Interview ...
Kevin Travers - President - Comro.com

PikeNet 2000 / Apr 5-7, 2000 / San Francisco

Background ... Kevin Travers, president of Comro.com, Commercial Realty Online, responded to three e-mailed questions on Oct 23, 1999. Below is an edited version of the interview. Comro.com is a nationwide Internet marketing service headquartered in Chicago. Comro.com's customers include Arden Realty, Prime Realty Group, ProLogis, RREEF and TrizecHahn.

Pike: What is your business model? Who pays? How much?

Travers: Owners and/or agents subscribe to an annual agreement for each property. ... The specific fee is dependent on the property type (office, industrial, or retail) and its vacancy -- to account for the differences in the respective asset values and leasing needs. The specific subscription fees range from $250 to $1,000 annually per building.

Pike: Is Comro.com's listing information equally available to both brokers and tenants?

Travers: Comro.com was originally developed in 1995 as a Bulletin Board System specifically targeted to service the commercial brokerage community in Chicago. As the Internet evolved and became more widely used, we recognized that we could better serve our clients and broaden the exposure of their properties by becoming a Web site -- which we did in early 1998. Now, the online delivery of information that we provide on behalf of our clients further empowers brokers and tenants alike.

Pike: How does listing information move between an owner and Comro.com?

Travers: The owner, or their leasing agent, provides the property information to us. However, we will not put a property online until we have all of the required information that meets our minimum standards. In terms of data maintenance, we have created a systematic process that prompts them to update us on the status of their properties at a minimum of every 60 days. They also have the ability to update us online, if they want to be pro-active in their responsibilities. Their active participation and commitment to Comro.com ensures more accurate and timely information on their respective properties.

--Peter