Office Rental Space in Kansas City

9 Ways to Save On Energy Expenses in Your Office Rental Space in Kansas City: Thermostats

Commercial office buildings are a major source of inefficiently used energy—which means inefficiently used money being spent by your business. Help reduce wasted energy and make sure your company’s energy expenses aren’t higher than they should be by checking out some tips on how to save energy at the office:

Tip #6: Consistent Temperatures

Thermostats can be a source of struggle in an office, so agreeing on average temperature for each season and maintaining that temperature—even if it means locking the thermostat control—is one way to eliminate that conflict and increase energy efficiency. Be aware that you might still run into complaints from employees, and it is important to be sensitive to discomfort as much as possible, especially if any employees have thyroid or hormonal conditions that increase their temperature sensitivity. Encourage employees to wear layers, make sure there are accessible sweater hooks, have cool and hot water available, and make other little efforts to keep everyone comfortable.
You might make maintaining temperature a little easier by installing a programmable thermostat, which will adjust the temperature automatically at different times of day. No need to heat or cool the office when everyone is at home. Turning the thermostat up or down 10-15 degrees every day for 8 hours can cut heating and cooling costs by almost 10%.
Regularly inspect your heating and cooling systems to make sure that they are running efficiently.

Being aware of small ways to cut energy costs could save your business quite a bit of money in the long run!

Give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available business space for rent in Overland Park!

Kansas City Office Space Tips for the Best Landlord-Tenant Relationship: During the Search

Part of the success of your business in a new location depends upon your relationship with your landlord. This relationship is sometimes downplayed, but cultivating a positive relationship with your landlord can ease some stress on your business and allow you to focus your energy on growth in other areas. Here are a few tips to help ensure that your landlord-tenant relationship is beneficial to your business, starting with the search process for an office rental space in Kansas City:

Tip #1: Fill Out a Rental Application Honestly
If your financial or rental history is a bit spotty, it can be tempting to lie or fudge some details on your application, but if your landlord finds out about these lies down the line it can really hurt your business. Don’t risk legal issues or eviction; be completely honest with your landlord, and you might find yourself surprised by the respect it will earn you.

Tip #2: Read the Entire Lease
A lease covers everything that you and your landlord are each responsible for during your lease. Knowing what these things are can help prevent disagreements down the line if issues arise.

Laying the groundwork for a good landlord-tenant relationship before you even sign your lease is an easy way to save yourself some stress in the future!

Looking for office space for rent in Kansas City? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available spaces!

8 Small Office Lease in Kansas City Tips Every Businessperson Should Know: Part IV

Study up on leasing language and procedures before you begin searching for office rental space in Kansas City. Here are some tips on office leasing that every businessperson should know:

7. Tenant improvement allowance is usually applied to square feet. This allowance can either be applied to rentable square feet or the usable square feet of the premises. Unless you are in a single tenant building, the rentable square feet is always larger—about 10-15% larger—so the dollar amount for rentable square footage would be higher. Be sure that you know which measurement the landlord is using for the allowance.
8. Seek professional advice. Remember that you only have to go through the rental process a few times in your corporate career, whereas landlords deal in office rental all the time. Try to even the playing field by finding a good tenant representative for any relocations, subleases, or renewals. These individuals will represent you, and usually the landlord will pay for their services. Taking advantage of this opportunity means saving money and frustration in the long run.

Consult with professionals, do your research, and make sure you begin the office rental process fully prepared!

If you are interested in finding executive office rental in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of one of our available spaces!

Paperwork Tips for LLCs Moving to a New Office Space in Kansas

When your business needs to relocate, this process can involve a lot of paperwork, especially if you are moving to a new state. If you are an LLC relocating, you have several options for how to handle your registration paperwork:

• Keep your registration as an LLC in your previous state, and also register as a foreign or outside LLC in the new state. However, this can be an expensive option because you might have to pay fees in both states.
• Dissolve or liquidate your LCC in the previous state and form a new one in your new location. This will not result in any tax consequences.
• Set up an LLC in your new location, then have members contribute membership interests from the previous LLC.
• Set up an LCC in the new state and merge your original LLC with it. Provided that the original owners of the LLC still have at least 50% of their stake in the new one, it can be relatively easy to handle the tax issues.

It could not hurt to check with the IRS and research a little further before moving any business to a new state, just to make sure you are aware of any changes in your tax requirements.

If you are interested in office rental space in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available spaces!

Beginning Negotiations for an Office Rental Space in Kansas City

Getting ready to start the negotiation process? Here is some information about what the initial negotiations typically involve:

Sometimes when you first reach out to a landlord about your interest in a space, they will give you a form listing the lease’s asking terms. The form might include either a response section or attached paperwork for you to fill out counter offer information. Other landlords might simply give you a copy of the listing papers—often in the form of a flyer or ad—with their asking terms.
When you submit your counter offer, it might be in your best interest to include a letter or some other written communication. This allows you to sell yourself as a tenant, inform the landlord about your business, and make a more personal connection. This is an especially good tactic if you are dealing with a hot property with several interested parties.
Remember that negotiation often goes back and forth, so plan to be patient. Leasing agents make some decisions on their own, but will sometimes need to consult the landlord, which takes time.
If is okay to follow up if you have not heard back on your offer in one to two business days, but avoid seeming too anxious or desperate. Bear in mind that listing agents want to move property quickly, so they typically do not need much reminding.

Know what to expect as you begin negotiations to ensure that this process goes as smoothly as possible!

If you need help finding affordable office space in Overland Park, give a DDI commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100 to start talking about available spaces!

Checklist of Conditions for Your Office Rental Space in Kansas City Lease: Part III

Have you done a walk-through? Talked to your landlord about any repairs that need to be made? Read over the lease? You are almost there! It could not hurt to read the lease carefully again—this time with a checklist in mind to make sure that the lease covers anything you might have concerns about. Here are a few final things to make sure your lease addresses:

What are the terms of renewal? What will your rent increase be if you renew, and will you be required to sign a new lease after a certain amount of time? Usually landlords make the renewal term the same amount of time as the original lease (i.e. a two-year lease would mean a two-year renewal option).
Specifically state in the lease any work you plan on doing to repair or improve the property. Some landlords might give you credit for the work you do, but they will want to approve it first. Other might not allow you to do anything unless you use their contractors.
Look closely at anything the landlord has promised to do or not do. You do not want to leave things at an “oral” agreement, because proving these terms were agreed upon can be extremely difficult, so be sure these terms are written into the lease.
Any other specific terms you have asked to be a part of the lease.

If any of these items are not included in the lease, request that they are written into the lease before you sign it, and make sure that you fully understand all of the terms of the lease!

Give one of Southcreek’s commercial real estate brokers in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available business space for rent in Overland Park!

Checklist of Conditions for Your Office Rental Space in Kansas City Lease: Part II

Don’t forget to go over all of the information in your lease before you sign it to make sure that everything you might want included or have questions about is clearly covered. Here are some more suggestions for things to be sure to look out for:

The monthly rent rate—how much you will have to pay, what it does and doesn’t cover, and how it is calculated.
Any additional fees that might be required of you (i.e. parking lot maintenance, percentage of profits—anything you might have to pay in addition to monthly rent).
When your rent is due and how it needs to be paid (mailing address, in person, etc.).
How much late fees might be and when they are incurred. What to do in the event that the payment due date falls on a Sunday.
What insurance you are required to have at the signing of the lease and during the lease term.
Will anyone have the right to access your space without your permission, and if so, under what circumstances might this occur and who would it be?
Unless your lease specifically tells you that you can share the space with another business or sublease, you cannot. If you would like to sublease you must make sure that it is stated in your lease that you have this privilege.

Be sure to look for these things and a few other important provisions in your lease before you sign the dotted line!

If you are on the hunt for commercial space for lease in Kansas City, be sure to give a DDI commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about Southcreek’s available spaces!

Checklist of Conditions for Your Office Rental Space in Kansas City Lease: Part I

It is important to closely go over every word of your lease before you sign it, and it would be especially helpful to have a checklist in mind of some information that you want included in the lease. Here are some suggestions for what the lease should at contain, at minimum:

The name and contact information of the landlord or the name of the company that is representing the landlord. If there are problems down the line, who you are making the agreement with will affect your legal remedies.
Name of the person or company acquiring the space (you). Remember that if the lease is in your name, you will be the one who is personally responsible for the terms of the lease.
The start date and length of the lease. A word to the wise: if possible, do not sign a five year lease!
The cost of the deposit the lease requires and whether or not it is refundable. Will the landlord insist that you pay painting or cleaning fees when you leave? How much might these cost?

Check back to later posts for more items you might want to include on your checklist before signing your lease! Going over these things carefully before finalizing the agreement could save you from dealing with issues down the road.

Looking for commercial space for lease in Overland Park? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 and let us help you find the office rental space in Overland Park that is perfect for your business!