57 Days from Listing Agreement to Tenant Possession in Jefferson Park
MARCH 25, 2026 | DENVER, CO
On January 15, we signed a listing agreement to lease 1,186 SF at 2931 W 25th Avenue, Suite 102, a ground-floor retail unit at Highland Hall in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood.
By March 13, a five-year lease was executed, and the tenant took possession.
Fifty-seven days, start to finish. For retail leasing, that's fast.
It's not the norm, but it's not luck, either. When a deal moves this efficiently, it usually comes down to a few things happening before a qualified prospect is ever identified, and an owner who stays engaged once they are.
The prep work came first
This owner takes pride in the property, as evidenced throughout our process. As the marketing package took shape, we collaborated on focused improvements, which ownership executed without delay. The space was cleaned, with traces of the prior tenant and signage removed. Systems and equipment were serviced, aging cabinetry was replaced, and outdated equipment was removed. Existing hair salon features were retained thoughtfully and refined for presentation. Photography, floor plans, area maps, and marketing copy were produced simultaneously.
The goal wasn't over-improvement or installing things a new tenant may not need or want. It was about alignment. We took steps to ensure the space's condition supported the asking rate and appealed to the high-quality, neighborhood-serving tenant we were targeting.
We launched the listing hard with email blasts, interactive signage, sponsored web placements, social media features, and a core list of target tenants and quality co-op brokers.
Once an LOI was in hand, ownership was engaged and easy to reach. We negotiated basic terms within ten days. The lease form had already been prepared, and once it was delivered to the tenant, we exchanged redlines and executed it quickly.
These steps may seem obvious, but in reality, many properties hit the market without them. We handle those listings, but this outcome speaks for itself: spaces ready for occupancy secure better tenants, faster and on stronger terms. The effort invested before a prospect arrives makes the difference.
For spaces requiring a build-out, the same principle applies. Having the landlord work letter ready, a clear summary of building systems, a firm tenant improvement budget, and base building plans available can significantly compress the timeline once a tenant is identified. This makes a big difference, since everyone will be waiting on the city to issue permits either way.
High-quality tenants come to a deal with a plan and evidence that they take pride in their operation. They expect the same from their landlords.
Beyond one transaction
Vacancy carries hard costs: operating expenses, debt service, and lost income, but there's a softer cost, too: staleness. As a space sits vacant, leverage shifts away from ownership, and comparable listings take the focus.
Preparation and engagement don't guarantee a 57-day outcome, but they consistently produce stronger starting lease rates, more qualified tenant interest, fewer concessions, and shorter vacancy periods. In a market where many comparable spaces sit for months, intentional early work can significantly change the result.
We can replicate this success
Not every owner has the time or appetite to manage that process internally. That's what Asset Positioning is designed to address. This service, which I recently formalized, is offered as part of our listing agreement for both lease and sale assignments. Asset Positioning enhances a property's market-readiness by overseeing all preparations, coordinating improvements, and creating marketing materials beyond standard brokerage offerings. By having properties fully prepared and presentation materials ready, owners benefit from less downtime, faster negotiations, and an easier lease or sale process when qualified prospects emerge.
If you have a property you're thinking about leasing or selling, this will be part of our conversation before it goes to market. Some listings need more help than others. No matter the scope, we have solutions in-house and within our network.
Over at Highland Hall, Good Practice, “a third space for people who are missing a safe place to use their imaginations,” will open this spring, down the block from another recent landlord placement, KaufCare, an urgent care concept led by Dr. Noah Kaufman.
Good Practice offers a space to “create with different mediums, work on in-progress artistic pursuits, take someone on a date, buy locally made art supplies, and lounge while looking through Art Books.” Follow them on Instagram to stay up to date on their series of upcoming pop-up events and impending opening.
Thank you to Ellen Cummings and Jacqueline Pisoni at Zall Company for representing the tenant. I represented the landlord, David Berton of Real Architecture. David is also the owner of 300 S Logan Street, where I had the pleasure of placing Neon Cowboy Cafe last year.
