Pre-leasing strategy for new estates: how to secure tenants before completion in 2025

Pre-leasing is no longer just a finance-friendly checkbox—it’s one of the most valuable development tools in a rising-cost, slower-decision market. In 2025, developers are operating in an environment where funding is harder to access, construction costs are higher, and tenants are more cautious. For commercial and industrial estates, locking in tenants before construction is complete—or even before it starts—can dramatically reduce risk, build confidence, and elevate long-term returns.
But pre-leasing isn’t about pushing an empty shell. It’s about showing value, functionality, and timing with precision. Whether you’re launching a multi-unit industrial precinct, a D&C-ready logistics warehouse, or a mixed-use commercial estate, the way you visualise and position your project before delivery has never mattered more.
This post explores the complete strategy for pre-leasing success: from asset readiness to tenant conversion.

Why pre-leasing is critical in 2025

There are five core reasons why pre-leasing is no longer optional:

• Finance and valuation pressure: Banks and capital partners want lease commitments as evidence of value and viability

• Build cost volatility: Fixed returns require income certainty to proceed confidently with construction contracts

• Lender approval and drawdowns: Many lenders won’t release funds or approve terms without pre-committed tenants

• Tenant hesitation: In uncertain markets, tenants prefer to plan 6–12 months ahead and expect space to be reserved

• Delayed leasing = delayed income: Without pre-leases, developers face post-completion marketing delays and holding costs
  The pre-lease is not just a leasing win—it’s a funding, marketing, and momentum win.

What pre-leasing looks like in the real world

Depending on your estate type, pre-leasing could take several forms:

• Design & Construct pre-commitment: Where tenant needs are incorporated into building design, often with leaseback or long-term rental agreements

• Multi-unit leasing campaign: Where 3–10 warehouse, trade or showroom units are marketed in parallel with flexible sizes and staged delivery

• Hybrid build-to-lease/build-to-sell: A model where larger units are pre-leased, and smaller ones are retained for strata sale post-construction

• Anchoring a new precinct: Securing one high-profile or high-value tenant to legitimise the estate and drive further interest
  Each scenario needs tailored messaging, visuals, and timing—but the principles are the same.

The building blocks of a successful pre-leasing campaign

Your strategy needs to do three things:

1. Show the vision

2. Communicate confidence

3. Offer flexibility
   Let’s break this down.

Visualisation: give tenants something they can see

Most tenants aren’t property developers—they won’t read plans or translate elevations. They need to see what they’re leasing.
Your visual toolkit should include:

• Aerial 3D renders showing access, orientation, vehicle flow, and scale

• Ground-level 3D renders of buildings, car parks, office entries, signage, and truck movement

• Floorplan overlays that show available tenancies in colour with m² labels

• Spec sheets for each tenancy (power, clearances, doors, office size, mezzanine options)

• Fit-out potential illustrations to show what’s possible
  Without this, you’re marketing lines on a page. With it, you’re marketing confidence.

Messaging and staging: speak to the right tenant, at the right time

Good visuals are only part of the equation. Your messaging has to build urgency and trust without overpromising.
We recommend a staged approach:

Phase 1: Pre-launch (3–6 months before build)

• Messaging: “Coming Soon”, “Premium location now available”, “Fit-out flexibility for early tenants”

• Target: Agents, tenant reps, and directly approached local businesses

• Assets: Expressions of Interest form, flythrough animation, teaser IM
  
  Phase 2: Construction commencement

• Messaging: “Tenancies now available for commitment”, “Secure your signage rights”, “Stage 1 already pre-committed”

• Target: SMEs, trades, logistics, service operators

• Assets: Leasing boards on site, full brochure, finalised building design, build timeline
  
  Phase 3: Mid-build (slab to frame)

• Messaging: “Only X tenancies remain”, “Fit-out closing soon”, “Move in from QX 2025”

• Target: Urgency-based decision makers, referrals

• Assets: Progress photos, builder videos, on-site signage updates, walk-through animations
  Each stage must be built around clear timelines and clear expectations.

Tactics to drive tenant commitment

You’re asking a tenant to commit months in advance. That means they’ll need stronger reasons to say yes. Here are high-performing tactics we’ve seen convert pre-leases:

• Early access to signage and branding

• Input on roller doors, access points, and power supply

• Extended rent-free periods or discounted base rent in first year

• Exclusive rights over shared yards or end units

• Staggered fit-out contributions or flexible handover dates

• Naming rights or co-branded site signage

• Fixed delivery schedules with milestone updates
  Make them feel like they’re shaping their tenancy—not just waiting for it.

Case studies and real outcomes

Here are three real-world strategies that delivered high-value pre-leases:

• Trade centre strategy in Brisbane’s north: Developer offered 10 units of 180–350m² and secured 60% leases within 3 months using a ground render, flythrough video, and brochure tailored to service-based businesses. The remaining units were sold post-completion at 15% higher $/m² than forecast.

• Logistics pre-commit in Western Sydney: A 6,500m² warehouse was pre-leased to a 3PL provider by offering D&C flexibility, naming rights, and early signage. The tenant provided their own racking and committed to a 10-year lease.

• Hybrid strata estate in Perth: Builder offered strata sales on 4 units, leased 2 mid-construction, and retained 2 for yield. Early marketing using interactive IMs and access diagrams drove agent interest and bank approval 2 months ahead of target.
  These aren’t unicorns—they’re the result of strategy, visuals, and professional tools.

How we support your pre-leasing strategy

We specialise in visualising, messaging, and marketing industrial and commercial projects before they’re built. We help you:

• Visualise the completed product with aerial and ground 3D renders

• Position the tenancy value with custom messaging, site diagrams and floorplans

• Equip agents with branded IMs, brochures, and interactive walkthroughs

• Create urgency with leasing boards, EOI forms, and early-stage lead generation

• Build buy-in with targeted messaging by user type—trades, cold storage, logistics, e-commerce
  We don’t just make your project look good—we make it lease faster.

Let’s talk about your pre-leasing campaign

If you’re planning to launch a new estate or commercial precinct, we can help you start converting interest months before completion. From renders to rollout, we’ll help you visualise the value and lock in tenants with clarity, confidence, and polish.