Commercial tenant improvements across California: the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Sacramento
What Is a Tenant Improvement Allowance (TIA)?
How landlords fund build-outs in California leases and how to negotiate a better allowance.
The basics
A tenant improvement allowance is money the landlord contributes toward your build-out, usually per rentable square foot, recovered through rent over the lease term.
What it covers
Construction nearly always qualifies; design, permits and project management often do. Furniture, cabling and signs depend on the lease.
Turnkey or allowance
Turnkey deals put cost risk on the landlord; allowance deals give you control of design and construction.
Negotiating in California
- Price the build-out before negotiating.
- Ask the landlord to fund path-of-travel accessibility upgrades and HVAC replacement as base building work.
- Clarify what costs qualify.
- Ask about converting unused funds to rent credit.
Planning a build-out?
Tell us the address, the square footage and your target opening date. A project manager will call you back with next steps.
Common questions
Do not see your question? Call and talk to a tenant improvement project manager.
Is it free money?
No, it is recovered through rent.
Costs above the allowance?
Usually paid by the tenant.
Unused allowance?
Only usable for rent if the lease allows.
When is it paid?
During construction or at completion, per the lease.
Ready to build out your space?
Send the address, square footage and target opening date. A California project manager will walk the space and return a written estimate.
California Tenant Improvement builds out leased commercial space for offices, medical practices, retailers, restaurants and industrial tenants across California.
Services
- Tenant Improvement General Contractor
- Design, Space Planning & Permitting
- Commercial Demolition
- Commercial Concrete
- Framing, Drywall & Acoustic Ceilings
- Commercial Plumbing
- Commercial Electrical
- Commercial Lighting
- Commercial HVAC
- Fire Sprinklers & Life Safety
- Low Voltage & Data Cabling
- Commercial Security Systems
- Access Control
- Commercial Roofing
- Storefront & Glazing
- Commercial Flooring
- Millwork & Casework
- Painting & Wall Coverings
- Commercial Elevators
- Commercial Signage
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