The Worcester, MA retail property market is ripe for investors, but as we touched on last week realizing the expected returns is all about execution and superior property management. So what’s helping to fuel the local market now, and how much of a difference can the right property management company make?

Retail store earnings have been rising and forecasts call for more of the same. The next couple of months of sales and holiday shopping are likely to boost these figures even further.

The new Siguler Guff report also highlights a further surge in investment in secondary market areas like Worcester which will boost property values and total returns for commercial real estate investors. Publishers of the report comment that secondary markets are not only delivering higher yields and capital gains potential, but make for safer investments today than hot primary markets.

Still it’s all about execution. This is just as important for cash flow and high yield seeking investors as it is for those simply desiring wealth preservation. If you don’t shoot to maximize potential returns across the board they will surely come in shorter than expected. And who wants to be shelling out for negative cash flow in today’s market?

So how can the right Worcester property management company make that difference?

Few commercial real estate investors dream of handling their own property management. However, there is property management that simply covers the basics and does the minimum, and then there are those that take it to a whole new level. This doesn’t just mean full service providing bookkeeping, building maintenance and leasing, but looking for ways to fully maximize a retail property’s potential.

What you do with a retail property in the short term can make all the difference for the long term. The right positioning and marketing of the property as a whole can make a huge difference in the appeal to both shoppers and retailers. This determines occupancy rates, rental rates, the amount of traffic, investment income and investor profit. In the longer run it can even determine wider local property values which will come back to lift the investment (or pull it down if not done right).

There is also clearly a big difference in property management firms that really care about what they are doing and their client’s best interests, and protecting them. This is a really big deal in protecting wealth and realizing top end returns.

This definitely becomes cleat when it comes to leases. There is a dramatic difference between the different qualities of tenants out there, and given the length of commercial leases – how well they are written. The lease can either create huge value that constantly increases investor value or depreciates the investment. So choose your Worcester County retail property manager wisely.