Earlier this year, Christina Martin was hired by EDGE Commercial Real Estate, a regional full-service commercial real estate services firm, to head up and take the company’s property management division to its potential. She was formerly President of Investment Properties, a local company involved with asset and construction management as well as development services, where she was associated since 2003.Martin is a Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) and Certified Property Manager (CPM) and past-President and current Board Member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Shepherd University.
Q. What prompted you to make the move to EDGE Commercial Real Estate?
A. The EDGE platform provides property owners with an all-inclusive suite of commercial real estate services and I was attracted by the opportunity to apply my leadership skills to this division and work side-by-side with a highly respected commercial real estate team that places a high value on teamwork. Every action taken and service provided by EDGE is results-oriented to positively impact an owner’s bottom line. We focus intently on managing expenses which, in turn, creates increased value.
Q. Describe the primary selling point of the property management division.
A. Most definitely our personalized approach to management. Since we are a boutique and independent firm, we do not have to adhere to a strict set of guidelines and are not trapped in a box. Rather, we are flexible and can customize all of our services to meet with the owner’s needs and goals. This offers the most efficient and cost-effective performance and provides owners and investors exactly what they need. Because EDGE is market-connected, our clients are benefitted by the latest industry information and technology buying power. In addition, our size and community-entrenched philosophy enables us to focus more intently on the needs of each client and allow us to be more agile.
Q. Property management is a commodity-based proposition, correct?
A. Not in my view. While it is true that most peer companies offer the same basic menu of capabilities, structure and approach are differentiating points. At EDGE, we can offer a partnership with individualized services completely structured to the owner’s needs. EDGE is also comprehensive in that all of the owner’s needs can be met with one company- management, leasing, investment services and advisory services. One stop shopping if you will. Given our local ownership we will always work intimately with our clients and provide timely, insightful and pro-active asset management solutions. EDGE is fully-integrated with no management bureaucracy and a higher level of commitment than our peer group.
Q. Tell me about the EDGE Property Portal.
A. The portal is designed as a single-source on-line place where owners can visit to access all information about their property. It houses all work orders, building plans, leases, emergency procedures, HVAC PM schedules and more.
Q. What are your immediate plans for the division?
A. To work with the EDGE partners to invest every necessary resource to build this division to rival any in the Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia region, utilizing a model that emphasizes relationship building and value-add services. This market is consistently among the healthiest real estate sectors in the country, and we have demonstrated that our ears-to-the-ground and nimble approach to solving complex real estate challenges resonates with real estate owners and landlords.”
EDGE Commercial Real Estate is a commercial real estate firm providing a full complement of advisory, leasing, investment sales and management services to clients with real estate holdings throughout the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia marketplace. Founded in 2007, the company currently leases and manages more than 8.5 million square feet of commercial office, flex/office, industrial/warehouse, retail and mixed-use space. EDGE operates offices in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, PA. Visit www.edgecre.com
