In most leadership conversations about return on investment, real estate is treated like background noise. It sits in the “cost of doing business” category, managed by lease renewals, landlord relationships, and transactional brokers. The focus is on keeping costs down, not on creating value.  This way of thinking leaves a massive amount of potential untapped. ...Read More

In our last article, we outlined the four returns of strategic real estate thinking: financial, operational, cultural, and risk. This is where we shift from why to how and get specific about what leaders can do to capture those returns inside their own organizations.  Strategic real estate thinking is not about reacting to market opportunities....Read More

For those of us in the commercial real estate industry, success is often measured by the transaction process. Site selection, the contract, the closing and then the ceremonial LinkedIn photo of the broker shaking hands with the client. But for business leaders focused on long-term growth, the moments between the transactions carry the most weight. ...Read More

At Helm, we operate from a simple premise: real estate reveals the thinking behind a business. Strong strategy shows up in how space is selected, financed, designed, and used. Weak strategy does too. That’s why the most valuable skill for anyone guiding real estate decisions—especially a Director of Real Estate—is the ability to think like...Read More

In volatile markets, there’s a saying worth remembering: It’s a tough time to make new friends. When conditions get uncertain—when interest rates jump, supply chains snap, or a new regulation upends your five-year plan—you don’t want to be surrounded by strangers. You want trusted partners who’ve been on the ride with you, who know the...Read More

Selecting real estate isn’t just about cost per square foot. It’s about aligning your physical footprint with your operational needs, brand values, and culture. At Helm, we’ve seen too many companies treat site selection like speed dating: fast, shallow, and based on surface-level attraction. The result? Mismatched space, underutilized assets, and frustrated teams.  Here are...Read More

In corporate real estate, the phrase “workplace experience” often gets lost in a fog of platitudes. But strip away the buzzwords and you’re left with something vital: the lived, daily reality of your people. It’s how they move through a space, collaborate across teams, interact with tools and technology, and—critically—whether that space fuels or frustrates...Read More

In an environment defined by uncertainty—tariffs rising, interest rates seesawing, and geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains—real estate strategy can’t be reactionary. Companies that wait for clarity before making decisions often find themselves paying a premium for indecision.  A proactive approach to real estate isn’t just about risk avoidance. It’s about using real estate as a...Read More

In volatile markets, there’s a saying worth remembering: It’s a tough time to make new friends. When conditions get uncertain—when interest rates jump, supply chains snap, or a new regulation upends your five-year plan—you don’t want to be surrounded by strangers. You want trusted partners who’ve been on the ride with you, who know the...Read More

For many companies, real estate is the second-largest expense after payroll—yet it often gets treated as an afterthought. Decisions about leases, locations, and long-term strategy are made reactively instead of strategically, leading to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. Most companies that take real estate seriously have a Director of Real Estate (DRE)—an expert who ensures...Read More