Why We’ll Say No to a Deal

Everyone wants to talk about the next hot space. The glossy new build. The “perfect” location. The property that’s supposed to guarantee foot traffic, visibility, and success.

But when you’re looking at all the exciting new spaces out there, it’s easy to forget: real estate doesn’t build a business. A strong strategy does.

And while some real estate firms are quick to steer clients into spaces that look good (and conveniently generate a hefty commission check), we take a different approach. At CityPlat, we dig into your business model first, before we ever talk about square footage or site selection. 

Because a pretty space that doesn’t support your operations, well, that’s just a liability with nice lighting.

When someone comes to us looking for space, our first question isn’t “What’s your budget?”—it’s “How does your business work?” We want to understand how you make money, how you grow, what your pain points are, and where you’re headed. Because if we don’t understand that, we’ve got no business helping you pick a property.

We’re not here to rack up transactions. We’re here to make sure your space aligns with how your business actually works.

Our team has run restaurants, scaled tech companies, traded stocks, practiced dentistry, and lived the grind of entrepreneurship. We’ve been on the other side of the table. We know firsthand what it’s like to run a business, make rent, manage payroll, navigate downturns, find the sweet spot between growth and grit. 

That diverse background of experience is what allows us to show up and advise with a business-first mindset.

It’s why we ask better questions and challenge assumptions. And when a deal looks great on paper but doesn’t align with the client’s long-term vision, we’re not afraid to advise them to walk away.

Your space should support your growth, not slow it down. And if we see any red flags, we’d rather pass on a commission than watch you sign a lease that tanks your business.

That means if we think a space is too expensive for your business model, we’ll tell you.

If the location has great foot traffic but doesn’t fit your customer base, we’ll tell you.

If the layout looks shiny but won’t actually function for your team, you guessed it, we’ll tell you.

At CityPlat, we’re not here for a quick win. We’re here to help you win long-term. So if you’re looking for someone to blindly nod and push a flashy listing, that’s not us. But if you want a partner who thinks like a business owner and plays the long game with you—let’s talk. Reach out to CityPlat and let’s start with the questions that matter.

-G aka the Anti-Bullsh*t Broker