For example, companies are now exploring different areas of Manhattan that were previously considered unacceptable both from an image and location standpoint. This is beginning to change, however, as buildings in fringe areas go through extensive renovations and are attracting noteworthy companies.

A perfect example of this is West Chelsea, west of Eighth Avenue in the high teens and the low- to mid-twenties. A tenant representative advises its clients which buildings are being upgraded and which would best meet their needs.

Second, some companies cannot exhibit flexibility in considering "alternative" locations. Due to the nature of their business, they are confined to a very specific area where there may be little or no available space. The tenant representative in this tight market will have to use his resources and in-depth knowledge of the marketplace to create a space for his client, before it even comes on the market. This can be achieved by uncovering any similar size companies that are planning to move out of their space early; in this case, the tenant can pick up the remaining lease term or structure a deal directly with the landlord.

If the tenant is a credit-worthy company with a very large space requirement, it can be helpful for the tenant representative to discuss with a landlord the possibility of relocating or "shuffling" existing tenants within a landlord's portfolio to create a large block of space.

Once the tenant representative has been successful in selecting a site for his tenant, he must enter the negotiating process (while preventing a bidding war) and skillfully and quickly close the deal.

Finally, it should be emphasized that planning a move in today's overly tight real estate climate - whether it's large or small - will require intense strategic planning and the implementation of creative solutions by the tenant representative.