Survive, Stabilize and Thrive – CRE Coronavirus Impact

March 26 , 2020

Over the last week we have seen unprecedented actions to attempt to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on us and give our health care system the ability to support us during this crisis. As a result, it has affected our normal day to day activities, resulted in the closure of all non-essential businesses and has presented the businesses that do remain open with many challenges. It has morphed into a longer lasting and more intense shutdown of activities throughout the country. As of this writing, there is still a lot of uncertainty that all of us must undergo. For our businesses, we must evaluate how we survive, then stabilize and then thrive once we get through these unprecedented times.

Our Real Estate Group, David DeMuth, John Kovacs, Mark Sloan and Mario Tamasi have extensive experience in the CRE industry each in varying degree. Please feel free to visit our website at www.cfoconsultingpartners.com to see our background and experiences.

Real estate owners have had to endure interruptions in their cashflow as a result of various prior events and as everyone knows the Coronavirus event will be the same. With all the information that has come out about the impact, a leadership roadmap should have the following themes:

1. Communication to employees, tenants, BOD, and stakeholders
2. Business operations continuity to Survive and Stabilize
3. Financial planning adjustments to operations and processes
At this point, many tenants are looking to survive and stabilize. The strength of a property’s cashflow is its current tenants. If they are having issues, then the real estate owners will feel the pressure on cashflow and making mortgage payments and operating expenses.
The following are various specific actions to consider:
a) Review current lines of credit capacity. If needed, begin discussions with lenders to increase or provide new line of credit.
b) Review collateral which may be needed for additional sources of financing.
c) Review current working capital and financial liquidity.
d) Setup best practices for tenant request for rent relief (i.e., require current financial information, forecasts, etc.).
e) Consider requests from tenants for rent relief and model appropriately.
f) Maintain transparency with lenders on lease restructures, temporary suspension or modification of debt payments, etc.
g) Refer tenants to the federal and state websites which may assist them during this time.
h) Review federal and state programs which may assist you as Landlord.
i) Review insurance policies for coverage as a result of COVID-19.
j) Increase monitoring of accounts receivable and cash receipts.
k) Implement weekly cashflow analysis for impacted properties.
l) Take realistic steps to increase cashflow and reduce expenses.
m) Review additional costs in connection with maintaining Common Areas of properties under federal guidelines concerning Coronavirus.
n) Review Proptech for reducing property costs such as energy costs, etc.
o) Refinance existing loans with lower rate, long term loans.
p) With any changes to cashflow, develop revised cashflow budgets and forecasts for the overall organization.

q) For some property types, consider the repositioning of idle properties, and consider use as medical facilities to assist authorities in providing medical services and testing.

Most of you as CRE owners are aware of the above and these are reminders during these unprecedented times. Our tenants, vendors, and the public need to survive, stabilize and then we will all thrive as we are all in this together.

If CFO Consulting Partners can help your organization with additional support and skill sets of experienced real estate professionals, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We hope your families, employees, and colleagues remain safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.

Mark Sloan, Director — msloan@cfoconsultingpartners.com
Mario Tamasi, Director – mtamasi@cfoconsultingpartners.com