Finding Office Spaces for Rent in Overland Park, KS: 5 Tips for a Small Business Moving to a Professional Office Space

1379 SF of Office Rental Space in Kansas City Available in Building II at Southcreek Office ParkMoving out of the home and into a professional office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, is a big step for a startup business. This upgrade can be both a source of angst and excitement as you navigate trying to find a space that meets your needs and is within your price range. As you begin this search, make sure you are equipped with the right tools to get the best possible deal. Check out these tips on finding the best space for your growing business, as suggested in the article “7 Expert Tips on Finding the Perfect Office Space for Your Startup”:

#1 Calculate Space

The first step in finding the best possible office space for rent in Overland Park for your business is to determine how much space you really need. Different experts give different numbers, but one good baseline calculation is to allow about 1000 square feet per four employees. Remember that there are options for making your space more flexible, such as allowing some employees to work from home and thus share desks, or creating various work areas for different purposes if you have employees with laptops who can be mobile.

#2 Consider Employees

When selecting a new space, you always want to consider the effect it will have on your employees. Will they have to travel father to get to this space? Are there good parking or public transport options? Choosing a location that suits your workforce will help you keep good employees around.

#3 Check Up On Your Landlord

A bad landlord can have a really negative impact on your time in a space, so make sure you do your homework to get a read on the landlord of a property. Start by talking to other tenants in the building to see how the landlord deals with problems, and you should be able to make some judgments when you visit a space based on how well-maintained it is.

#4 Find a Good Agent

When looking for an agent to work with, it is always best to go with someone who comes with a good recommendation. This person is going to be one of your biggest assets in negotiating a good lease, so you want someone that a friend or collague can vouch for. At the very least, do a little research on potential agents on sites like Zillow or LinkedIn.

#5 Negotiate, Negotiate, Negotiate!

Don’t take anything at face value when negotiating your lease, including the rental rate. Often businesses can negotiate down the listed rent by 5 to 20%, or ask for a period of free rent – for example, one month of free rent for every year of your lease. Try for what you can, and know that worst case scenario the landlord simply says no.

If you are a small business finally moving out of the home and into a professional Kansas office space for rent, try to break down the big process into manageable pieces – determining how much space you need, what effect the move will have on your employees, finding a good agent and then landlord, and negotiating anything you can in your lease. Performing due diligence in your search for a space can really shape the course of your business in the long run!

If your business is trying to rent office space in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our available office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, or to set up a tour of one of our spaces!

Share

Office Space for Lease Overland Park, KS: Lease Problems to Look Out For

Office Space for Lease Overland Park, KS: Lease Problems to Look Out For

Since business owners typically only look for new Kansas office space for rent every three to five years, each rental process can feel like starting completely from scratch again. There are a variety of factors to consider, such as market conditions, finding a real estate agent to represent you and comparing all suitable properties in the area. Here are a few pitfalls to look out for when leasing commercial property in Overland Park, KS, as outlined in the article “10 Critical Issues When Leasing Or Buying Commercial Real Estate”:

#1 Choose Real Estate Agents Carefully

Finding a real estate agent or broker can be a difficult process to navigate, since sometimes brokers are representing both parties or only the landlord. If a broker is representing the landlord, their goal is going to be to to protect the interests of their employer. Beware also of companies who provide a different agent to represent each company, as this situation still can be a conflict of interests if they are hired by the property owner, despite the fact that they are different individuals. However, if you stay on top of your own interests and make sure they are prioritized, the advice of a broker employed by the landlord can still be valuable. But note too that even if these representatives are paid for by the property owner, the cost is ultimately passed on to you the tenant, so make sure that you are getting a good and experienced broker so you get your money’s worth.

#2 Look Beyond the Listings

Remember that the listing for a property should just be a starting point and not your only major source of information about a space. Do some research to find out about all available spaces in an area and which landlords are really looking to lease—and thus might be more willing to negotiate. You will also need to do some wider research to find out about market conditions, the benefits of different locations, potential client demographics, and bottom line prices for each property. Remember that the asking price in a listing is just the starting point for negotiations—tenants can usually either lower the price or ask for additional incentives or concessions in their lease.

#3 Get it in Writing

A big mistake tenants can make is not getting every aspect of negotiations in writing. This includes every promise, agreement, concession, warranty, etc. Making sure that every term and clause that is important to you makes it into the lease will prevent any disagreements or misunderstandings down the line.

Leasing commercial real estate involves some real awareness and an investment of your time and energy to come out with a good deal. Make sure that you are verifying all information, sticking to your budget, asking questions, and keeping in mind a clear picture of your business’s needs—then don’t be afraid to negotiate for what you want.

If your business is interested in commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, or to set up a tour!

Share

Kansas Office Space For Rent: 4 Tips for a Successful Negotiation

Kansas Office Space For Rent: 4 Tips for a Successful Negotiation

Looking for office space for lease in Overland Park Kansas can be a very long and tedious process for those who are new to the business. A lot of things need to be researched, processed and reviewed. While you are looking for an office rental space, an important but sometimes complicated step is the negotiation process. Here are a few pitfalls you should consider before entering negotiations to make sure that you come out with the best deal possible, as outlined in the article “Lease Negotiation & Mistakes Tenants Often Make”:

  • Relocation Clause – Some landlords have leases that allow them to relocate your business within their property if they need to as long as they pay for a portion of the moving costs. This can be very disruptive and expensive to your company if this happens. It might sound strange that they could make you just pick up and move, but you’d be surprised as most landlords have this provision in their leases. A good way to avoid this situation is to either strike the clause from the lease or make the penalty costs for the landlord very high, so they have to pay more to move you, which will hopefully discourage them from acting on this clause.
  • Early Move-In – Nothing is worse than paying rent for a place that doesn’t have internet or telephone connections set up yet, so try to negotiate for early possession of the space to give you time to get it business read. Ask the landlord if you can start setting up the space without paying rent yet two weeks to a month before your official start date.
  • Right to Hold Over – On the other end of the lease term you may want to negotiate for the right to hold over at the end of your lease. This may become useful if your new space isn’t fully equipped yet or you are still looking for that perfect spot to move your new business. However, be aware that most landlords will probably charge an extra 35-50% increase on the base rent for a hold over. A good idea would be to negotiate for a lower rate for a shorter amount of time upfront in your lease.
  • Discounted Rent – Though it really varies from market to market, most major cities will have landlords who will offer a month or two of a lower rental rate or a rent free period depending on your lease length. A good way to negotiate this term would be to offer to make the lease a little bit longer, so, for example, negotiating a 24 month lease to a 36 month lease with three months of discounted or free rent might be possible.

These negotiation points are easy to address with your landlord if you review the lease and make sure you have everything in order before signing the lease. Most landlords are used to making negotiations and working with the lessees for better control of the space. This makes each experience unique, so be prepared for a landlord that doesn’t want to budge or one whose lease is completely fluid. So if you are looking for commercial real estate in Overland Park make sure to find an experienced real agent or attorney who can be a helpful resource for the situation.

If you are looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park KS give one of our real estate agents a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of our office spaces for rent in Overland Park KS!

Share

Office Space for Rent in Overland Park: Planning for the Office Space of the Future Right Now

Office Space for Rent in Overland Park: Planning for the Office Space of the Future Right Now

Office spaces have changed drastically in the past few decades, and business across America are working to find a balance between innovation and tradition. If you are looking to rent office space in Overland Park, here are a few suggestions for how to navigate the office space trends of the future, as suggested in the article “What the Workplace of the Future Will Look Like”:

#1 Prepare to Update Your Technology

Technology in the last twenty years has been one of the fastest changing aspects of the business world, and it’s entirely probably that this trend will continue into the future. For example, while email has been the most common form of communication among workers, and probably will continue to have a major role, other forms of communication are evolving to become more efficient and convenient, especially to connect employees who work from home or who are in different locations. Preparing for these kinds of advances is something you can do even while you consider what kind of office space will be best for your business.

Something to consider when you are choosing an office space is how easy it will be to continue to update technology. Is there room to create a work station where all employees can access the best equipment or computers with the most up-to-date software? Is it both desktop computer and laptop friendly? Even if you aren’t a tech whiz, look into what kind of technology you might want in your office in the upcoming years and make sure that your space is compatible with those updates and will be able to support the technological needs of various types of employees.

#2 Consider Layout and Your Company Culture

Another big consideration when ushering in the office space of the future is the layout of your office. Recent trends in office space have been to more open office environments, without cubicle walls. This seems to be the wheelhouse of millennials, who are entering the workforce ready to multitask and collaborate, but many business have a mixed staff and some employees might prefer more traditional models. When deciding what kind of layout is right for your business, think about your company culture and the atmosphere you are trying to create. Usually businesses find some success with a combination of open and private environments, so think about how much space you would want to allocate for each of these purposes.

#3 Decide What Works for Your Business

There is also some truth to the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” While innovations in things like office design and business technology can be exciting and often worth experimenting with, don’t forget to consider your employees and their needs as you plan an office space. While a lot of employees are mobile and need the technology to be able to conduct business virtually, there are also just as many employees who need to come in and work at their desks each day. You also might have senior employees who are more likely to thrive in private or smaller shared offices than sitting at a long table with half the office. Ultimately, achieving a balance of innovation and successful traditional practices is key.

If you are moving into a new commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, it is a great time to consider what the current and future trends are in office spaces and if any of these trends can enhance the office experience for you and your employees. A good place to start is by gathering input from employees and looking for the best way to walk the line between newness and convention in your office space for rent in Overland Park.

If your business is interested in office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 for more information about our Kansas office space for rent!

Share

The Pros and Cons of Cubicles in Your Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

The Pros and Cons of Cubicles in Your Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

An important aspect of choosing a commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, involves planning how you will arrange the space for your employees. Depending on your interests and your budget, this layout could include several private or semi-private offices, clusters of cubicles, or open space without any barriers. One of the most classic office space layouts is the cubicle setup—which has gotten a lot of criticism lately, but might still have plenty of advantages to offer. Here are a few pros and cons of the cubicle model to consider as you’re looking for your ideal office space for rent in Overland Park, as outlined in the article “14 Reasons Workers Love (and Hate) About Their Cubicles”:

Pros:

  • Community Building – A lot of workers really like working in cubicles because it offers an opportunity to meet and interact with their coworkers. Cubicles can be an especially useful way to make a big company feel smaller and more homey; employees have an opportunity to regularly strike up conversations with their neighbors and develop relationships.
  • Motivation to Improve – Working in a cubicle setup can be a good way to draw a sense of drive from coworkers and stay motivated and accountable. There is good energy in a cubicle space, and sometimes seeing other people in the zone at work can help kickstart others’ creativity kicks. Some employees also think it’s a good way to keep them organized since there is no door to hide a mess behind.
  • More Privacy and Personality than an Open Office Plan – Cubicles have the benefit of offering a similar sense of community as in an open office plan, while still allowing employees the opportunity for a little privacy if they need to just sit in front of their computer, put on a pair of headphones and work alone for a few hours. It also gives employees their owns space to decorate and personalize, which tends to  make people more comfortable at work.
  • Brainstorming and Teamwork Opportunities – Having a lot of employees in close proximity to each other also makes cooperation and impromptu brainstorming sessions a lot easier. If someone is stuck on an issue, it’s easy to just pop over to a neighbor and get some help finding a solution.

For a lot of employers and employees, the cubicle layout is a great compromise between private offices and a totally open office plan. A cubicle area can offer the energy and collaborative opportunities of an open office space, while still giving workers the feeling of a little privacy and a sense of their own corner of the office.

Cons:

  • Strained Coworker Relations – One downside of cubicles is that they can sometimes put a strain on the relationships between employees. Employees often feel that they have no choice regarding who their cubicle neighbors will be, and if neighbors start to annoy each other, the close proximity only exacerbates the situation and ends up becoming a source of distraction during the workday. Workers also point out that although cubicles may all seem to be the same, there are definitely some cubicles that are bigger or better located than others, and competition for these spaces can be another source of troubling office politics.
  • Lack of Privacy – While employees might be somewhat out of sight of each other behind their cubicle walls, many still feel like they lack true privacy in a cubicle layout. People have the sense that their every move is being watched, and their coworkers are noticing and judging when they go to lunch, when they leave for the day, and even how often they go to the bathroom. It’s also difficult to have a phone conversation without everyone hearing the whole thing. Workers worry about office gossip and judgment when their every word is clearly audible.
  • Unwelcome Ambience – Another problem that cubicle dividers don’t keep out is the general spread of noise and smells around the office. Workers complain that they don’t actually want to hear every word of a neighbor’s phone conversations, or smell their tuna sandwich at lunch either.
  • Monotony – One of the most classically lampooned aspects of cubicle life is the general sense of “corporate” monotony that can be induced by sitting in the same setting day after day. It can sometimes be harder for an employer to foster creativity among staff in a very generic and uniform environment.

Some of the downsides to consider of setting up an office space with cubicles are the problems with privacy, general office distractions and the possibility of negative relationships developing between employees.

Having an idea of what kind of office space layout best fits your business’s needs is a necessary part of the office leasing process. If you know that cubicles work best with your business’s culture and budget, it is important to make sure that a potential space can accommodate them. On the other hand, other office spaces might be better suited to having a lot of private offices or creating an open office space with work stations. So before you get too serious about any one space, make sure you have played around with some design possibilities and are happy with the layout options.

If you are looking to rent office space in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our office space for lease Overland Park, KS, or even set up a tour of a Kansas office space for rent.

Share

Sharing Kansas Office Space for Rent: Things to Look for in a Co-working Space

Sharing Kansas Office Space for Rent: Things to Look for in a Co-working Space

A lot of small businesses decide that sharing a Kansas office space for rent with another business or individuals is the best financial option for them, and this setup also has the added benefits of networking opportunities and creative energy, among other things. But sharing a space with another business can be tricky, so whether you are looking to join a co-working space or you are interested in starting one, make sure the space has the right conditions to make the experience a success. Here are a few things to look for when considering prospective office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, to turn into a co-working space, as outlined in the article “Shared Office Space: What Your Small Business Needs to Know”:

#1 Office Layout

When you share a space with other tenants, you give up some control of the setup your space. It is important to think about how all of the different businesses will share the space – will each person have their own desk and equipment that they return to each day, or will there be more of an open seating plan? Are there some spaces that need to be designated as quiet, private places and some for more collaborative work? These are important questions to consider in any office rental situation, but they become especially important to address in a shared space.

#2 Location

While co-working spaces are definitely great cost-effective options, make sure that you are not sacrificing your business’s image in favor of a cheap option. If a location does not seem like the kind of place where you would want to invite a client or the space seems to chaotic for your business’s culture, then you should probably cross that potential space off of your list.

#3 Co-Working Neighbors

Another huge factor in starting or choosing a co-working space is making sure that the people you are sharing the space with will be good neighbors. Not only do you want to make sure that they will be enjoyable to be around and easy to work with on any office space issues, but you should also consider whether it benefits your business to work alongside them. You might not always have the luxury of picking the perfect neighbors, but potential networking or collaborative opportunities are always a good thing to keep in mind when evaluating potential fellow tenants.

A co-working office space for rent in Overland Park can be a great way to save some money for a new business. If you are thinking of starting a co-working space, keep in mind important factors like your office setup, location and neighbors. These are things that you should consider in any office lease, but they deserve a little extra attention if you are considering sharing your space!

If you are looking to rent office space in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available office space for lease in Overland Park, KS.

Share

6 Essential Questions To Ask Before Signing A Lease for Commercial Office Space for Rent in Overland Park, KS

6 Essential Questions To Ask Before Signing A Lease for Commercial Office Space for Rent in Overland Park, KS

When you are looking for Kansas office space for rent you will most likely spend a lot of time signing and negotiating your lease. This has the potential to can be a tiresome experience with delays, problems and long negotiations, but this process is normal and can be navigated successfully. So when you are finalizing your lease for your commercial office space for rent in Overland Park KS don’t worry! Just ask these six questions, as outlined in the article “10 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Commercial Lease,” which will make the signing process a little simpler:

  1. Do you understand what the lease is saying?

This first one might seem like a simple thing, but it may be the difference between having a good space and a great space. This point is to make sure you understand the terminology used in the lease. A few words, like Common Area Maintenance, appear in acronym form: CAM. This number is based on the percentage of the building you are renting. There are a several other terms and phrases that are important and you should know about before signing your lease, so make sure that you read up on the terminology before entering negotiations.

  1. Are you getting the best deal available?

Once you know most of the terms and phrases in the lease, look it over once more and maybe negotiate further. Is everything okay and ready to go? Does the lease address all of your concerns? What would you like to add or take away from the lease? It’s a good idea to address these things before you sign the lease, because once you’re committed you cannot change these issues.

  1. Is your business organized and ready to go?

Organization is an essential key to any good business; so before you sign the lease make sure you know what you need to do right from the start. Go over the lease, have everything in place and know what needs to be started or taken care of before you start you open your doors—ranging from moving arrangements, to your budget for this space, to a business plan you can show the landlord to reassure them that you’re a reliable tenant. Also, it is advised that you have either Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization filed for an LLC back from the Security of State before things get going.

  1. Have you read the lease agreement?

Yes, you should read every word of the lease before signing it. It can be a very long and not very interesting litany of technical jargon, but it is an important document for your business. It’s a good idea not to assume that everything is included; so make sure check everything from the starting date, to rent escalation to any other special terms you negotiated before putting down your signature.

  1. Do you need a personal guarantee?

Most places probably won’t let you sign the lease without a personal guarantee, which essentially means that you are personally liable for upholding the terms on the lease. Of course this is negotiable, and you could either negotiate for a shorter period in which the guarantee is in place, or perhaps even a guarantee for half the time from when you terminate the lease.

  1. What do you need to be responsible for?

Most leases will include a term called Capital Expenditures within the document. This usually means that you as the tenant are responsible for certain things that may need to be fixed in the building. These types of things can differ greatly from property to property and city to city. However, it is wise for a tenant to negotiate for the removal of terms that require you’re your business to take the majority of the repair costs yourself.

In the end, it is a good idea when looking for commercial real estate in Overland Park to be realistic with your negotiations. Someone who is leasing 5% of a larger property will have a completely different experience with the process than a person who is trying to rent out 70%. While there are certain variables you can’t control, you can prepare yourself to get the best possible deal by researching and studying up on what you can influence before entering negotiations.

 

If you are looking for an office space for lease in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, or even set up a tour.

Share

Office Space for Lease in Overland Park KS: When and Where to Look

Office Space for Lease in Overland Park KS: When and Where to Look

Trying to find office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, and don’t know where to begin? Here are a few tips on when to look for commercial real estate in Overland Park and what resources are available to help you search, as described in the article “How to Find Commercial Real Estate for Lease”:

When to Look

While it might seem like the home real estate market has nothing to do with your office space, statistics show that a favorable real estate market for home buyers also correlates with a favorable market for businesses leasing commercial property. So when home prices in the area where you are looking are down, that might be a great time to start seriously looking into commercial property.

Another thing to keep in mind is to give yourself plenty of time to find a space and negotiate a lease—anywhere from six months to a year. If you find a space quickly, a landlord might be willing to hold it for you for a few months, but it is also likely that it will take a long time to find a space, gather any necessary documents, finalize a lease and eventually move into a space, so you do not want to wait until your current lease is almost over to start looking for a new option.

Where to Look

There are several different ways to find different types of commercial space for rent. Here are a few to start with:

  • Ask around. A simple way to start is just by asking friends and family in the area if they know of any available space. If you are looking for a small amount of space, there are also some local organizations who might have a spare office area, such as local community centers, churches or other businesses. You might also try checking in with the local chamber of commerce.
  • Drive around the area. Another easy early step is to just drive around the city or town and look for office parks with for lease signs. In tougher economic times, you will most likely see plenty of signs, and if you can find something and contact the lessor directly, both parties will be likely to save money without the hassle of an intermediary party that needs to be paid commission.
  • Check the local newspapers. This might seems a little old fashioned in the digital age, but this could also be a great way to save some money. Most papers will have ads from realtors, but in addition to looking at these, keep an eye out for listings that are posted by individuals. As with signs outside of buildings, this means you can work with the lessor directly, and because they don’t have to pay commission they might be more inclined to offer extra incentives such as a month of free rent.
  • Utilize internet search engines and websites. A great way to start a very general search is to type into Google the name of the location (city and state) where you are looking, followed by keywords related to the type of space you want, such as “commercial space for lease” or something along these lines. There are also a few different specific websites you can use to search:
    • LoopNet – This nationwide website allows you to look for commercial space by city, state, or zip code. A lot of listings are for property that is for sale, but there are also always for lease spaces listed as well.
    • Craig’s List – This catchall website can also be a good source of commercial space listings and you can narrow down your search to the county you are looking in and the type of listing. Craig’s List is also a common place for individuals to post listings, so it is another good opportunity to find a lessor who might pass along some of their savings to you in the form of various benefits.

When looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, it is good to look at several different spaces and systematically compare the pros and cons of each. There is more to consider other than just the bottom line rental rate, including extra fees, the length of the lease term, and any potential benefits a landlord might offer. Start early and give yourself plenty of time to find what will best carry your business forward in the upcoming years.

If you are looking for office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-689-4100 to find out more about our available Kansas office space for rent and even set up a tour!

Share

Documents Needed for an Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

Documents Needed for an Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

Signing a commercial lease also involves providing a few other documents for a landlord, so it is important to make sure your business these different documents and can get them to the landlord so as not to hold up the leasing process. While different leases and landlords might require different specific documents, here are five documents you can generally expect to be asked for when looking to rent office space in Overland Park, as outlined in the article “Documents Required to Sign an Office Lease”:

#1 A Business Plan

Particularly if you are a startup company, a landlord is going to want some assurance that you will be a stable and reliable tenant. The first step in proving this is to provide them with a business plan, which should include an overview of what your company does, your goals both for the short and long term, and a general description of how you plan to use the office space. A good business plan will assure the landlord that you are thinking of the big picture and have really considered what leasing the space will entail.

#2 Bank Statements

In addition to your business plan, the landlord will want some financial records proving that your business has a good financial history, which is an indicator of your ability to pay rent. These documents should include things like profit and loss statements or balance sheets.

#3 Tax Returns

Providing your tax returns for the previous two years will help establish that your business is above board and is another indicator of your reliability.

#4 Professional Resume and References

A professional resume or some references from clients, previous landlords or accountants also further confirms the character of your business. A landlord might request both the resume and a few different references, so be ready with names to give them.

#5 Personal Guarantee

This is less than ideal for a business owner, but sometimes landlords require one. When you negotiate your lease, try to also address this issue. You might not be able to eliminate the need for it entirely, but you can try to ask for a limited personal guarantee, which might require you as a business owner to only pay rent for a certain period of time if your business breaks the lease. You can also see if you can have the guarantee waived after a certain point in the lease term. However, the landlord will most likely want some guarantee as an extra form of protection.

If you are in the process of looking for office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, make sure that you can access all of these documents. Your landlord might require more documents, such as an insurance policy, but this is a good place to start in establishing your good character as a potential tenant.

If your business is looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our available Kansas office space for rent, or even set up a tour of an office space for rent in Overland Park!

Share

Finding Kansas Office Space for Rent: 4 Steps to Take Before You Start Negotiations

Finding Kansas Office Space for Rent: 4 Steps to Take Before You Start Negotiations

Before you start a serious search for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give yourself plenty of time to really prepare yourself—especially if it is your first time dealing with a commercial lease. Your professional image, business assets and the futures of your employees are at stake in this decision, so there is every reason to exercise the utmost care. Here are a few steps to take to get ready for the process of commercial real estate negation and rental, as suggested in the article: “Your First Commercial Lease: How to Prepare and What to Expect”:

  1. Familiarize yourself with the jargon. Determining whether the spaces you are looking at are right for your business sometimes comes down to a matter of technical terms. Make sure you understand the different classes of commercial property, the different types of leases, and the difference between “usable” and “rentable” square footage. It is also important to understand the names of other fees associated with a lease, such as Common Area Maintenance (CAM) costs, as all of these things ultimately affect what you are paying for and your experience of the property.
  2. Assess your budget. In addition to knowing the names of the various costs, you need to know whether your business can handle them. This means first looking at the financial status of your business, your projected growth and the level of risk that it is safe to assume in a lease.
  3. Seek professional guidance. One thing to seriously consider in order to make the process a bit easier for you is working with a real estate attorney or broker to help you understand the details of your lease. While this is an added expense for your business, it might pay off in the long run if you can get a better deal and avoid some serious leasing pitfalls. Be wary of the brokers that are brought on by the landlord, as they are not objective third parties or interested in the most favorable terms for you. An experienced professional hired by you will have the best eye for details that a first time lessee might miss.
  4. Consider the growth of your business. Another thing to think about is the growth of your business in the upcoming years. If you anticipate your business getting bigger, it is important to look for a space that you can grown into, or a lease with an option to expand. Most new and growing business also opt for shorter term leases (1-3 years) with an option to renew.
  5. Evaluate your brand. A final thing to consider is how the location will affect the image of your business. Remember that even if you are only there for a few years, every place you choose will contribute to the brand image your business is building, and certain neighborhoods or properties convey different messages. This factor is more abstract than just the budget numbers, but take the time to include it in your overall strategy for finding office space for lease in Overland Park, KS.

Before you even start looking for Kansas City office space for rent, do the necessary homework to make sure you know what to expect from the process and what is best for your business.

If you are looking for commercial real estate in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS.

Share