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 that every property decision supports business objectives, growth, and profitability. But here’s the problem:
- Hiring a full-time Director of Real Estate costs $171,000+ per year, plus benefits.
- Many companies don’t need a full-time DRE, but they do need the expertise.
- Traditional brokers are transactional, not strategic—they don’t function as an in-house real estate leader.
That’s where Helm comes in.
We are the only firm offering fractional Director of Real Estate services—a dedicated strategic partner who manages your entire real estate portfolio without the full-time salary.
Is your company ready for this next-level approach? Here are five clear signs that it’s time to bring in a Fractional Director of Real Estate.
1. Your Real Estate Decisions Are Reactive, Not Proactive
Most companies don’t plan their real estate strategy—they react to it. A lease comes up for renewal, and suddenly it’s a scramble to renegotiate. Expansion is on the horizon, and no one knows where to start. A landlord increases rent, and leadership is caught off guard.
Real estate should be aligned with business strategy—not something that happens to you.
Ask yourself: Does our leadership team have a clear, proactive real estate strategy that supports our business goals?
If the answer is no, you need a Fractional Director of Real Estate to:
- Develop a long-term real estate plan that aligns with growth and financial targets.
- Mitigate risks by anticipating lease renewals, market shifts, and expansion needs.
- Turn real estate into an asset, not just an overhead cost.
2. No One Owns Real Estate Strategy at the Executive Level
Real estate is one of your biggest financial commitments—yet in many organizations, no one at the executive level is truly responsible for managing it.
Instead, it gets split between departments:
- The CFO oversees costs but isn’t involved in site selection or negotiations.
- The COO manages operations but doesn’t have deep market expertise.
- HR cares about workplace experience but doesn’t control leasing decisions.
Without one person connecting these dots, real estate becomes a fragmented and inefficient function.
Ask yourself: Who in our company is truly responsible for ensuring that every real estate decision supports long-term business objectives?
If no one owns this at the executive level, a Fractional Director of Real Estate provides:
- Leadership and accountability, ensuring that real estate decisions align with business strategy.
- A single point of contact for CFOs, COOs, and HR teams.
- Consistent oversight to optimize leases, renegotiations, and expansions.
3. You’re Overpaying for Space (and Don’t Even Know It)
Most companies are leaving money on the table when it comes to real estate. Without a dedicated real estate strategist, they:
- Renew leases without renegotiating terms.
- Pay for excess space they don’t actually need.
- Fail to leverage incentives such as tax breaks, economic development funds, and tenant improvement allowances.
The result is hundreds of thousands—if not millions—of dollars lost over the course of a lease.
Ask yourself: Do we have a dedicated expert ensuring we’re not overspending on real estate?
A Fractional Director of Real Estate ensures:
- Every lease is aggressively negotiated for better terms.
- Your space is right-sized for today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth.
- You’re taking full advantage of cost-saving opportunities.
4. Your Workplace Doesn’t Reflect Your Business Goals
Your office, warehouse, or retail space isn’t just a place to work—it’s a strategic tool that impacts productivity, collaboration, and brand perception.
Yet many companies are stuck with spaces that no longer serve their needs:
- A growing company still operating in a space that limits expansion.
- A hybrid workforce paying for empty desks in an outdated office.
- A customer-facing business in a location that doesn’t match its brand.
Ask yourself: Does our real estate strategy support the way we work today and where we’re headed in the future?
A Fractional Director of Real Estate helps you:
- Align workplace strategy with business goals.
- Optimize space for productivity, collaboration, and hybrid work.
- Ensure every location reinforces your brand and culture.
5. You Have a Portfolio—But No Portfolio Strategy
Managing one lease is one thing. Managing multiple locations, leases, and asset types requires real expertise.
Without a dedicated portfolio strategy, companies:
- Miss key lease deadlines, leading to rushed and costly decisions.
- Fail to standardize lease terms, increasing complexity and risk.
- Struggle to scale operations, making expansion harder than it needs to be.
Ask yourself: Do we have a clear strategy for managing our entire real estate portfolio?
A Fractional Director of Real Estate:
- Centralizes portfolio management, bringing structure and oversight.
- Develops a clear strategy for growth, consolidation, and optimization.
- Ensures that every lease and property supports long-term business goals.
Is It Time for a Fractional Director of Real Estate?
If any of these five signs apply to your company, it’s time for a conversation. Let’s talk about how Helm can turn your real estate portfolio into a strategic asset.
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