With 2025 knocking at the door, things are looking up for commercial real estate (CRE) owners and property managers. While vacancies naturally climbed during the pandemic, reaching 16.9% in Q4 2023, we’re now seeing a drop in the number of unoccupied offices, according to Statista.
Still, filling vacancies doesn’t happen magically on its own. With competition increasing as more and more leasing offices vie for businesses’ attention, you’ll need to finesse your leasing strategies to boost occupancy rates. What worked before won’t necessarily work now as people shy away from traditional leasing arrangements in favor of flexibility and cost efficiency.
The good news is that with a few tweaks, your leasing efforts can help you boost occupancy rates fairly quickly, setting your property up for success in 2025 and beyond. Below are the top leasing strategies we recommend in the new year.
Embrace Flexible Leasing Models
The rigid, long-term leases of yesterday have morphed into flexible leasing models designed for today’s remote and hybrid work arrangements. Today’s businesses are seeking shorter leases and options to scale up or down depending on their evolving needs.
Tailored leasing agreements can allow CRE owners and managers to accommodate these demands in a tenant’s market while meeting their own revenue goals. Being flexible not only keeps current tenants happy but also can attract new ones, helping fill more vacancies.
Optimize Spaces for Hybrid Work
With a little creativity and versatility baked into your office spaces, you can fill more vacancies. Although many companies are bringing employees back to the office, hybrid work remains popular, with employees often splitting their time between the office and home.
As such, many businesses are rethinking their office layouts and prioritizing collaborative spaces over individual offices. This type of layout allows teams to come together in the office for meetings and brainstorming sessions and reserve focused work for home.
Offering coworking arrangements that include a mix of private offices and suites with shared amenities among multiple businesses is another savvy leasing strategy. The “office hoteling” model of allowing employees to reserve desks or meeting space instead of having dedicated workstations is growing in popularity.
Leverage Lead-Generating Websites
Research reveals that 80% of tenants turn to online searches to locate commercial properties, and more than half of them lease properties they found online. To capture the attention of these highly qualified prospects, property managers and owners need a solid lead-generating website in 2025.
As part of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy, a lead-generating website should:
- Highlight each property’s unique selling points.
- Include lead-capture elements like a contact form, chatbot, and calls to action — for example, a “Book a Tour” button.
- Offer virtual tours, professional photography, and clear descriptions of amenities.
- Have easy navigation and mobile responsiveness for those searching from their phones.
- Incorporate search-optimized content, meta descriptions, title tags, and other search-friendly elements.
“With tenants beginning their search online, a well-optimized, lead-generating website is critical for reaching the right audience at the right time,” says Nicole Wallach, Director of Marketing at inMotion Real Estate Media, which specializes in creating high-quality digital assets, such as 360-degree virtual tours, that engage prospective tenants and boost occupancy rates. “Property owners and managers who prioritize their digital presence and online engagement will see faster lease-up times and higher tenant satisfaction.”
Employ Other Digital Strategies
Along with a conversion-focused website, CRE properties need a strong social media marketing strategy. Showcasing properties on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn can help drive interest and awareness, boosting lead generation and leading to more signed leases.
In addition to posting regularly on these platforms, it’s important to engage with users — responding to their comments and messages and addressing any questions or concerns. Pairing this strategy with targeted ads can make social campaigns even more effective, allowing CRE owners and managers to get right in front of decision-makers.
Focus on Sustainability
Sustainability is increasingly a tenant magnet. In one survey, over half of respondents said green building certification, such as LEED and WELL, is a deciding factor in whether to lease a property, Sustainability Magazine reports. Key drivers behind these decisions include meeting public net-zero pledges and providing healthy spaces for employees.
In addition to green building certifications, tenants are looking for spaces that support walking and cycling, electric vehicle charging, smart technology use, on-site renewable energy, and green building clauses that encourage sustainable practices.
So, the more you can improve your property’s sustainability features, the more you can attract eco-minded tenants. Whether retrofitting existing properties or incorporating greener practices, owners can make their properties more appealing just by staying ahead of the sustainability curve.
Capitalize on Amenities
Most prospective tenants want more than just four walls and cubicles, particularly when trying to encourage remote workers to head into the office. Offering unique amenities that foster wellness, productivity, and a culture of community can help you attract businesses looking to provide greater work-life balance.
Some of the most coveted amenities for 2025 may include:
- Wellness rooms that allow employees to “check out” during breaks or take a few moments to reset and refocus their energies
- On-site fitness centers, cafes or coffee shops, and concierge services like dry cleaning and car washing
- Kitchens or lounge areas built for collaboration and connection, with snacks, coffee, and plenty of comfy seating
- Proximity to local attractions, such as restaurants, museums, nightlife, and outdoor recreation
These types of lifestyle-driven amenities can help you attract premium tenants seeking work environments that make going to work enjoyable for leaders and workers alike.
Prepare for a Strong 2025
The past few years have been trying for CRE property owners, but we’re seeing the tides shift as we approach 2025. With the right strategies, owners and managers can fill more vacancies while meeting the needs of modern tenants.
Written in partnership with Tom White.
