Some of the best commercial property investments have problems. But buy the wrong problem, and it could cost you a fortune.

Perhaps you've spotted a commercial property that's been sitting on the market for months. The rent is low, the building needs work or the tenant situation looks complicated.

Is that a fantastic investment opportunity that everyone else has overlooked? Or is there a very good reason nobody wants to buy it?

Knowing the difference is one of the most important skills you can develop as a commercial property investor.

In this episode of The Commercial Property Podcast, I explain why I actively look for properties with problems — but only the right sort of problems!

An under-rented building, a short lease, poor management or an opportunity to subdivide might be something we can solve, creating value in the process.

But what if the real problem isn't the building at all?

What if there's simply no tenant demand, the local economy is declining or the property is becoming obsolete?

You can often solve a problem with a building. But you probably can't solve a problem with the market in which it sits.

Drawing on over 30 years in commercial property, I'll share how I distinguish opportunities from expensive mistakes, the questions I ask before investing and why a cheap property isn't necessarily a good deal.

• The problems I love buying. How under-rented properties, short leases, vacant units and poor asset management can create opportunities to add value.

• The problems I'd run a mile from. Why declining occupational demand, structural oversupply and changing market fundamentals can be much harder to overcome.

• Why cheap doesn't mean good value. How to distinguish a motivated seller and an attractive price from a genuinely sound commercial property investment.

• Can you actually solve the problem? Why cost, timescale, control and the ability to deliver your strategy matter.

• Will the market reward you? How to research tenant demand, rental values and future saleability before spending money improving a building.

• The importance of having more than one exit. Why you should consider what happens if your original plan doesn't work.

And I'll share three questions I think every investor should ask before buying a commercial property with problems:

1. Can I actually solve this problem?

2. Can I solve it at a sensible cost and within a sensible timeframe?

3. Will the occupational and investment markets reward me for solving it?

Because the best opportunities aren't necessarily the prettiest buildings or the cheapest properties.

They're often properties with problems we can solve, in markets where the underlying demand is fundamentally sound.

Perhaps you're an experienced residential investor who understands property but isn't yet confident about what makes a good commercial deal.

Maybe you're a successful professional or business owner with capital to invest, but you're worried about making an expensive mistake in a market you don't fully understand.

Or perhaps you're already investing in commercial property and want to become better at recognising opportunities others miss.

You don't need to buy more properties. You need to know how to buy the right ones.

That's exactly what I help investors do through The Commercial Property Academy and my commercial property mentoring programmes.

From understanding tenant demand and choosing your niche to analysing leases, identifying value-add opportunities and assessing risk, I help you develop the knowledge and judgement to make better investment decisions.

Visit www.suzicarter.com to discover how I can help you find and assess commercial property opportunities with greater confidence.

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