Why Industrial Users Should Work with SIOR Real Estate Professionals

Edison Vasquez
Oct 1
4 min read

When choosing an advisor for leasing, buying, or selling industrial real estate, experienced investors and tenants increasingly turn to professionals with the SIOR designation. But what does SIOR mean a why does it matter? Let’s break down what the SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors) credential represents, and why it can make a real difference for industrial users in Miami, South Florida, and beyond.

What Is SIOR?

The SIOR designation is one of the most respected and recognized professional credentials in the commercial real estate industry. SIORs are not just ordinary brokers: they are elite agents who have demonstrated deep transactional expertise, a commitment to ethical business, and a consistent record of success in industrial and office property deals. SIOR is based on experience and production, not solely on education.

To earn SIOR status, a broker must:

Complete rigorous education and professional development.
Achieve a high volume of completed industrial or office transactions (measured against stringent standards).
Pass a vetting and recommendation process from industry peers.
Uphold SIOR’s code of ethics in all engagements.

Fewer than 4,000 professionals worldwide hold this designation, making SIORs part of a trusted, results-driven network that spans major logistics and industrial markets—including South Florida.

The SIOR organization operates as a global referral and information-sharing network.

The SIOR Advantage: Why It Matters

1. Proven Transaction Expertise

Industrial real estate requires specialized knowledge including: warehouse layouts, supply chain demands, zoning issues, equipment requirements, environmental regulations, and more. SIORs bring years of hands-on experience, having closed a high volume of complex industrial deals. For example, an SIOR broker might help a last-mile delivery company identify the only available infill warehouse space in Miami-Dade with excess trailer storage, a critical value-add in a market with tight inventory.

2. Access to an Elite Network

The SIOR organization operates as a global referral and information-sharing network. Whether you’re an investor looking to source off-market opportunities or a tenant with expansion plans in multiple states, SIORs can tap into their relationships to secure solutions that others can’t. This can mean the difference between negotiating with one landlord and having access to exclusive availabilities shared only among SIOR peers.

3. Uncompromising Ethics and Trust

Every SIOR is bound by a strict code of ethics. Investors and tenants can trust that their broker’s advice is grounded in transparency, fairness, and full disclosure. This is particularly valuable in overheated markets (like Miami and South Florida) where trust and reputation open doors—and the wrong move can cost big.

4. Insight in Competitive Markets

SIORs are often first to hear about new inventory, upcoming development, or shifts in local zoning thanks to their involvement in local, regional, and national industry networks. For example, an SIOR professional might help an industrial tenant secure a lease in a planned cold storage development months before the space hits the open market, giving the user a crucial competitive edge.

5. Problem-Solving for Complex Requirements

Industrial moves often involve major hurdles: environmental remediation, permitting, unique racking or refrigeration needs, or negotiating with multiple public entities. SIORs have demonstrated, time and again, that they can anticipate, mitigate, and solve problems that would confound less experienced agents. If a client is relocating its manufacturing operations to South Florida, an SIOR broker can coordinate with local authorities, secure incentives, and find the precise combination of loading, power, and storage to suit the tenant’s specialized use.

6. Track Record of Results

The SIOR designation is granted only to professionals with verified transaction histories, meaning clients are working with true dealmakers, more than just salespeople. Many SIORs can point to multimillion-dollar sales or lease deals done for Fortune 500 companies and major investors. Their track record is your assurance of capability and follow-through.

SIORs are often first to hear about new inventory, upcoming development, or shifts in local zoning thanks to their involvement in local, regional, and national industry networks.

Real-World Example

Consider a logistics company needing urgent truck parking, office, and cross-dock facilities in South Florida. An SIOR broker can:

Leverage internal SIOR data to find off-market terminals,
Use their connections to quickly navigate lease negotiations,
Ensure the site meets both operational needs and compliance requirements,
And support long after the lease is signed, connecting the tenant to local logistics partners, contractors, and public agencies.

Final Thoughts

Industrial real estate decisions are too important and expensive to just leave it to any real estate broker. Working with an SIOR means choosing a partner who brings deep expertise, market intelligence, trustworthiness, and access to the best opportunities. Whether you’re an investor, owner, or occupant, the SIOR advantage means making your next industrial transaction smarter, smoother, and more successful.

Our Industrial team is proud to have four SIORs in our office. This demonstrates our commitment to excellence and our track record of high-level transactions. When you work with us, you're partnering with a team that has achieved the highest level of professional recognition in the industry.

Reach out to our team today to experience the difference an SIOR can make.

The Industrial Team at ComReal has extensive experience in Rail Served warehouses in Miami and all South Florida. The team has successfully helped users and investors in the leasing and sales of these facilities. Contact the team for current availability of rail served warehouses and the status of this market.