We were approached by Postal Advisory to negotiate a lease with the USPS. I’m new to this. What questions should I be asking? Does anyone have experience using Postal Advisory?
Property Manager · Western Pa · Member since 2026 · 4 posts · 1 vote
3w
I haven’t personally used Postal Advisory, but before moving forward, I’d ask how they’re compensated, whether the agreement is exclusive, what experience they have negotiating USPS leases, and for references from owners they’ve represented. I’d also want to understand exactly what they’re negotiating beyond rent, renewal terms, increases, maintenance responsibilities, improvements, taxes/insurance, and termination provisions can all affect the value of the lease. I’d definitely review their agreement carefully before signing anything. Curious to hear if anyone here has firsthand experience with them.
Coral Springs, FL · Member since 2018 · 464 posts · 95 votes
6d
i havent used postal advisory specifically but ive dealt with usps lease negotiations and there are a few things worth knowing.
usps is a credit tenant with basically zero default risk, which sounds great but it also means they negotiate like the government they are. slow, bureaucratic, and they have all the leverage on renewals because moving a post office is a whole political thing. so the real question isnt just what rent can you get, its what happens at option exercise and whether youre giving up too much flexibility.
the fee structure on these services is usually a percentage of whatever savings or rent increase they negotiate. sounds aligned but it can create weird incentives. like they might push for higher rent but agree to concessions elsewhere that cost you more long term, like extended option terms or maintenance shifts. make sure you understand what theyre authorized to agree to on your behalf.
before signing anything with them, ask who actually has final approval on lease terms. if they can bind you without your sign-off, thats a problem. also ask how many usps leases theyve actually closed, not just how many theyre working on. the difference between those two numbers tells you everything.
one more thing — usps leases often have clauses about building modifications and compliance costs. make sure whoever is negotiating understands the physical condition of your building and whats in the current lease about capital improvements. usps will try to push hvac, roof, accessibility upgrades onto the landlord during renewal. if your negotiator doesnt catch that, you could end up with a better rent but a massive capex bill.
Thank you for your replies. They are very informative. We are moving forward with a consult on lease negotiation, but not with Postal Advisory. I will update as I learn more about the experience of dealing with consultants on USPS lease negotiations.