commercial real estate broker in Kansas City

Selecting the Best Location for Your Office Space in Kansas

Location can be so crucial to the success of any business, so it is important to make this factor a top priority when searching for commercial real estate properties. Here are a few tips for how to approach the issue of location, as suggested in the article “Location and Leasing”:

Zoning

It is so important to understand the zoning laws in an area, because this can determine whether or not you can operate your business there at all. Not only do you want to look up zoning laws for an area, but you need to also be prepared to work with a city planning department and other municipal departments who will ultimately approve or disprove your business’s plans for a location. Sometimes you might even be required to present a “precise plan” to make sure that you are meeting regulations that go even beyond regular zoning laws to include things such as environmental issues.

Know Your Business

Different businesses have different criteria for what constitutes an ideal space. For instance, warehousing, manufacturing, or industrial businesses might need to focus on things like availability of a labor force, proper utilities, and delivery system convenience. On the other hand, a retail space might be more interested in foot traffic.

Where to Start

In this day and age, the internet is a great resource for narrowing down available and suitable spaces in an area. You might also consider working with an agent who knows the area particularly well.

Do your research and planning to make sure that your location fosters the success of your business!

If you are interested in office suites for rent in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

15 Ways To Be Spending Savvy in your Office Space in Kansas City

Most small businesses need to be very cost conscious when they first start out in order to survive. Here are a few tips for how your business can start to save, as suggested in the article “25 Money Saving Tips for Small Business”

Switch to online billing services. By using services like PayPal, you might be able to avoid some monthly and statement fees, though you will want to look into the “per transaction” fees on any online banking system to make sure that particular site will really end up costing you the least.
Watch your printers. Printer ink can be expensive, so look into ways to save, such as using recycled cartridges, buying in bulk, or sharing printers.
Reduce phone expenses. Take a look at your phone usage and think about ways you can adjust to save some money, whether that be eliminating a few phone lines, changing your plan, or looking into internet phone services.
Get rid of the desktops. If possible, switch employees to laptops, which consume much less energy and have the added benefit of being mobile.
Turn off the lights. Try to keep utility expenses down by keeping lights off in unused areas of the office.
Take advantage of the internet. Whether for calls, conferences, business form templates, ordering checks, advertising, or sending newsletters to clients, the internet can make your work more convenient as well as more cost efficient.
Review spending on supplies. Is it possible to buy more things in bulk? Look into trade shows, Craigslist, or buying wholesale as ways to save on office expenses.
Consider subleasing. If you have unused office space, you might be able to arrange to sublease the space, which would mean not paying for unused space and getting some help with rent.
Hire interns. When you are looking for seasonal staff, consider opening up positions to college students who often do internships for class credit, which will reduce your payroll without hurting your productivity.
Cross promote. Include in an advertisement a mention of a service or item that would be a good addition to the item being advertised.
Join community groups. Being involved in trade associates and other community groups can often provide advertising opportunities and can keep you plugged in to the latest news and techniques in your industry.
Evaluate your mailing list. Take a look at your mailing list to see if you can weed out any inactive customers, undeliverable addresses, or changed addresses. Mailing is an expense for you, so you want to make sure you are not wasting letters. You can also save on mail by sending it in the morning so it will arrive early rather than paying for priority or express mail.
Ask for referrals. Word-of-mouth is a powerful form of advertising, and it doesn’t cost you a dime. Include testimonials on your business’s website and ask clients to make referrals.
Get the best deal. Request three bids from vendors before signing a contract, because often vendors will match competitor prices in order to get your business.
Travel smart. Use travel websites to look for the best plane ticket prices. You can also save by having employees share things like rental cars or even hotel rooms. This kind of cooperation can majorly reduce travel costs.

Small businesses can benefit financially from taking a step back and evaluating what they have been spending on. Often there are a variety of simple solutions for cutting costs in an office space!

If your business is interested in affordable office space in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

3 Questions to Ask When Looking for Self Storage Options for Your Office Space in Kansas

So you have done your spring cleaning and now you need a place to store everything you have cleared out. Utilizing a self-storage company might be a good option, but do a little research on what companies have to offer, including visually inspecting the storage unit before renting it. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when looking into self storage, as suggested in the article “Making the Most of Self Storage Companies”:

Does the storage company have pickup options? Try to find a company that will bring storage containers to your office space and then transfer them to the storage unit for you. Calculate to see if you can save some time and money by avoiding doing the transport yourself.
Does the storage facility have 24-hour access? Granted, you might never need to track down a particular file at 3 a.m., but you might need to access specific equipment or some other item after regular working hours. It might give you some peace of mind knowing that you can access what you need on your time rather than a storage facility’s time.
Do you need climate-control? Consider the items that you are storing, such as archived files, and decide whether they need to be in a climate-controlled environment. If so, make sure that both you and the facility have the same idea of what climate control looks like.

Do your homework before picking a self-storage facility to make sure you find one that meets your needs!

If your business is interested in office suites for rent in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Five Avoidable Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Office Space Lease in Overland Park

Leasing can be a complicated process, and it can be easy for an inexperienced lessee to find themselves in a bad lease because they were not aware of the mistakes they were making. Here are five mistakes to be wary of as you navigate the commercial leasing process, as suggested in the article “The Eight Mistakes Tenants Make When Leasing Office Space”:

Weak Negotiations. Sometimes tenants think that what the landlords puts in a lease is immutable, but this is not necessarily true. The landlord’s priority is to fill spaces in the building, which means that he or she will negotiate and concede to tenants if they have to. Even small businesses looking to only rent a tiny piece of the building have power in a real estate market in which a lot of commercial rental buildings are comprised of many small tenants. So be aware that you have more leverage than you think and be tough in your negotiations.
Not Reviewing the Lease. This seems like a basic step, but many tenants either do not read the lease carefully or do not fully understand everything that is in the lease. Be aware of things like notice periods and sublet and assignment provisions. Make sure these parts of the lease are fair to your business.
Not Using Representation. Using a broker to represent the interests of your business can be hugely beneficial to you in the long run, despite the short term cost. Brokers understand the market and how to negotiate for a space. They can help you find a building that best fits your business and help you negotiate a lease that will be good for your business. Sometimes trying to go without this expertise can put your business in a position where you need to end a lease early—which is not a good thing. Consider hiring someone who truly understands the complicated world of commercial real estate.
Hiring a Broker Loyal to the Landlord. Be wary of using a broker that represents both tenant and landlord, which is how brokers at big real estate companies often work. The appeal of these brokers is that they understand the leasing process from both sides, but they often tend to side with the landlord over the small tenant, so choose carefully when you are looking for someone to fight for your business’s best interests.
Not Leaving Enough Moving Time. If your business has never moved before, you might have no idea how long it will take to pack up and relocate to a new space. Often tenants underestimate how much work this process is, and they do not leave themselves enough time to either find a new space or renew their current lease. It could take up to a year to work through the leasing process, or even more than that if you are a big company. Start the process well in advance so that you have plenty of time to find a good deal and move if you need to.

Educate yourself on the leasing process to avoid these mistakes!

If you are interested in office space for rent in Kansas City, give one of our commercial real estate brokers in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

3 Practical Strategies for Getting Employee Feedback at Your Office Space in Kansas City

Employee feedback can be an important part of improving your business, but sometimes it can be hard to obtain. Be open to your employees’ thoughts, let them know they are being heard, and seek out not only the positives, but also the things you do not really want to hear. Here are three practical ways to seek feedback from employees, as suggested in the article, “5 Steps To Getting Better Employee Feedback, Even If You Hate It“:

Ask Often. The opportunity to give feedback should not feel like a one-time deal or a privilege to your employees. Show them that you value their opinions and you are there to serve the team as a leader by soliciting feedback frequently and consistently.
Eat together. People love free meals, so having events like a BBQ, an ice cream social, or any catered parties is a good way to talk informally with your employees. Take the opportunity to mingle with them and listen to what they have to say both about work issues and about other things that are important to them.
Check back in. When you say you are going to make a change, check in with your employees to see if they feel like things are actually improving. Allow them to help measure whether ideas are actually being carried out.

Be consistent and genuine in gathering feedback from employees, and you will earn their respect and hopefully improve your business in the process.

Give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available commercial real estate in Kansas City!

Creating an Environment of Fairness in Your Kansas City Office Space

Employees want to know that they are working for people who are going to handle their concerns fairly. Here are a few tips for showing your employees that this is a priority of yours as well, as suggested in the article, “Four Ways to Foster Fairness in the Workplace“:

Give equal opportunities for recognition. Giving recognition unequally can quickly create a negative work environment. Be aware of how and when you are recognizing employees, especially if you are dealing with multiple sites, and be prepared to adapt—for instance, by holding separate awards celebrations at each site.
Give professional development feedback. One thing that can create bad blood among employees is the sense that promotions were handed out unfairly. A successful way of addressing this is by giving frequent feedback to employees. You might also balance this out with the opportunity for employees to give feedback on management.
Work for transparency. This is particularly applicable to the compensation system and demonstrates your commitment to fair pay. Consider constructing statements for your employees that lays out all of their compensation: salary, benefits, bonuses, etc.
Offer a fair process for expressing grievances. This goes along with allowing for upward feedback. Create an opportunity for employees to voice their concerns, and make sure they understand the process as well as your commitment to hearing those concerns.

Developing a fair environment will contribute to your employees’ satisfaction and ultimately reduce the number of “that’s not fair” grumblings you have to handle.

If you are interested in learning more about office lease rates in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Clauses That Provide an “Out” of Your Small Office Lease in Kansas City

Leases almost always favor the landlord, but try to negotiate on things that are important to your business. You might want to try pushing for clauses that address what happens if you need to leave your space before the lease is up. Here are a few to consider, as suggested in the article, “How to Get a Good Deal on a Lease“:

Exclusivity Clause – This guarantees that your landlord will not lease a space in the same building or development to a direct competitor of yours. If a landlord violates this clause, you would be able to free yourself from the lease.
Co-tenancy – Retail businesses in shopping centers often rely on big name “anchor” businesses to draw in traffic, so they have a vested interest in this big businesses staying open. This clause releases the tenant from the lease if a landlord does not replace an anchor tenant within a certain period of time.
Subleasing options – A subleasing clause might allow you as a tenant to sublet some or all of your space to a similar or complimentary business.

It is important to know the conditions under which you can end a lease before signing the bottom line.

If your business is looking for Kansas City office space for rent, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Six Suggestions for Negotiating the Renewal of Your Office Space Lease in Overland Park: Part III

If you are thinking about renewing your office space lease for another term, start this process early. There are several steps you can take to help you negotiate a favorable lease for your business. Here are a few final tips on carrying out this process, as included in the article, Eight Tips for Negotiating an Office Lease Renewal:

#5 Work With a Commercial Real Estate Broker

If your business can afford it, it might be worth consulting a commercial real estate expert and even having them negotiate with the landlord for you. They can also assist your research by providing insights into the current market conditions. If you only deal with leasing every so often, it is hard to keep up with current information and be the sharpest negotiator, so consider utilizing the assistance of an expert. You might want to hire a tenant only commercial real estate representative, so that you know that your interests as a tenant are their primary concern.

#6 Organize the Financial Information

Consolidate the information you have and set up a system of easy comparison by assembling a spreadsheet that includes the costs associated with all of your potential spaces. You do not need to keep this a secret from your landlord; it is important to get a complete picture of all of the information to make a data-driven decision for your business.

Starting early, doing some research, consulting experts, and staying organized can help your business renew a lease or move with the knowledge that your final decision was the best possible option.

If you want to talk to a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City (http://www.ddicommercial.com/our-agents/) about our available Kansas City office space for rent (http://www.ddicommercial.com/), give us a call at 913-685-4100!

Six Suggestions for Negotiating the Renewal of Your Office Space Lease in Overland Park: Part II

Thinking about renewing your office space lease? Do a little research before entering negotiations so that you are equipped with as much information as possible about the market and lease renewals. Check out these few tips for entering lease renewal negotiations, as suggested in the article, Eight Tips for Negotiating an Office Lease Renewal:

#3 Find Examples

Try to find samples of actual lease renewal and extension agreements. These resources are available, and it is a simple way to get an idea of what kind of terms and provisions you will want to include in your new lease agreement. If you are being represented by a broker, make sure that they are doing this for you.

#4 Research the Market

Not only should you be aware of current market rental rates, but you should also familiarize yourself with potential perks for tenants. Some of these include rent breaks, improvements, and clauses that are favorable to your business. Being aware of these options will give you more knowledge to take into renewal negotiations.

Take some time to plan out your negotiations for a lease renewal to ensure that you get the best possible deal!

If you are interested in commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Booking a Meeting Space Near Your Executive Office Rental in Overland Park

There has been a growing trend in businesses booking meeting rooms off-site for various conferences and meetings. If your business is considering giving this a try, but you are not sure if it is worth it, consider some of the reasons that other businesses have chosen to take advantage of these spaces, as described in the post, Why Should I Book a Meeting Room?:

Convenient locations. Because there has been such an increase in demand for these kinds of spaces, often it is easy to find a good space within convenient distance of your business.
Morale Boost. Sometimes just changing locations can inspire and refresh employees who are used to meeting in the same space day after day.
Technology and Space Size. Most meeting rooms are fully equipped with internet access, projectors, computer terminals, DVD players, and more—all of the same conveniences that are in your own space, or possibly more to take advantage of. You can also book different sized meeting rooms if you need a bigger or smaller space than you have in your own office space.
On-site Support. Often there is support staff and catering at the location to help take care of small logistical meeting details.

If you want a change of scene or are looking to hold a large conference that your business cannot accommodate, looking into off-site meeting spaces might be a good option.

Want to learn more about office lease rates in Kansas City? Give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!