CHICAGO-Steinco Inc., based here, is now handling lease renewalsfor the US Postal Service in the Midwest. The government hired thecompany to reduce overhead and create more flexible terms for itsinterests in five states, including Illinois, Indiana andWisconsin.

The leases are for between 400 square feet to 25,000 squarefeet, and always for property already used by the post office. “Wethink next year we’ll do about 300 leases for the postal service,”says David Stein, managing principal of the company.

He said his firm has already handled a few of the renewals, andhas helped the organization save about 4.5% on average per lease.However, Stein tells GlobeSt.com that it’s not easy to convincelandlords that the government deserves a break. “Some landlords tryto take advantage that the postal service isn’t going anywhere. Wehave to tell them, for example, that no, the market rate is not $10per square foot, it’s $8 per square foot. It takes awhile to move apost office, but they have done it and will do it.”