ORANGE COUNTY, CA—Boutique property-management firms remain independent asset-services providers and thus hire and manage best-in-market teams that are not tied to other in-house counterparts, ensuring independence, Unire Real Estate Group's VP, client services, Griffin Cogorno tells GlobeSt.com. Cogorno maintains that boutique firms like his are gaining momentum and recognition alongside the larger companies. We spoke to him about the benefits of working with boutique property-management firms and how they differ from other types of companies.

GlobeSt.com: What types of personalized services are companies seeking from property managers?

Cogorno: The commercial real estate business model is changing as our asset managers and owners work to minimize expenses and maximize the value of their portfolios. We do not feel that an asset-services company should be a one-size-fits-all platform. We constantly work with our clients to customize services in order to meet their needs and those of their tenants. In order to make sure tasks are completed correctly the first time around, many companies are seeking small, super-efficient teams with senior level review on everything in order for their services to be completed correctly the first time. Just like in all facets of life in the 21^st Century, companies are looking for their lives to be made easier with customized solutions that fit their model but may be different than another. For this reason, our team at Unire Group crafts a customized plan for each client that fits their individual timelines and needs. Clients are looking for partners, and that is exactly how our team at Unire views each one. It's a hands-on approach and a more personalized relationship that is being sought in order to maximize their returns.

GlobeSt.com: How are boutique firms providing these services?

Cogorno: The market continues to grow dramatically since the last downturn, and most of the larger full-service real estate companies have been buying market share and market competitors to diversify their suite of services and revenue. This doesn't necessarily serve the client's best interest in each sub-market. Boutique firms like Unire Group remain independent asset services providers, thus hire and manage best-in-market teams that are not tied to other in-house counterparts. This independence ensures we develop relationships with the best vendors, brokers, developers, etc., in each market, so we can leverage those relationships based on each client's need.

GlobeSt.com: What else are boutique firms doing to distinguish themselves from other types of property management companies?

Cogorno: I think if you were to ask our clients what the Unire Group team does to differentiate ourselves from larger competitors, it would be that we do what we say we are going to do, and have it done when we say it will be done. We craft our client reporting and services uniquely to their internal timelines and schedules. We are consistently doing asset tours with our clients and brokerage teams to keep ahead of the market. Our entire organization is involved with the assignments. Even our accountants go on property tours and work with our property managers on property-level items. We also feel that it remains vastly important to have our accountants and property managers in the same office. We want our accountants to ask questions about specific line items to our property managers. Communication and collaboration are big for us, especially as we continue to grow. We have grown from 28 million square feet to more than 40 million square feet in less than two years with an exciting 2017 on the horizon, and we owe that to the relationships we maintain with our clients. Our leadership team provides a fantastic work environment and work product that enables us to continue to be very successful within this very competitive marketplace. The market continually ebbs and flows, and we feel that a more hands-on approach is going to be essential over the course of the next five years.

GlobeSt.com: What types of personalized services are companies seeking from property managers?

GlobeSt.com: How are boutique firms providing these services?

GlobeSt.com: What else are boutique firms doing to distinguish themselves from other types of property management companies?

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Why Choose a Boutique Property-Management Firm?

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