kansas city office space | Southcreek

3 Tips for Using Less Electricity in Your Kansas City Office Space

A simple awareness of your office’s lighting needs can help save you money on electricity bills and be a little more environmentally friendly. Here are three ways to make sure you are not using more electric light than you need, as suggested in the article “10 Ideas for Saving Money & Energy in the Office”:

Flip the switch. If a room is empty, turn the light off. It is a very simple concept, but how often are break rooms or conference rooms empty but still lit up? Turn off lights whenever you see that they are unnecessary, and spread the word around the office to do the same.
Try CFL light bulbs. Switch out your traditional incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs for more energy efficient lighting. CFLs can last up to 10 times as long as traditional bulbs and save up to 75% on energy costs.
Soak up the natural light. If you have a window in your office, take advantage of this light source and move your desk near it. Or if not see if you can make any adjustments to take advantage of indirect light in your workspace, even if it is only during certain times of day. Not only does this save energy, but natural light is also good for your mood!

Lighting an office space can require a lot of energy (and money) consumption, so be strategic in minimizing those costs!

If you are interested in learning more about commercial office space for lease in Kansas City give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100!

Questions to Ask Your Kansas City Office Space Employees for Feedback

It is important to seek feedback from your employees, even if it is sometimes painful. Here are a few open-ended questions to ask them to get them thinking and provide you with some potentially helpful information, as suggested in the article “5 Steps to Getting Better Employee Feedback (Even If You Hate It)”:

Why did you decide to work for this business? What has made you continue here?
What do you think is the biggest strength you bring to this business?
Do you feel that the work you do makes a difference in the company?
How have you been thanked or recognized for your work in the past 6 months?
What professional development assistance have you received?
Does your supervisor provide you with frequent feedback?
What do you think is the most important thing we need to improve in our organization?
What are our core beliefs and mission?
Who is our number-one competitor?
How do you usually receive company-wide information?

Remind your employees that there are no right or wrong answers and that you will be open minded in your reception of critique, and you might find yourself with some useful and constructive feedback.

Is your business looking for commercial realty in Kansas City? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about commercial MLS listings 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!

4 Words to Add to Your Kansas City Office Space Leasing Vocabulary

If you are getting ready to negotiate a commercial lease, go in prepared by studying up on your leasing vocabulary. Here are a few words to be aware of, as listed in the article, “10 Commercial Real Estate Terms You Need to Know“:

Letter of Intent

An informal agreement between you and your landlord indicating that you are interested in beginning lease negotiations. Strongly consider consulting a lawyer before signing a letter of intent.

Non-Compete Clause

A clause to consider asking for if you are in the service industry and hoping to stay in the space for a long clause. This prohibits your landlord from leasing a neighboring space to a direct competitor of your business.

Escalation Clause

This clause allows the landlord to increase rent based on increase in the expenses they have to pay (i.e. taxes). This can take the form of adjustments based on the CPI, increased operating costs, or periodic rent increases.

Full Service Rent

Rent that covers all expenses for the first year, such as operating costs and taxes. You will still most likely be responsible for increases in operating costs over the base amount.

Before you enter lease negotiations, it is important to have a clear understanding of the language you will come across so you can negotiate the best deal for your business.

If your business is looking into office space for rent in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of an office rental space in Kansas City.

Pros and Cons of Ending Your Kansas City Office Space Lease Early

Before deciding to terminate your commercial lease early, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of this decision. Here are a few things to consider, as suggested in the article, Advantages to an Early Commercial Lease Termination:

Pros:

If your business can no longer afford the space you are in, you will be freed from rental payments, as well as financial responsibility for utilities, maintenance, etc.
You will be freed from legal ties to your landlord.
You will be able to move anywhere you need to.

Cons:

If you do not observe the correct legal procedures, you might still be held to your lease responsibilities even if you leave the space or your business shuts down.
If your landlord finds you to be in breach of contract, you could face significant legal consequences including paying the full rent on your lease at once, incurring major financial damages, and dealing with attorney fees.

If you are thinking about breaking your lease, make sure you talk to a lawyer to make sure you are following the proper legal steps. Your lease might have provisions that allow you an early way out if you find yourself financially unable to continue in a space, but if you do not adhere to the proper provisions you could find yourself incurring even more of a financial burden.

If your business is interested in office space in Overland Park, KS, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100.

3 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Kansas City Office Space

Start fresh in your office this spring by taking some time to clear out clutter and get yourself organized. Here are a few tips, based on the article, Spring Cleaning: 5 Tips for Organizing Your Office:

Put Away or Throw Away What You Don’t Need. You might have stacks and stacks of papers floating around that you no longer use. Throw away (or recycle!) what papers you can, or set up a filing system that allows you to store things you do not use regularly. The same goes for office supplies—you need easy access to things like pens and your laptop, but envelopes and tape could probably be given a home in a desk drawer.
Get Electronically Organized. When you can no longer see that vacation picture of your family on your desktop through the mess of icons, it is time to start virtually de-cluttering. Delete what you do not need, and organize everything else into folders. Consider using online file storage such as Dropbox or GoogleDrive to free up computer space.
Find Some Time. It is important to not only find time to clean, but also to take the time each day to stick with the organization systems you have established. A few seconds at the end of each day could save you from another big cleaning project down the line.

Make your office space a little more enjoyable this spring by taking the time to do a organizing.

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100.

No-Cost Ways to Make Your Employees Feel Valued in Your Kansas City Office Space

Did you know that one major cause of employee dissatisfaction according to surveys is lack of recognition? Your business might not have the budget to lavish perks and benefits on your employees on a regular basis, but there are a few cost-efficient steps you can take to make people feel more valued, as suggested in the Forbes article, Six Ways to Boost Employee Morale That Won’t Cost You a Dime:

Work with local businesses to get deals. Local businesses might depend on your employees stopping by as they run errands after work or frequenting a certain restaurant for lunch. Talk to these local retailers about deals or weekly specials. It is a win for them as business and gives you something positive to offer to your employees. Go a little further to show that you care about the families that your employees are working to provide for by calling a few local movie theaters, pools, bowling alleys, or other family-friendly entertainment venues to see if they would be interested in partnerships or discounts.
Encourage hobby sharing during lunch or breaks. Start a book club, bring in an expert to speak on gardening, or find other small ways to show people you are interested in what they enjoy outside of work.
Bring the services they need to them. If you have extra space around your office or even just a section of a parking lot, your employees might appreciate you making an effort to bring amenities they need to them. Ask nearby restaurants, food trucks, dry cleaners, or other service providers to come to your business—they get the opportunity to sell their products and your employees benefit from the convenience.

Trying even just one of these options is a good way to show employees that you care!

If you are interested in office space in Kansas, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100.

Clauses to Look at When Negotiating a Lease for a Kansas City Office Space

There are several different types of leases, so before you even begin to negotiate the lease contract, make sure you have an idea of what lease conditions will best suit your business, a topic discussed further in the article: Negotiate the Lease Contract.

You will want to start by both thinking about how long of a lease term you are looking for and making a list of provisions that would be best for your business. If you choose a short term lease, you will have the opportunity to change demands within just a few years, but a long term lease means that you are secure in your space for a long period of time. Negotiations might seem like an endless process, but do not hurt your business in the long run by allowing yourself to be stuck with a lease that is not as favorable for your business as it could be. Do a little research and enter negotiations with some knowledge of at few basic clauses that you should be wary of, as well as ones that will be favorable to your business:

Unfavorable Clauses:

Making a personal guarantee in your lease
Assignment Clauses
Permitted Use Clause
Relocation Clause
Changes in rental rates based on the CPI
Limitations on Office Space Improvements.

Be aware of the ways that these different provisions could be harmful to your business.

Favorable Clauses

An Exclusion Clause
Defining the boundaries of a space
Terms of security
Etc.

These are additional terms that you might want to propose in negotiations to help your business.

Think about the possible terms you will come across and be sure you understand how they could help or harm your business!

If your business is looking at commercial MLS listings in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of one of our office suites for rent in Kansas City.

Six Steps to Finding the Best Deal on Kansas City Office Space: Part III

Though the economy is less than ideal, this type of market can be excellent for finding good deals on commercial real estate. The process of finding commercial real estate might be a rare occurrence in the business lifetimes of many companies. But this does not mean you cannot become a pro. Here are a few final steps for finding the best deal for your business, as suggested in the article 7 Steps to a Hot Commercial Real Estate Deal:

#5 Study the Area

One great way to assess a piece of commercial property is to study the neighborhood it is located in. You can do this by talking to other business owners in the area, going to open houses, and looking for vacancies.

#6 Use All Resources

Be adaptable in your search for deals. Read classified ads, use the internet, and even consider hiring a real estate expert to help you seek out the best deals.

Remember that finding and evaluating commercial real estate is about more than assessing neighborhoods, finding the best listing price, or attracting landlords most willing to make a deal. The bottom line is being able to communicate, to build good relationships and rapport with landlords so they are willing to work out the best deal with you.

If your business is interested in finding a good deal on a commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Six Tips for Finding the Best Deal for a Kansas City Office Space: Part II

The commercial real estate market can be difficult to navigate, but you can prepare yourself to become a pro. Check out these tips for finding the best commercial real estate deals, as seen in the article 7 Steps to a Hot Commercial Real Estate Deal:

#3 Be Ready To Walk

This goes hand in hand with having a plan. Real estate pros always have an exit strategy—the best deals are ones they know they can walk away from. Be on the lookout for damages that need repairs, learn to assess risks, and make sure you are always calculating whether a space fits in your budget.

#4 Find the Motivated Landlords

You are not the only one looking for a space; landlords are often looking for tenants. Your job is to find these landlords, particularly the ones who are ready to lease to you below market value. The best deals are often accompanied by a motivated seller—someone with a reason to lease to you at a low rate. Motivated landlords are usually more willing to negotiate.

Bring your business smarts to the table when you start looking for commercial property. Taking the time to develop a sharp eye and savvy negotiation skills can help save your business money in the long run and ensure you are satisfied in your new commercial space.

Is your business on the hunt for commercial realty in Kansas City? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available affordable office space in Kansas City!