Once you have found a promising office space for your business, the next step is to calculate the true rental rate. The rent for a commercial office space is always more complicated than a simple monthly rate; it consists of several different factors, and sometimes there are extra expenses that are technically not part of your rent, but must be paid on a regular basis. Here are a few tips for determining the actual cost of your rent.
- Determine how the square feet is measured. Commercial space is usually advertised as a cost-per-square-foot basis, versus a descriptive basis (i.e. “the first floor” is available to rent). However, it is important to be aware that just because a space is advertised as “3,000 Square Feet of Office Space” does not necessarily mean that you will occupy and pay for exactly 3,000 square feet. Sometimes landlords take measurements that begin at the exterior of a wall, so you could end up paying for both usable space and wall thickness.
- Determine the cost of common areas. In many office buildings, there are parts of a floor that you will share with other tenants, such as hallways, lobbies, elevator shafts, restrooms, and parking lots. These can add up to quite a lot of space, so do not assume there will be no cost associated with the use of these areas.
It is always prudent to not take prices at face value. Do a little digging to make sure that you are really getting all that you are paying for.
If you are interested in commercial realty in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available commercial space for rent in Overland Park!
