Blog | Office For Lease Overland Park

Rent Office Space in Overland Park: Everything You Need to Know About Lease Length

Lease length for Kansas office space for rent is one of the trickiest but most important issues to address in lease negotiations. Sign a lease that is too long and you could be stuck in a space that you’ve either outgrown or cannot afford, but signing a short lease could mean that you give up a good space sooner than you want. Here are a few different ways lessees approach this problem in their search for office space for rent in Overland Park, as described in the articles “Short Term Leases – How To Find Flexible Leases and When To Go With A Sublease” and “Extending Your Office Lease: Should You Sign a Lease Extension Agreement?”:

Short Term Leases

Truly short term leases can be hard to come by, with the minimum typically being about three years. This could be too long for a lot of start ups, who need just a small space and short term to give themselves flexibility – but even if they do find such a lease, it often comes with strings attached.

It takes some serious effort to find landlords willing to consider a year-long lease or month-by-month rent, and when a small business does find a willing landlord, they trade off this benefit for any leverage they might have had in negotiations. This could result in anything from paying higher rent per square foot to losing tenant improvement allowances.

However, it is possible to find a good short term lease deal, and one of the best ways to expedite this process is to work with a good real estate broker and have an attorney assist your business in lease negotiations.

Subletting or Assigning

One way to sign a longer lease and ease your anxiety is to negotiate for the right to sublease the space if needed. Here are a few things to consider in your sublease provision negotiations:

Do you have the right to sublease some or all of the space?
How soon do you need to notify the landlord about exercising this right, and in what way should they be informed (i.e. certified mail or just an email)?
Will you still be fully responsible for enforcing lease terms if you sublease to another tenant? This is important – if you are still on the hook for the lease even if you are no longer in the space, you need to chose the new tenant wisely.

Another possibility is to ask for the option to assign the lease to a new tenant entirely if you can no longer afford the space. In this event, all of the rights and responsibilities of the lease would be transferred to the new party.

Negotiating for one of these clauses could be mutually beneficial for both you and the landlord if it means you will sign a longer lease. The landlord will be happy because of a longer period of assured rent, and you will have the flexibility of keeping the space or a backdoor if you need it.

Lease Extension Clause

If you do sign a two year lease, for example, but you are worried that this will be too short, take advantage of including an extension clause or option to renew in your lease. This gives you the power to decide at a later date if staying in the space would be best for your business. Here are a few things to consider about exercising this option to extend your lease:

Start the process early. Don’t wait until three months before the end of your lease; you should ideally start thinking about it nine months early.
Determine if you want to stay. Take that time to think about whether it is best for your business to stay or look elsewhere. If you do not foresee major growth, downsizing or a need for a different location anytime soon, then renewing your lease might be your best and cheapest option.
Research the market. Do your homework on what other spaces are available in your area and what rates, privileges and other concessions they might be offering. This will give you more leverage in negotiations with landlords, both because you will have a basis of comparison, and because both you and the landlord know you have other options out there if the new terms are unfavorable.
Decide whether to hire a broker. The lease renewal process is one stage where you could forego a broker because you know the landlord and the space very well by this point. However, hiring a broker could communicate to the landlord that you are serious about negotiating for some big concessions.
Negotiate. You know the space, so you can talk nitty gritty details of what you want improved or what concessions you need. Be aggressive, but friendly, and remember that ultimately it’s cheaper for both of you if you renew the lease, so look for compromises and common ground.

The key to having the option to extend is to negotiate for it in your original lease and to be aware of the right time to exercise it.

Lease length does not have to be a death sentence for start ups trying to rent office space in Overland Park, but navigating this aspect of leasing does require a little more effort and research. Know your options, and don’t let yourself be backed into signing an unfavorable lease.

If your business is interested in commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give one of our commercial real estate brokers a call at 913-685-4100 for more information about our office space for rent in Overland Park.

Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS: 4 Questions for Finding an Environmentally Friendly Space

Looking for an environmentally friendly Kansas Office Space For Rent can be a bit of hassle when trying to juggle all of your business’s priorities for an office space. But going green in your office is not only good for the environment, but good for your bottom line and the general health and well being of your employees. Here are a few questions to ask when trying to find that perfect green office space for rent in Overland Park, as suggested in the article “How to Find a Green Building”:

1. How does the building operate and look?

Is there a recycling program? Can the landlord confirm that they make measurable savings on energy, water and garbage? Do they avoid the use of toxic cleaning products and other office supplies? These are some of the major factors in an environmentally friendly space, but don’t forget about more aesthetic factors, like natural lighting or open spaces with greenery. Try to gather as much information as you can about these initial questions through landlords, current tenants and your own visits to office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS.

4. Is the building LEED Certified?

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is the 1994 program created to help support, certify and reward buildings that have certain green qualities. A lot of information is out there about LEED certified buildings, which need to meet a number of qualifications to achieve certification. For a building to become LEED certified it must complete a number of green projects ranging from planting drought-tolerant and native plants to installing rain water collection systems. Buildings are rated through a point system based on these projects. If a building is LEED certified, this is good external confirmation that they are really making an effort to be green.

2. What is their Energy Star rating?

Energy Star is a rating-based program started in 1992 through the EPA. They look at a number of factors, but tend to focus on the conservation of energy, pollution and water. To be included on this Energy Star list a business needs to meet certain criteria for energy consciousness in the building’s management. One way of doing that is making sure that management posts signs that encourage conservation, buys paper products with recycled material, and tries to eliminate water bottle consumption among employees. Beyond just your initial questions and observations, this is an another objective way for you to check if the property owner is truly trying to be environmentally conscious.

3. Can you save energy and costs on transportation?

Can your employees walk or bike to work? How far away is your business from public transport or residential neighborhoods? Having employees drive to work every morning means more emissions and a higher environmental impact – walkability and transportation are key things to think about if your business is truly serious about lowering your footprint. There are several websites that calculate the potential walkability of the business you are looking at; these will include everything from bike lanes and hills to parks and car shares.

If your business is interested in finding a green office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, keep these questions in mind as you do your research and visit potential spaces.

Looking to rent office space Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 for more information about our available spaces!

6 Tips for Touring An Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

You’ve made a list of what you want, decided on your budget, found a few potential options – and now its time to start touring office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, and really getting to the nitty gritty details of what might make one space better than another. Here are a few tips for navigating this stage of finding office space for rent in Overland Park, as suggested in the article “How to Get the Most Out of Office Tours”:

#1 Do Your Homework

Don’t set foot on a property without taking the time to carefully research it first and crafting a list of your questions and concerns. Prioritize your needs and ask questions throughout the tour relevant to whether the space can meet them.

#2 Avoid Over-sharing

While you’re on a tour, try to be as neutral and objective as possible and not give away your interest in a space. Over-enthusiasm can damage the leverage you have during negotiations. Avoid looking too eager for a space by only bringing a few key people with you to the tour, and save your serious conversations about the space until after you leave. Definitely ask questions to clarify any specific concerns, but avoid delivering any general positive verdicts about the space.

#3 Don’t Overdo the Tours

Too many tours can break your focus and cause you to miss out on specific, meaningful details. Try to pace yourself, and don’t do more than four per day. This will help you keep sharp and fresh for taking notes to use in detailed comparisons of spaces.

#4 Pay Attention to the Leasing Agent

While you want to have plenty of questions prepared, try to listen carefully first to the agent’s presentation and save your questions until the end. This way you can both absorb new information and not reveal too much about the research you have already done on the property, which can give you an edge later in negotiations.

#5 Check Out Your Neighbors

Stop by the building’s directory and look through the other tenants you will be sharing the property with. Keep an eye out for competitors or other companies that could become problematic at some point, as well as reliable businesses who might be able to give you some insight into their experience with the landlord.

#6 Come Back When It’s Busy

Try to make time to revisit a space during the busiest times of day to get an idea of what foot and car traffic will be like during peak hours. This can help you assess the efficiency of the property’s crowd management as well as how their security team operates.

Tours are an exciting step in the leasing process, but they are definitely not the first step – take the time to prepare ahead of time and go into each visit with a strategy for how much you will reveal and what you need to ask about a Kansas office space for rent.

If your business is looking to rent office space in Overland Park, give us a call at 193-685-4100 to set up a tour of an office space for lease in Overland Park, KS!

7 Ways to Make Your Kansas City Office Space for Rent More Comfortable

An office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, can be like a second home for a working adult, so it is important to consider what kinds of items you need to keep around your Kansas City office space for rent and what strategies you can use to make sure that you and your employees are comfortable throughout the day. Here are a few things you should consider keeping around your office, as well as a few strategies to increase comfort, as suggested in the articles “8 Items You Need on Your Desk” and “4 Tips for Working Comfortably at Your Desk”:

A Good Chair. When you spend so much time sitting at a desk during the day, it is important to have the right chair to best support your back. Take the time to adjust the chair properly to your height. You want to make sure that your feet can touch the ground, and also think about bringing in a cushion for added back comfort. Reducing back pain can help increase focus and creativity, so it is well worth investing in good office chairs.
Healthy Snacks. Keeping healthy snacks handy, whether brought from home or even supplied by an office kitchen, is a great way to make sure you stay satisfied from nutritious food and your focus remains sharp throughout the day. As an employer, consider ways to encourage healthy eating habits in your office, whether through healthy potluck lunches or office snacks, or even though programs and competitions designed to encourage people to set and meet health goals.
Computer Monitors. Just as with chairs, subtle adjustments to computer monitors can also help increase comfort. Monitors should be directly at eye level to prevent the need to bend the neck and shoulders or to look up, both of which can cause pressure and pain. Use a stand or some thick books to adjust your monitor to an ideal height.
Lighting. The best possible office lighting situation is a lot of natural sunlight coming in through windows, but if this is not an option, softer light is the next best arrangement – for example, overhead lamps or desk lamps, both of which are much better than florescent lighting.
Health Supplies. It’s good to have necessities for various health situations around the office, such as a first aid kit with band-aids, pain killers, throat lozenges, eye drops, and whatever else you might want to have on hand. Other daily health staples include tissues and hand sanitizer to prevent and manage sickness, especially during winter.
Drinking Water. Staying hydrated is so important to general health and energy levels. Having a water bottle on your desk is a great way to constantly remind yourself to be drinking water. Employers could also consider good water bottles as a giveaway item at an office picnic or team-building session to promote good hydration in the office.
Headphones. Having headphones handy can be a great way for office workers to block out office noise and focus on work for a while. Plus, good music is a great pick-me-up to get through a post-lunch slump!

It’s important for both employers and employees to promote and practice good office habits that are geared towards well-being. Healthy, happy employees are much more likely to be productive than ones who are dehydrated, blinded by florescent lights, and hunched over their computers for eight hours a day,

Looking for commercial real estate in Overland Park? Give us a call today at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, or to set up a tour of one of our office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS.

Moving to an Office Space for Lease in Kansas City: Planning Your Perfect Office Design

Moving to an Office Space for Lease in Kansas City: Planning Your Perfect Office Design

If your business is ready to find some new commercial real estate in Kansas City, one major aspect of the move to think about is the design of your space. Finding a new office space for lease in Kansas City is a great way to start fresh with a configuration and decor that will help improve the efficiency, comfort, and image of your office space. Here are a few steps to consider as you search for and plan a new office space, as suggested in the article “Aiming to Improve Your Office Space? Consider This Before a Move or Redesign.”

#1 Determine Your Needs

Before you can really begin to plan a new office space, you need to come up with some concrete facts and figures regarding your business’s needs. The most basic aspect of this is determining how much square footage you need now and potentially in the future. Look at your current space to see how efficiently you are using the space and realistically how much more you might need – don’t forget to factor in projected growth as well. Also think about ways that your office design could be restructured to make better use of space, as this could be factored into your new plans as well.

Another thing to consider is the current aesthetics of your office, particularly the ways that your design or color scheme could be adjusted to better reflect your corporate culture, promote the comfort of your employees, and impress visiting clients.

#2 Tour New Office Spaces

Commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, can range from move-in ready to completely empty spaces, so think about how much work you want to put into configuring your office space to help narrow down what kind of spaces you want to look at. If you want to be really involved in the design process, something that is more raw and has plenty of open office space might be a better fit for you, but if you are looking to get into a new space sooner rather than later, you might just focus on move-in ready listings.

Once you have a rough idea of how finished you want a space to be, consider the different ways you use your office space. Are cubicles, a few private offices, and a conference room enough for you, or will you need a more diverse range of amenities? Will you need a sizable reception and waiting room area? What about a kitchen, break area, or screening room? Try to make a ranked list of what is absolutely essential to your business and what you would ideally like to have to help you narrow down options even further.

#3 Put Yourself in Control of the Process

Finally, if you find an office space and decide to tailor it to your business’s needs, it is important to stay proactively involved in the whole process to make sure you achieve your intended outcome. The first thing you can do is start to assemble a team of people to help you, selecting the best construction and design professionals for your budget based on references, their past project work, and any other background information you can find. Here are a few roles you might consider filling:

Company Representative – Find someone from within your own office, possibly an office manager or even CEO, to act as a liaison between your business and any external construction or design services. This person does not have to be particularly well versed in technical construction concerns; they just need to be able to communicate your business’s interests, maintain regular contact with construction companies, and make decisions as needed.
Architect – It is a good idea to engage the services of an architect early on and ask them to join you on tours of potential spaces. This way they can have your needs in mind and give you a more accurate assessment of what you can accomplish with a space. Once you choose a space, they can draw up designs to pass a long to a contractor.
Small Project Manager – If you are only interested in a small buildout, you might be able to designate someone internally to manage the daily aspects of the project. However, if you are considering something larger, it might be better to go with an outside professional.
Contractor – A general contractor will be in charge of the actual construction project, including managing daily construction work and setting up the services of other vendors, such as plumbers, electricians, etc. The cost of these other vendors will be built into the agreed upon price for the contractor.

In addition to assembling an expert team, make sure you regularly check in to confirm that deadlines are being met and all projects are staying within your budget.

You do not have to be an expert to smoothly execute a buildout or renovation of a new space, just make sure you consult the right people, both internally and externally, to ensure that your business’s needs are being fulfilled and you are getting the best possible services for your budget!

If your business is interested in finding an available office space with commercial property management in Overland Park, KS, give one of our commercial real estate agents in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

6 Guidelines For Finding an Office Park in Kansas for Your Startup Business

Finding the right commercial property in Overland Park, KS, for your new startup company can be a big undertaking for a young business. Here are a few tips to follow to guide you as you look for a space that is comfortable and will allow you to grow, as suggested in the article “5 Tips for Finding the Perfect Startup Office Space”:

1. Look for a Good Landlord.

When narrowing down office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, make sure that you have a good landlord who understands your professional goals and needs for the office. It’s always a good idea to work with a landlord and find out how they respond to certain issues and how they feel about repairs that the office would need. A good idea is to contact previous tenants to get a good picture of what it’s like to work with that landlord. Make sure to discuss any issues or problems you might have with the space so that you can discuss them with the landlord before signing.

2. Be Ambitious…

Ambitious projects are always a good springboard for ideas and growth in all aspects of business, so definitely apply this attitude towards finding your own space – dream a little about the growth you anticipate and what kind of design, decor and setup would really take your business to the next level.

3. …But Be Realistic.

Thinking big is a great way to get ideas flowing, but obviously it’s also necessary be realistic. Consider the possibility of making expansions and growth, but also look into what your exit strategies are if you do not meet these targets.

4. Location Is Key.

Location should be the first thing you think about, so before you work on anything else make sure you know where you want to have your office space. T There are two different ways of going about this, depending on your staffing concerns: If you have team of people you are working with already, it might be a good idea to pick a place where they can commute to easily. If you are looking to recruit talent, make sure you have a location that is ideal for attracting potential employees.

4. Know What You Can Change.

You should want your office to be reflective of your company culture and what kind of work you want to do there. So if you know you want to tear down the drywall and install a new break room, make sure you run this by the potential landlord first. Having an idea of what you want your space to look like is good, but it is even better to make sure you have the landlord’s permission to do so first before you even sign the lease. A few things to double check before signing include making sure you can repaint, rewire and/or change anything other than the desk and chairs. This could save you a headache over remodeling in the long run.

5. Determine Your Ideal Lease Term.

Know how long you want to stay in space so that you can factor this into lease term negotiations. Ideally you don’t want to sign a long-term lease just in case your team grows quickly. A shorter lease makes growth easier and gives you more freedom in case you want to get out of your current lease. However, longer leases should be considered if the landlord is offering good incentives. but when in doubt a shorter lease is better for a smaller company.

With good research, some creative thinking, and careful planning, it is definitely possible to find the perfect office park in Overland Park, KS, for you and your new startup!

If you are looking for an office park in Kansas with a small Kansas City office space for rent, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of one of our small office suites!

4 Tips for Transitioning from a Home Office to an Office Space for Rent in Overland Park

Finding the right commercial property in Overland Park, KS, for your small business takes time and preparation, especially if it is your first time moving out of the home office and into a more professional space. Here are a few tips for making that transition to an office space for rent in Overland Park as smooth as possible, as outlined in the article “Business Tips: Renting a Commercial Office Space”:

1) Set parameters and consult expert help.

Understanding what your business needs and talking to a commercial real estate agent is a good way to figure out where to start with finding your new office. Working with agent might be more time consuming, but an agent will be able to direct you to a handful of spaces that will suit your needs, versus wading through that first round of selections on your own. Give the agent parameters based on location, space and budget; in other words, find where your office will be most likely to thrive, how much space you need, and how much you are willing to spend on the perfect space.

2) Create a detailed needs list.

Before you even start looking for your new space, think about what your company needs to grow. Make a list and make sure to include the big things and the details: space, location, parking, light/air control, communication, storage and reception. This will help you find an objective way to narrow down your options.

3) Distinguish between needs and wants.

As you make your list, be sure to distinguish between needs and wants. Needs are things that you should walk away from a space if it doesn’t have them, and wants can help you evaluate spaces in more detail and might tip the scales when choosing between two good spaces. Examples of wants include things like furniture, office supply, carpeted floors, and distance to local amenities.

4) Budget for the space and the move.

How much is the cost of the move? How much are you willing to spend for each year? Each month? These are some of things you should be thinking about when looking. Some things to consider when making this budget list is the deposit, rent, services, maintenance cost, new furniture and equipment, decorating the office, lighting, energy and security. Budgeting for all of these things is a good start to making the transition to your new commercial office space as painless as possible.

Moving out of the home and into a real office space for the first time is a big transition, but seeking expert help, listing in detail both what you absolutely need and perks that could set one space above another, and carefully budgeting can help you make the move to a new Kansas office space for ren t as smooth and efficient as possible.

If you are interested in moving your business out of the home and into an office park in Kansas, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our office spaces for rent Overland Park, KS, and even set up a tour!

Commercial Property in Overland Park, KS: 6 Leasing Mistakes to Avoid

Leasing commercial property in Overland Park, KS, can be a big financial risk – one that is necessary and worthwhile, but one that can have serious and lasting consequences if not done properly. Research and planning are key above all else, but here are a few common leasing mistakes that tenants make to learn from as you start your own search for an office, as detailed in the article “10 Leasing Mistakes Office Tenants Commonly Make”:

#1 Going into leasing without a plan.

If you don’t have a good idea of your company’s space needs, you need to hit the breaks on you leasing process. Before you even begin to look at offices, have some hard numbers for what you need – square footage per employee, projected growth and the need for space that goes along with it, and what kind of space you want. Do you need open space with cubicles? A few conference rooms? An impressive reception area? These are all questions you should have a firm answer to before you look for a new space.

Make sure you also have a solid business plan in place, particularly if you are a new business leasing space for the first time. A lot of landlords will want to see your financial history or at the very least a professional and fact-based business plan as reassurance that you will be a reliable tenant.

#2 Not working with experts.

At all stages of the process of acquiring a new Kansas City office space for rent, it is important to speak expert help. This includes talking to a real estate broker, a legal representative who will represent your interests as a tenant, and an architect to help you plan for any modifications you need to make to a space. It’s tempting to cut corners and do things yourself, but if you are not an expert in any of these fields, you could be causing bigger financial complications for your business down the line.

#3 Not considering lease termination possibilities.

It’s strange to think about upfront as you are just starting out in a space, but you need to consider exit strategies before you ever sign a lease. This is particularly important for new businesses, who cannot afford to take a serious financial hit by paying rent during a rough patch. Terminating a lease is never good, but work with experts and negotiate with your landlord to try to mitigate consequences as much as possible. This requires some give and take, but most landlords are willing to allow for some kinds of relief possibilities, such as subleasing or reassignment, in the event that your business cannot afford the space.

#4 Not factoring in growth and the need to expand.

It was mentioned in the need for a plan before leasing, but it bears repeating: think about what your projected growth is and how much space your business might need in the next few years. It’s a risk to rent more space than you need, but being trapped in an office that is too small and does not allow you to develop can be just as detrimental to your business. Talk to your landlord about the possibility of expanding into other available spaces on the property if it becomes necessary, and try to opt for shorter lease terms with options to renew so you can consider after just a few years whether you have outgrown your space.

#5 Waiting too long for negotiations and a losing good offer.

Don’t leave negotiations until the last minute. These are so important, and you should not allow yourself to become set on a space until you are sure you can negotiate for favorable terms for your business – and the longer you wait, the more leverage the landlord has.

In addition, while you want to give yourself plenty of time to compare spaces and be prepared to walk away from an offer that is less than ideal, don’t wait too long on something you know is a great opportunity. If you find something good, hesitating too long could mean that you lose the opportunity to someone else, and then you are back to square one.

#6 Considering only the finances.

While budget is one of your most important factors, and you have to be prepared to walk away from even a dream space if it is way out of your price range, there are other factors to consider as well, such as the location of the space and the incentives a landlord is willing to offer. Remember that the most affordable office does you no good if your location will not attract new clients or your staff is unwilling to commute, so give yourself a price range to work within and then let yourself consider other merits of various spaces.

If you are starting the process of finding an office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, don’t fall into these common pitfalls!

Interested in commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available offices spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS!

Office Space for Lease in Kansas City: 4 Considerations for Small Business Owners

There are a lot of angles to consider when renting office space for lease in Olathe, KS, and the first step in the process is knowing your own business and what risks you can afford to to take when finding your first real office space. Here are a few general tips for renting office space, as well as a few risks your business should consider taking for bigger payoff in the long run, as suggested in the article “5 Things Entrepreneurs Should Know About Real Estate”:

#1 Lease Length

Conventional wisdom says that small businesses should look for short term leases – one to two years – with option to renew, but young businesses can save quite a bit of money in the long run by signing a longer lease – for example, six years. If you’re bold enough to pursue this path, you have the benefit of a predictable major overhead cost for the foreseeable future, which can really help stabilize your finances. If you are not sure you can afford to take that risk, talk to your landlord about putting the option to sublease into your lease. Landlord’s might be more willing to allow you to have this option if you agree to sign a longer lease.

#2 Street Side

It is worth taking the time to figure out which side of the street will generate more foot traffic. Main streets in the U.S. typically have one side that has roughly twice as much foot traffic as the other, so stand outside a any properties you are considering and count passersby to figure out whether a place is on the heavier foot traffic side. Finding the right side of the street translates to greater exposure and thus much more potential customers for your business.

#3 Windows

It seems like such a small detail, but study after study shows that natural sunlight makes people happier and more productive. If you are torn between two different spaces, count the windows and go with the one that has more sunlight – your employees will be grateful and the productivity levels might be better in the long run.

#4 Incentive to Grow

Always be thinking about the growth of your business when you are looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS. One safe way to give yourself room to grow is to check and see if there are options to expand into other spaces in the property. A riskier move is to challenge yourself to grow your business by renting more space than you need. With extra space to make useful, you will feel the pressure to fill desks and keep your business on a growth trajectory – especially since one of the major hinderances to growth for a lot of small businesses is simply not enough room to expand.

Choosing an office space for lease in Kansas City for the first time has an inherent level of risk for a small business, but it can also be the best way for a small and growing business to get the boost it needs into a more professional, competitive sphere. Consider both the little details that go into a great space, as well as the risks that you can take for greater reward down the road.

If your business is looking for office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our available Kansas City office space for rent!

Commercial Real Estate In Kansas City: 8 Tips For Designing Your Perfect Space

Trends in office space design have undergone massive changes in the past decade, with companies moving away from traditional models and experimenting with how best to promote productivity, creativity and collaboration. It can be hard for small businesses to keep up with these trends, but there are a few basic principles to stick to if you are at a point where you have some say in the design of an office space for lease in Olathe, KS you are moving into. Here are a few factors to consider as you plan your designs – with emphasis on the principles of flexibility and simplicity – as outlined in the article “10 Questions to Ask When Designing Your Office”:

Space per Employee. The first step in designing an office space is determining how much space you are working with. In the past, designers would plan on about 250 square feet per employee, which meant room for an office, desk, computer and personal touches such as photos or other decorations, but now the mindset is shifting to a more mobile idea of what an office is. Because employees have laptops – which contain both work and personal things in one small space – designers are now allotting only about 150 square feet of space per employee. This is also factoring in the principle that giving employees the option to work from home on occasion means that the office might be only partially occupied on any given day.
Flexibility. Along with having a general mentality of flexibility in terms of employee mobility, businesses are also starting to make the spaces themselves more flexible. This is especially important for small businesses who are growing and changing. Some ways to do this include buying furniture on wheels so that desks and chairs can be easily moved, getting dividers for conference rooms to reconfigure the space easily and creating “plug and play” areas where employees can take their laptops and sit and work.
Reception Atmosphere. If your business has a reception area, one of your major design concerns is making that space as welcoming as possible, since that is where customers will form their first impressions of your company. One thing to consider is lighting – try to make sure your reception area allows for as much natural light as possible, and avoid harsh, direct artificial light if possible. Specific colors can also create different impressions – such as blue for loyalty or creams for sophistication. It’s also good to make sure the space is not intimidating; if you are working with a large lobby area, consider creating small clusters of furniture where people can sit.
Privacy. The trends are certainly moving towards more open spaces, with executives rubbing shoulders with their staff and a general sense of transparency and community, but it is important to still balance this with employees’ need for privacy. Try to create spaces for private conversations, individual work or simply a quiet place to get things done. Having a good mix of community places and solitary places with few distractions is a great way to maximize creativity for all employees.
Behavioral Patterns. Another thing to consider is how you want to shape the habits of people in your office, because design can really have an impact on people’s behavioral patterns. For example, consider the placement of recycling stations to encourage recycling, or create community printing or coffee areas to encourage interaction between employees who might not normally speak.
Company Culture. Design of an office space can also communicate both to employees and visitors what your company’s culture and mission are. This is an important thing to consider if you are revamping your business’s brand. Incorporating those changes into the design of your space can really cement the ideas in the minds of your staff and clients.
Comfort. Companies today are trying to make sure that their spaces have enough amenities to ensure that employees are comfortable throughout the day and actually enjoy being at the office. One way to promote both comfort and communication is by creating inviting cafe or pantry spaces for employees to snack and connect. Other businesses are going for bigger strides, such as fitness rooms, in-house dry cleaning, massage centers, and wellness rooms where employees can go if they are not feeling well. The overall aim is to create a place where employees can balance productivity with necessary elements of well-being, such as socializing, relaxing and exercising.
Green Possibilities. In all areas of design and construction, the trend these days is to factor in sustainability. Incorporating environmentally friendly elements into office design can range from using reused or recycled materials in carpeting to buying overhead lights that dim as natural light enters a space. In some cases, these kinds of features can even save your business money on energy costs in the long term.

If you have an opportunity to design or re-design a Kansas office space for rent, try to utilize this new beginning to see how you can positively improve anything from productivity, to image, to employee satisfaction in your commercial real estate in Kansas City.

If you are looking to move into a new small office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call today at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS!