Commercial properties — 5 simple sales hacks

November 21, 2018

Selling a commercial property can sometimes be trickier than shifting residential real estate.

Some of the same principles apply. But when you’re trying to convince a battle-hardened businessperson to part with their cash, your preparation and powers of persuasion will have to be on point.

If you’re struggling for inspiration, here are five simple sales hacks for commercial properties.

  1. Media

If your potential buyer doesn’t have time to view the property in person straight away, perk their interest by sending them the right media.

For example, if you invest in a 3D tour from a firm like Matterport, it can be emailed in seconds and enable your buyer to take a virtual walk-through in a couple of minutes.

This type of tech increases engagement and might even secure snap-decision sales from high-intent investors.

  1. Buyer pack

Preparing a buyer pack is a no-brainer if you want to close a deal quickly on commercial real estate.

It should include info on price, location and suitability and details of planning permission, business rates and stamp duty land tax, a commercial energy performance certificate and an asbestos certificate, if relevant.

Having this information at hand allows buyers to make an offer in confidence.

  1. Survey

Once the buyer has expressed an interest, you’ll need to provide an up-to-date survey which confirms the current condition of the property.

Without this information, the buyer won’t be confident that the building is in the same state of repair as advertised and they’ll need it to pass on to their commercial property mortgage provider.

You can find recommended commercial surveyors on the RCIS website — pick one that satisfies your requirements.

  1. Reassurance

If your buyer starts to swither over whether they’re making the right decision, you’ll have to step in and convince them subtly to stick to the plan.

So remind them they’ll benefit from the steady cashflow generated from long leases, that established commercial tenants are often more reliable than their residential counterparts and that they might grow their investment considerably if the property’s situated in an emerging business location.

Providing reassurance doesn’t mean applying pressure — it’s simply furnishing customers with friendly advice.

  1. Spring clean

When a client arrives at a prime property for a personal inspection, there’s nothing more off-putting than the place looking like a right royal mess.

And if it’s so unkempt that it barely resembles previous pictures or videos, you might even be accused of false advertising.

So buy an attractive entrance mat from a supplier like Kleen-Tex to create a presentable first impression and hoover, dust and polish all other areas thoroughly.

Sometimes tough tasks like selling a commercial property are made more complex when we over-think them — that’s why these five simple sales hacks will help you pitch your real estate to any investor.

That’s our list! Add your own sales suggestions in the comments section.

Christopher Walkey

Founder of Estate Agent Networking. Internationally invited speaker on how to build online target audiences using Social Media. Writes about UK property prices, housing, politics and affordable homes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Buying Alone? What Solo Buyers Need to Know Before Making an Offer on a House

Figures show that solo buyers accounted for 36.9% of Barclays’ mortgage completions in June 2026, as more people chose to step onto the property ladder without a partner beside them. Choosing independence over waiting for a joint purchase has doubled over the last 50+ years, with solo first-time buyers doubling from 15% before 1980 to…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

How to Make a New-Build Living Room Feel Less Like a Show Home

An empty new-build living room can be surprisingly difficult to furnish. The walls are freshly painted, the sockets are in place, and there is nothing to remove before decorating begins. Yet once the sofa arrives, the room can still feel unsettled: too bare in some places, awkwardly crowded in others. The answer rarely involves buying…
Read More →
Breaking News

Mortgage Borrowing Dip

Key points: Net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals decreased to £3.9 billion in September, from £4.2 billion in August, below the previous 6-month average of £4.9 billion. Net mortgage approvals for house purchases decreased to 53,400 in September, below an average of around 58,800 over the previous 6-months. Approvals for remortgaging increased to 42,600…
Read More →
Breaking News

Autumn Budget 2026: Property industry reaction

Following today’s Autumn Budget, reaction from property industry experts on six key areas for the property market. First-time buyer support: The £4.7bn Your First Home equity loan scheme, supporting 70,000 buyers, alongside the introduction of a new First Time Buyer ISA. Inflation and borrowing costs: The extension of the fuel duty freeze, household energy support…
Read More →
Breaking News

Can you legally BAN Halloween Trick or Treaters?

People who dread the annual knock of trick-or-treaters may have more power to keep Halloween callers away than they realise. As millions of children prepare to take to the streets on October 31, a property law expert has explained what homeowners can do if they do not want strangers walking up their path or knocking…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What the sector need to do differently to give first time buyers a chance

By Peter Hawley, Director, SOWN (part of LRG) The mortgage and property sector needs to stop assuming that younger buyers are either ready to buy outright or not ready at all. For many, the reality is somewhere in between. They may have stable employment, a deposit and a strong desire to own, but still find…
Read More →