opinions. Some examples of reputable and popular industry publications are NAIOP's Development Magazine, CCIM Institute's Commercial Investment Real Estate Magazine, SIOR's Professional Report, and ULI's Urban Land Magazine. You can also subscribe to online platforms that aggregate and curate content from multiple sources, such as Bisnow, The Real Deal, and GlobeSt.

3 Attend industry events

A third way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in commercial real estate is to attend industry events that showcase the latest innovations, research, and best practices in the field. These events can range from local meetups and workshops to regional conferences and trade shows. They can help you learn from experts, interact with peers, discover new opportunities, and gain insights into the current and future state of the market. Some examples of notable and relevant industry events are the SIOR World Conference, the CCIM Thrive Conference, the ULI Fall Meeting, and the NAIOP CRE.Converge.

4 Follow thought leaders

A fourth way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in commercial real estate is to follow thought leaders who share their knowledge, experience, and opinions on various topics and issues related to the industry. These thought leaders can be individuals or organizations that have established credibility and authority in the field, such as consultants, brokers, investors, developers, analysts, researchers, or educators. You can follow them on social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or on their personal or professional websites, blogs, podcasts, or newsletters.

5 Engage with clients and prospects

A fifth way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in commercial real estate is to engage with your clients and prospects regularly and actively. By listening to their needs, challenges, goals, and feedback, you can gain valuable insights into their expectations, preferences, and behaviors. You can also identify emerging trends, opportunities, and threats in the market, as well as potential areas of improvement or innovation for your services. You can engage with your clients and prospects through various channels, such as email, phone, video, chat, or face-to-face meetings.

6 Experiment with new tools and technologies

A sixth way to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in commercial real estate is to experiment with new tools and technologies that can enhance your productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness as a consultant. These tools and technologies can help you automate, streamline, or optimize various tasks and processes, such as data collection, analysis, visualization, presentation, communication, collaboration, or decision making. Some examples of emerging and innovative tools and technologies in the industry are artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, virtual reality, augmented reality, and drones.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?