Commercial Real Estate Leasing in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs

Leading Edge Realty Advisors provides commercial real estate leasing for landlords and tenants in Glenview, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg and nearby northwest suburbs. We lease retail, office and industrial space. We are a small team of three led by Chris Demas, MBA, CCIM, the Designated Managing Broker, and we own commercial property ourselves, so we read a lease the way an owner does.

Whether you have space to fill or need space for your business, you work directly with the people handling your deal.

Landlord representation

We help owners fill vacant space and keep good tenants in place.

  • Pricing. We set asking rents and terms against current market rents for your property type and submarket.

  • Marketing. We market the space to prospective tenants and to other brokers through the MLS, LoopNet, Crexi, signage, our broker network and direct outreach.

  • Prospect screening. We qualify prospects before you spend time on them.

  • Negotiation and documentation. We negotiate rent, term, improvements and other lease terms, and coordinate lease drafting with your attorney.

  • Renewals. We start renewal conversations well before expiration so you do not lose a good tenant by default.

  • Management connection. If you also want day-to-day operation of the building, see our commercial property management page.

Tenant representation

We help businesses find space that fits and negotiate the lease.

  • Defining your needs. Size, location, parking, visibility, build-out and budget.

  • Search and tours. We identify available space, schedule tours and compare options side by side.

  • Negotiation. We negotiate rent, term, concessions and tenant improvements on your behalf.

  • Lease review. We walk through the lease terms with you and coordinate review with your attorney before you sign.

  • Move-in coordination. We help keep the process on schedule through lease execution and move-in.

Space types we lease

  • Retail: storefronts, strip centers and mixed-use ground-floor space. See our retail property management page for how we operate retail buildings.

  • Office: small and mid-size office, medical office and professional suites.

  • Industrial: flex, warehouse and light industrial space.

How leasing works with us

  1. Needs and pricing. For landlords, we review the space and set pricing. For tenants, we define requirements and budget.

  2. Marketing or search. We market the vacancy, or we search for space that meets the tenant's criteria.

  3. Tours and prospects. We show the space and screen interested parties.

  4. Proposal or letter of intent. We negotiate the business terms before lease drafting begins.

  5. Lease. Your attorney drafts or reviews the lease. We coordinate the negotiation to execution.

  6. Move-in or turnover. We coordinate delivery of the space and next steps.

Why Leading Edge

  • Small team, direct access. You work directly with Chris Demas, the principal and Designated Managing Broker, and a team of three, not a call center.

  • We own property too. We make decisions as owners, with attention to ROI and long-term value.

  • Landlord and tenant experience. We represent both sides of the market in different deals, so we know what each side needs from a lease.

  • Leasing and management under one roof. The team that leases your space can also manage the building.

  • Local knowledge. Our city pages use current market data for each suburb.

  • BBB Accredited, A+ rated.

  • Clear fees. Fees depend on the assignment and are set out in a written agreement.

Where we work

Talk to us

Call (847) 868-5745 or contact us. Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-12pm.

Chris Demas, MBA, CCIM, Designated Managing Broker
Leading Edge Realty Advisors, 2516 Waukegan Road #308, Glenview, Illinois 60025
Illinois license 471.019127

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you represent tenants as well as landlords?

Yes. We represent landlords who have space to lease and tenants who are looking for space, on different transactions.

What types of space do you lease?

Retail, office and industrial space, including storefronts, strip centers, mixed-use ground-floor retail, small and mid-size office, medical office, flex and warehouse.

Which areas do you cover?

Glenview, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg and nearby northwest Chicago suburbs.

What is the difference between NNN and gross leases?

In a triple net (NNN) lease, the tenant pays base rent plus a share of the property's taxes, insurance and common area maintenance (CAM). In a gross lease, the tenant pays one rent amount and the landlord covers most operating expenses. Many leases fall somewhere between the two, so we review exactly what each lease includes.

What is a CAM charge?

CAM stands for common area maintenance. It is a tenant's share of the cost to maintain shared areas such as parking lots, landscaping, lighting and snow removal. The lease defines what is included and how it is calculated and reconciled.

Can you also manage the building after it is leased?

Yes. Leasing and property management are handled by the same team. See our commercial property management page for details.

What do I need to start?

For landlords, the address, the available space, current lease terms if any, and your goals for the space. For tenants, your approximate size, preferred area, timing and budget. Call (847) 868-5745 and we will walk through the rest.