CHICAGO—Tenants who only need a small amount of space have probably always struggled to get enough attention from real estate brokers, but officials from Truss, a new start-up in Chicago, say their new platform will help startups and small and medium-sized business quickly find office space with very little fuss.

“Our sweet spot will be in the 1,000 to 5,000 square foot range,” Bobby Goodman, Truss co-founder, tells GlobeSt.com, although the firm will also help larger groups. The difficulty these firms frequently run into is that for brokers, the amount of work they have to put in “won't vary that much between a 2,000 square foot and a 20,000 square foot lease.” But the amount of money they will earn is different.

“I won't say the smaller firms fall through the cracks,” he adds, “but they fall down the list of brokers' priorities.” If, for example, a broker team of between four and ten people completes a 2,000 square foot deal, “each person can go out and buy a Big Mac.”

The Truss platform, however, streamlines the whole process so small companies can locate appropriate spaces in minutes rather than weeks. Truss already has about 80% of Chicago's spaces on their platform, a percentage that continues to increase, and this will help automate many of the mundane, day-to-day tasks that accompany the leasing process. This will also free up broker teams and allow them to “really give their small clients the attention they deserve.”

“The ultimate goal is to have all of Chicago's landlords on the platform,” says Goodman. Tenants using Truss find offices by answering simple questions on their needs from a chatbot named Vera, including the amount of space needed, budget constraints, desired lease terms, and other factors. Users then get a list of offices ranked according to what best fits their needs. “They can then shortlist their choices and book a tour,” all within minutes. A Truss team member will meet the tenant on site to provide a tour and answer questions.

Truss also reviews each lease proposal submitted by the landlord to make sure that the proposed lease accurately reflects the agreed upon lease terms. Once finalized, tenants can execute the negotiated lease documents on the platform.

The platform also supports 3D virtual tours, allowing prospective renters to explore properties as if they have physically stepped foot inside the space itself, all without a flurry of phone calls or emails. Truss also provides dimensioned floor plans and property brochure PDFs, which include information about nearby retail and dining options, as well as parking availability.

Goodman says there were attempts to create similar systems in the late '90s and early '00s, but the “technology wasn't there yet.” Another change in the culture of the real estate world that helped Truss get started was “that people are more willing to provide data.” The service was originally supposed to be just for the CBD, but suburban landlords have been clamoring to get their available offices on Truss.

Truss already has about two dozen clients using the platform, Goodman adds, “and we just turned the lights on.”

Instant Insights /

Truss Begins Service for Startups and SMB

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