What Brokers Need From a TI Contractor to Keep Deals Moving

A deal can stall waiting on a TI cost estimate just as easily as it can stall on lease terms. Brokers need a GC who turns around accurate numbers fast, not a contractor who takes weeks to price a scope.

For a broker, tenant improvement scope and cost are often the last piece holding up a deal — the landlord and tenant need real numbers to finalize the TI allowance and lease terms, and every day that estimate takes is a day the deal isn't closed.

What brokers should look for in a TI contractor relationship

• Fast turnaround on preliminary scope and cost estimates to support active negotiations.
• Reliable follow-through once a deal closes — the estimate has to hold up once construction actually starts.
• A contractor who communicates directly and clearly with both landlord and tenant, not just one side.
• A track record of hitting the timelines quoted during negotiation, so your next deal with the same client goes just as smoothly.

The brokers who close TI-dependent deals fastest usually have one or two contractor relationships they trust for quick, accurate numbers — instead of shopping a new GC for every deal.