5 days Ago
Our aging vehicles finally cried “uncle.”As someone with Scottish roots and a frugal mindset, I’ve always approached car buying with a specific formula: find a certified used vehicle, pay cash and drive it until the wheels practically fall off. That method has served us well over the years with a low cost-per-mile — but lately, the repair bills started stacking up.
It was time for a change.What followed was a multi-week odyssey of Autotrader scrolling, dealership visits and spirited discussions with my wife over the best powertrain option — gas, hybrid or electric. Due to a shortage of the car I originally wanted, we found ourselves walking into a Tesla showroom.
Fast-forward to today: we are officially Tesla owners. And while I could fill a separate column with thoughts about the vehicle itself, I was struck by how much the Tesla experience mirrors trends — and opportunities — within commercial real estate. Let me explain:Kicking the tiresCar shopping is not unlike the process tenants and buyers go through when sourcing new locations.
There’s a checklist of needs, emotional and financial considerations, and ultimately, the choice that best aligns with priorities. The more intuitive and guided that search is, the better the experience.Buying reimaginedGone are the cubicles, the “let me talk to my manager” routines, and the hours-long negotiations.
Tesla has engineered a customer journey that’s seamless—from the online order to the app-based updates to the five-minute pickup process. What if commercial real estate transactions were just as frictionless?CRE meets EVMany Tesla delivery centers and showrooms are in repurposed buildings — former big-box stores, warehouses, or auto dealerships. These adaptive reuses demonstrate that outdated space can be reimagined in bold, relevant ways.
This is a huge lesson for property owners with obsolete inventory.Tech differentiatorFrom the test drive to the paperwork, everything is tech-forward. Not just modern—elevated.
In CRE, we’re seeing the same trend: clients expect more digital tools, faster response times, and transparency. Firms that embrace smart tech—not just as a bolt-on, but as part of the DNA—will win.The future of commercial real estate isn’t just about location—it’s about experience, adaptability, and efficiency.
Just like Tesla rethought how we buy cars, maybe it’s time we rethought how we lease, sell, and manage properties.Allen C. Buchanan is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Estate Services in Orange.
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