BOMA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield BOMA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is a 'Fitwel' certification, and how does it relate to commercial buildings? → A building certification that promotes health-supportive design and operational strategies
2. What is the primary advantage of LED lighting over fluorescent lighting in commercial buildings? → Significantly lower energy consumption and longer lifespan
3. What is the primary goal of BOMA's BEEP (Building Energy Efficiency Program)? → To help building owners reduce energy consumption and operating costs
4. What is a 'preventive maintenance' (PM) program in facility management? → Scheduled maintenance performed on a regular basis to prevent equipment failures
5. In facility management, what is a 'capital reserve study'? → An analysis projecting future major repairs and replacements, with funding recommendations
6. What is a 'letter of credit' (LOC) used for in commercial leasing? → A form of security deposit that gives the landlord a bank guarantee if the tenant defaults
7. The Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) primarily measures: → The ability of a property's NOI to cover its annual debt obligations
8. In commercial building operations, what does 'demand response' mean? → Reducing energy use during peak grid demand periods in exchange for incentives
9. Which clause in a commercial lease grants the tenant the right to renew their lease at a predetermined rent or at market rate? → Option to renew clause
10. In BOMA terminology, what is an 'Amenity Area'? → Building common areas that provide services or recreational facilities to occupants
11. The sales comparison approach to property valuation works by: → Analyzing recent sales of comparable properties to derive market value
12. What does 'co-tenancy' clause protection provide to a retail tenant? → Rent reduction or termination rights if key anchor tenants leave the property
13. What is 'eminent domain' in the context of commercial real estate? → The government's power to take private property for public use with just compensation
14. The income approach to property valuation is best suited for which type of property? → Income-producing investment properties such as office buildings and retail centers
15. Why should you pull a vacuum? → All of the above
16. What does 'holdover tenancy' mean in a commercial lease context? → A tenant who continues occupying space after lease expiration without signing a new lease
17. Rights benefits and improvements that go with the land are known as: → Appurtenances
18. What does the BOMA 'Gross Measured Area' concept primarily help building owners accomplish? → Accurately report total building size for sale, insurance, and financing purposes
19. Which financial metric is most commonly used to value commercial income-producing properties? → Capitalization rate (Cap Rate) applied to Net Operating Income
20. What kind of Freon would you suggest for use in an apartment freezer? → R 12
21. What is a 'CAM reconciliation' in commercial lease administration? → Annual true-up comparing estimated CAM payments to actual expenses incurred
22. Which ENERGY STAR score indicates that a commercial building performs better than what percentage of similar buildings? → 75th percentile or better
23. What does 'commissioning' of a new commercial building HVAC system involve? → Verifying that all systems are installed and operating according to design intent
24. What is 'general liability insurance' required to cover in commercial building operations? → Bodily injury and property damage claims from third parties occurring on the property
25. Under BOMA standards, what is the 'Load Factor' in office buildings? → The ratio of rentable area to usable area
26. Quality of tools may reflect the quality of work. → TRUE
27. What is 'active shooter response training' based on DHS guidelines recommended for commercial building occupants? → Run (evacuate if possible), Hide (if evacuation is not possible), Fight (as a last resort)
28. What building certification specifically recognizes healthy indoor environments for commercial building occupants? → WELL Building Standard
29. What is a 'green lease' in the context of BOMA building management? → A lease that includes provisions aligning landlord and tenant sustainability goals
30. Cash-on-cash return is calculated by dividing: → Annual pre-tax cash flow by the total equity (cash) invested in the property