Creating Value in Real Estate

Behringer Harvard’s team of real estate professionals is committed to creating value for our investors through the effective operation and management of our assets. In general, our efforts fall into three broad categories: increasing revenues, reducing operating costs while boosting efficiencies, and maximizing tenant retention and satisfaction. There can be no assurance that the objectives of any investment program will be achieved.

Increasing Revenues

• TELECOMMUNICATIONS: As a result of explosive growth in telecommunications, the demand for wireless antenna sites and fiber-optic points of presence creates thousands of new telecommunications locations. To take advantage of this, and with a strategic goal to enhance profits across our family of investment programs, Behringer Harvard has engaged a full-service telecommunications rooftop leasing and site management company, to help generate new revenue by licensing underutilized rooftop space to wireless communications carriers. 
• MODERN PARKING OPPORTUNITIES: Behringer Harvard aims to increase property revenues and value through the conversion of existing parking garage ticket and collection systems to modern digital technology. This type of conversion also has the potential to reduce operating expenses.

Reduce Operating Costs and Boost Operational Efficiencies

• ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Because energy consumption is the largest expense for commercial buildings, we engage in certain energy efficiency and environmental awareness efforts to help reduce costs, including participation in the ENERGY STAR program. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy, and the program is designed to protect the environment through energy efficient practices. The ENERGY STAR program offers a proven energy management strategy that benchmarks current energy performance, sets performance goals, tracks savings, and rewards improvements. Behringer Harvard's process is to benchmark all office properties against ENERGY STAR standards, and, when appropriate, applying for ENERGY STAR certification.
• ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Behringer Harvard has committed to reaching LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification on all new building construction. LEED certification is a green building rating system developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council that analyzes a building based on five criteria: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. Assets can also earn LEED EB (existing building) certification with environmentally friendly renovations, and we are reviewing a pilot program to apply LEED EB standards to our existing properties.
• BEST PRACTICES: For buildings that do not present the opportunity to apply for ENERGY STAR or LEED certification—such as historic assets—we look to a canon of best practices that allow for conservation of resources. Some of the actions that we have taken to ensure best practices are tenant recycling programs, installing low-water-flow faucets in kitchens and bathrooms, and implementing green cleaning services.
• RISK MANAGEMENT: By identifying and analyzing loss exposures, companies are able to outline steps to minimize the financial impact of the risks they impose. The risk management team at Behringer Harvard is committed to managing risks and minimizing any adverse impact of losses on the achievement of each investment’s objectives.
• AGGREGATION OF ASSETS: Behringer Harvard often seeks to acquire assets located in proximity to one another, allowing for operational efficiencies. Buildings concentrated together allow for reduced overall costs for personnel that can be allocated among all of the assets (engineers, maintenance technicians, administrative professionals, and property managers). Asset proximity also allows for combined maintenance and service contracts with outside vendors that can provide economies of scale. Furthermore, the opportunity to spread costs of conservation initiatives across greater square footage helps make certain green projects more economical.
• PROPERTY TAX: Because property taxes are often the largest component of operating expenses, it is vital to determine the validity of any assessed taxes. Our property tax manager is committed to establishing and maintaining relationships with industry leading tax consultants across the country to pursue fair property tax treatment for our portfolio of properties.

Maximizing Tenant Retention and Satisfaction

• ASSET LOCATIONS: In addition to the fact that concentrated square feet offers certain operational efficiencies, tenants benefit from an aggregation of buildings for several reasons: increased options for expansion space, greater potential to relocate tenants to meet other tenants’ needs, and ease of moving due to a greater availability of staging space that accommodates the logistics of construction on a tenant’s space.
• TENANT CARE AND AMENITIES: Behringer Harvard Management is focused on delivering attentive, responsive, detailed service to our tenants and guests. Through tenant service programs and our online work-order system called Workspeed, Behringer Harvard’s property management and engineering staffs are trained to provide the highest levels of service to our tenants. Behringer Harvard never stops working to ensure the delivery of our promise to make our buildings great places to live and work.
• GREEN EFFORTS: Behringer Harvard recognizes the importance of green efforts to existing and prospective tenants, and we are working on programs to help boost conservation practices in all of our buildings.

Featured Property

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