Membership Information

There are two types of membership in BOMA Seattle King County; Principal and Associate Membership. Principal Members are companies that own or manage commercial real estate and Associate Members are companies who provide goods or services to Principal Members. We would be glad to mail out membership information and application forms to you upon request or you may download them. Please request forms from info@bomaseattle.org or receive them through the links below.

Principal Membership - Real Estate Owners and Managers:
The building ownership entity is the member, but is represented by the real estate owners, asset manager, building manager, facility manager, building engineering staff and other support staff. BOMA lists between one and four representatives from each property or company in the BOMA International membership directory, up to 12 in our local membership directory and an unlimited number in our internal database. However, the benefits of membership are extended to anyone working in real estate management for the member company, which means they can participate in local BOMA activities and education events at the BOMA member rate.

A frequently asked question is: Can I join BOMA Seattle King County as an individual member? The answer is no, since the membership is based upon the ownership or building entity. Other BOMA locals may offer individual membership, but BOMA Seattle King County's membership structure is company based. 

Annual dues are based upon the square footage of the buildings in the membership portfolio, approximately one cent per square foot. Access the dues calculation form and the application below to see more information about joining as a Principal member.

Principal Membership Application

Computation of Dues Worksheet

This document is currently being revised. Please contact Susan Cole

in the BOMA office at 206-622-8924 to receive the excel spreadsheet for 2010 computation of dues or with questions about your company's dues amount.

Associate Membership - Providers of Goods and Services:

BOMA's Associate members are those companies that provide goods and services to the commercial real estate industry. Associate Membership is company based and firms may list up to five representatives in the local membership directory. One primary representative (chosen by the member firm) will be reported in the BOMA International directory, but the benefits of local membership are extended to all King county employees from the associate member firm. This means anyone who works for the member company locally can attend BOMA events and meetings at the member rate. In 2010, membership dues were $1325. This amount is subject to change for 2011. Download the Associate Membership Packet for more details on Associate Membership.

As of Monday, May 17th, the BOMA Seattle King County's Associate Member limit has been reached. If you are interested in joining the wait list for 2011 please download the Associate Membership Wait List Application,  In 2009 BOMA Seattle King County's Board of Directors approved a motion to raise the limit of 155 Associate Member companies to no more than 165 firms. The original limitation of 155 was placed in 2006 to help protect the investment of Associate Members in BOMA and enhance the access of Associate Members to BOMA's Principal Members.

Associate Membership Wait List Applications for 2011 should be completed and mailed or faxed to the BOMA office along with the non-refundable application deposit. Companies will be placed on the waiting list once the application and non-refundable application deposit is received. The non-refundable application deposit ($200) can be paid via check (through the mail) or credit card (via fax). The credit card number can be written on the bottom of the faxed application, but must include the expiration date and address where the credit card company mails the statements (billing address). Do not include the CVV2 (3-4 digit code) on the back of the card, it is not necessary for payment processing.

To see a list of BOMA's current associate member firms, please see the Service Provider page of this website. This list offers a glimpse at the many service provider categories an Associate Member can be listed under. (Primary categories are offered at no charge and secondary categories are $45 each, per year, to be billed after the local directory is created or updated.)

**Please note: A Principal Member sponsor is required when BOMA requests the official application, not the wait list application. Official applications are provided once there is space available in the membership for waiting list applicants. Also required at the time of acceptance is the balance of membership dues, to which the application deposit is applied. In 2010, membership dues were $1325. This amount is subject to change for 2011. The remaining dues balance for new members in 2011 can be estimated at $1125. ($1325 - $200 deposit = $1125)

Benefits

General Membership Benefits
The principle benefit of a trade association is that by working together we can accomplish more for the common interests and concerns of our membership than we can individually. We chose to associate together to further the interests of our member firms, their management and ownership, and to advance our business opportunities and careers. Being a good corporate citizen is also part of BOMA membership since all commercial properties benefit from the work BOMA does advancing the best interests of our industry and those who supply goods and services to it.

Proprietary Member Benefits
Why your investment in BOMA makes sense.
BOMA achievements in the last few years have saved its member firms land their tenants well over $1 per square foot annually, while BOMA dues are usually about one penny per square foot per year. BOMA has halted unnecessary government regulations with respect to IAQ, window cleaning restrictions, taxation, retro-fitting of sprinklers and alarms, in utility rates, adverse code changes and more.

In addition, BOMA has become a primary source for professional education, real estate clock hours and information assistance such as preparation for the WTO, information on new fluorescent lamp disposal regulations and options, etc.

Your investment in BOMA supports the advocacy on your behalf by our lobbyist, code representatives, utility consultants, and organizational staff.

Your membership in BOMA saves your ownership and tenants many times their dues investment. Typically, BOMA member buildings pay annually about one penny per square foot in dues. Yet just this year alone, BOMA achieved a 12 cent per square foot reduction in the newly established City Light Downtown Network Rate. In addition, BOMA secured passage of a new city ordinance that specifically names BOMA as your representative in a study requiring City Light to justify any future Downtown Network Rate increases.

BOMA recently negotiated with the Department of Construction and Land Use and the Seattle Fire Department a ruling that halted the Fire Department's attempts to require the retrofit installation of visible alarms in all office buildings that don't have them. The new ruling would require the visible alarms only upon major retrofitting of the building, the fire alarm system, or in new construction. The common sense approach has saved the owners and tenants of BOMA member buildings hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Other recent achievements include: $5 million savings for commercial rate payers in Puget Sound Energy's grid; the halting of the State Department of Revenues attempts to collect B & O taxes on dollars paid to management firms by a property owner to reimburse the salaries of on-site personnel; and BOMA worked with other industry parties to help prevent the passage of a bill in Washington State this year that would have resulted in split property tax rolls.

In the last few years alone, working on the local, state, and national levels, BOMA has saved the owners and managers of commercial real estate more than $1.50/sq. ft. in annual operating costs while BOMA dues are about .01/sq. ft. All your properties benefit, all your tenants benefit. BOMA dues are rent you pay to occupy your space in the industry and are an operating expense beneficial to tenants and are traditionally included in pass through expenses.

The Building Owners and Managers Association is the most influential professional organization representing commercial real estate. With nearly 100 years experience, it is our common and organized voice that your business needs to meet the challenges of today's changing business environment. Membership in BOMA gives you the tools you need to ensure corporate and personal success. BOMA Seattle King County represents some 50 million square feet of office space in Seattle, Bellevue, and the Puget Sound Region. BOMA member firms are better by associating together to advance our common interests and those of our ownership and tenants.

Services and benefits of membership include:
Advocacy Codes | Legislative | Regulation | Initiatives | Watchdog | Public Relations Representation Utilities | State Boards | County Boards | City Boards | Commissions | Gov. Agencies
Education Seminars | RPA | FMA | SMA | Clock Hours | Guidance
eNewsletter | BOMA Int'l Magazine | Resources | Broadcast email | www.boma.org | Library | Publications
Networking Lunches | Trade Show | Peer Advice | Social Events | National Conventions | Resume File | Membership Directory | Committee Involvement

BOMA working groups and committees include: Code Committee | Membership Committee | Code & Utility Committee| Government Affairs Committee | Education Committee | Associate Member Committee | Suburban Cities Committee | Executive Committee | Environment & Sustainability Committee | Operations & Maintenance Committee and other Ad Hoc committees

Associate Member Benefits
For Associate members, all of the above applies plus BOMA has opportunities to get your business before our membership through seminar sponsorship, trade shows, networking lunches, directory listings and advertising opportunities. People like to do business with people they know and trust. By paying dues and participating in the association, the best interest and well-being of all member firms is advanced not just the proprietary members, but associate member business opportunities as well.

Professional benefits include the networking opportunities, personal growth through association with peers and gaining from their education, experience, and ideas. Collective representation on industry issues, and the part BOMA plays in improving the industry and our business opportunities.

Personal benefits include the networking opportunities and establishment of relationships with potential future employers and a better understanding of the persons and firms of our industry.