Capabilities

Highwood, working with the local brokerage community, provides a comprehensive comparative market analysis to forecast how our development project will effectively compete on (i) transportation and labor, (ii) base rent, and (iii) operating expenses and taxes. Additionally, detailed project budgets and asset valuations are prepared to forecast likely returns on invested capital. 

 When reviewing possible industrial sites for investment and development, Highwood carefully analyzes the inbound and outbound transportation costs for our targeted tenants as well as comparative labor costs to determine if the location will be a value-add to our customers relative to competing developments. Additionally, we carefully review the costs to develop the site and the building to determine if we have a probable cost advantage over competing sites. Lastly, we perform comprehensive due diligence to assure our ability to develop the project as forecasted.

Highwood performs a comprehensive review of required entitlements such as zoning, PUD approvals, and off-site infrastructure requirements. Importantly, we professionally and aggressively work with local, state and federal governmental entities to determine what programs may be available to offset or lower costs such as tax increment financing programs, use of private activity bonds, and more.

 Comprehensive and accurate forecasting of project budgets is essential when developing land and pursuing speculative and build to suit development opportunities. By utilizing highly experience architects, engineers, and general contractors, Highwood is able to efficiently develop competitive project budgets that will be used in determining net base rent in our response to request for lease proposals.

With competitive and accurate project budgets, Highwood utilizes both market knowledge and the capital markets teams of the major brokerage firms to underwrite the forecasted capital costs and returns for a build to suit or speculative development. Importantly, Highwood provides comprehensive and professional responses to request for lease proposals that often times results in winning the business from the prospective tenant.

Highwood is highly experienced in lease agreement negotiations and documentation. By thoroughly understanding the ‘market’ for various lease provisions and the ‘requirements of the capital markets, we effectively navigate the challenges in negotiating a quality lease agreement with prospective tenants.