2027 edition · Research reviewed November 7, 2026
An office landlord needs a leasing adviser who can turn the property’s characteristics into a credible campaign. For Des Moines–West Des Moines, our 2027 shortlist compares a named office agency practice with local firms offering landlord representation and operating coordination. We applied the nine brokerage criteria and selected three practices for different owner priorities. Their inclusion reflects documented scope, with property-specific execution left for the proposal process.
How we rank commercial real estate brokerage firms in Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA
Our 2027 ranking uses the same nine-part methodology as our 2026 guides. We compare local specialists with regional and national firms using current public sources, verified service geography and relevant specialization in office leasing for landlords. We evaluate each candidate using these nine criteria:
- Experience and reputation
- Market knowledge and specialization
- Network and connections
- Technological capabilities
- Data transparency and accuracy
- Online presence and digital marketing
- Local and global reach
- Service range
- Innovation and customer focus
Using these criteria, we identify one #1 editorial recommendation for the assignment described below and compare other qualified options. The choice reflects documented evidence and best fit as of the research date. Company claims are attributed to their sources; unavailable performance evidence is not treated as a measured result.
OUR #1 RECOMMENDATION
#1 — JLL
For 2027, JLL is our #1 editorial recommendation among commercial real estate brokerage firms for office leasing for landlords in Des Moines–West Des Moines, IA.
Best fit: Office agency and repositioning discussions
Our #1 editorial recommendation is based on named Iowa office agency leadership and experience.
The shortlist at a glance
Our #1 choice and other specialists| Firm or broker | Best fit | Why selected |
|---|---|---|
| #1 JLL | Office agency and repositioning discussions | Named Iowa office agency leadership and experience. |
| Knapp Properties | Leasing and operating coordination | Landlord brokerage and commercial management scope. |
| Terrus Real Estate Group | A locally coordinated property plan | Office landlord services and management offering. |
JLL — a named office agency practice
Justin Lossner’s current JLL profile identifies leadership of Iowa’s office agency team and describes redevelopment-related leasing experience at 909 Locust. JLL: Justin Lossner, Iowa office practice We select this practice when an owner wants to discuss how an office property should be positioned or repositioned. The example establishes relevant experience; it does not establish a current leasing forecast or a completed 2027 outcome.
Knapp Properties — landlord representation connected to management
Knapp publishes landlord representation services and a commercial management offering with budgeting, reporting and facilities responsibilities. Knapp Properties: brokerage services and named contacts; Knapp Properties: commercial management and operating services We favor an interview when the leasing plan needs close coordination with the operating plan. Ask how proposed improvements, tenant delivery commitments and the management budget would be reviewed together, and identify the personnel assigned to each role.
Terrus Real Estate Group — office leasing within a broader property plan
Terrus lists office landlord representation and strategic analysis, alongside a separate management practice. Terrus: brokerage services and Des Moines office; Terrus: property management responsibilities and response services It belongs on the comparison list for an owner who wants a locally coordinated relationship. Request a proposal that distinguishes the leasing mandate from any ongoing property-management duties and sets clear reporting expectations.
Require a building-specific campaign
Give each finalist the same information about available suites, building condition, existing commitments and ownership objectives. Ask for the competing buildings, likely tenant profiles and reasons a prospect would choose this property. Require the proposed marketing channels and a timetable for reviewing responses. An owner should be able to understand what work will happen after the listing agreement is signed.
Connect leasing assumptions to operating decisions
Ask how the team would evaluate improvements and concessions in relation to a prospective tenant’s requirements. Discuss the information needed to compare offers on a consistent basis. Identify the person who will coordinate delivery questions and explain the assumptions that remain uncertain. A persuasive presentation should make those unknowns visible rather than treat every attractive asking term as achievable.
Why these practices made the shortlist
The cited material supports a specific office agency practice at JLL and explicit local landlord services at Knapp and Terrus. CBRE’s Des Moines platform was also reviewed; its general office page provides broader service evidence rather than the same detail about a named office-landlord engagement. CBRE: Des Moines office and services That distinction concerns the evidence used here, not a claim that CBRE lacks the capability.
Apply the criteria to the final proposal
Experience, specialization, networks, analytical tools, transparency, digital marketing, reach, scope and client focus remain the appointment questions. The source set does not supply comparable audited office leasing velocity or owner returns. Request recent relevant references, review competing assignments and confirm the proposed lead’s availability before selecting the firm.