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5 Facts About Modern Workspaces in Office Suites for Rent in Kansas City

Businesses are starting to think a little more carefully about the layouts and decoration of their workspace. The modern workspace takes into account both the needs of employees and the culture of the company. Here are a few trends in today’s office spaces to consider if you are thinking about redesigning your own space, as described in the article “What will the workspace of the future look like?”:

The cookie cutter approach to office spaces is becoming less and less popular these days in favor of personalized and individualized workspaces based on company identity, values, and culture.
Another main goal of modern workplaces is to support employees, fostering collaboration and furthering the business’s future goals.
Businesses in the last few years have shifted to become a little more informal, offering a variety of different types of spaces so that workers can choose where and how they work best.
Technology has also had a major impact on the design of work spaces. Since technology allows employees to really work anywhere, companies are now trying to create a reason for staff to actually come to a physical location.
Companies are trying to make a space essential to the collaborative and communicative efforts of a business by creating a “sense of place.”

The traditional office space is slowly being set aside in favor of environments that really meet the individual needs of a business and it’s employees.

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

5 Tips for Beginners Renting Office Space in Kansas

Renting commercial real estate to be a daunting task, especially for those new to the commercial real estate market. However, this process doesn’t have to be so intimidating, especially if you are willing to do a little research and take your time to be thorough about the process. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you begin to search for the perfect commercial office space, as suggested in the article “A rookies guide to renting a commercial office”:

#1 Location

It is essential to search for space that will be both central and accessible to customers or clients. If you’re located far from them, they’ll be less likely to come in for the kind of informal meetings that build relationships. If you hope to set up a new office that would be a great space to meet with customers, this effort could be thwarted by a poor location. It is also important to keep in mind your staff when choosing a location. Consider proximity to public transportation such as the train or bus line. Easy access will also give you a larger base of applicants to choose from when seeking employees, because if an office is off the beaten track, less people will be likely to apply.

#2 Money

The bottom line question to ask yourself when looking at office space is can I afford it. The main factors that influence price include the quality of the building, it’s location, and its view or natural light. Properties closer to public transportation also tend to have higher rental rates. In addition, a modern building will most likely be more expensive, with the exception of heritage style buildings that have been remodeled, which tend to attract a lot of creative tenants. A building with a view of water might also have a higher price tag.

#3 Size

The size of your space will most likely be influenced by the number of employees you have. The common rule is to plan on 10 square meters per staff member. This number factors in meeting rooms, utilities, and a small reception area. However, remember if you have large break areas, kitchens, or other amenities, this number will most likely increase. Your business might also consider adopting an unconventional workspace layout that would involve different requirements.

#4 Set-up costs

Don’t forget to plan for set-up costs when determining your budget for an office space. Landlords typically require some sort of security deposit for the space, but you might be able to negotiate this number if you can supply financial proof to the landlord that your business is stable. Remember also that you’ll most likely have to pay legal fees as well as insurance. You will also need to be ready to pay the first month’s rent in advance.

#5 Lease Incentives

Often landlords offer incentives to appeal to tenants. These are usually on a case-by-case basis and often are offered to tenants of larger office spaces. Incentives might also depend on the term of your lease, the available space in the building, and your particular type of business.

Renting an office space can be relatively painless with a little research, enough time, and some common sense. Make sure to work with a commercial real estate agent that you truly trust and ask him or her to show you all available options. You can then compare many spaces and make an informed decision.

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 to learn more about our available, affordable space or to set up a tour soon.

4 Questions to Ask About Energy Needs for Your New Office Space in Kansas

Moving is a great time to look into your energy consumption and needs and make any necessary adjustments. It is important to start this process before you actually move, so that you can have everything set up as needed by the time you relocate. Here are a few questions to consider about your energy usage before a move, as suggested in the article “Moving: Time to Review Your Energy Needs”:

What are our energy needs?

Take some time to take stock of your energy situation and rethink what you need. Your energy requirements might be different at your new location, and you might even need to adjust the equipment you use in your office, so consider what your new energy necessities will be.

Who needs what?

Start with mapping out where everyone in your new office will be working and what equipment they will require. Will there be enough phone lines and outlets to accommodate your layout? Do you need to adjust your layout plan or add any power points to the office? If things turn out to be simply a matter of installing a few more phone lines or power points, try to set this up in advance of the move so that everything is ready by the time you get there. Put these things in sensible locations, because changing them after a move can be inconvenient and expensive.

What can be upgraded?

This can be a great opportunity to reevaluate what kind of technology you need and purge anything that is outdated. Perhaps this is a good time for your office to shift towards wireless technology, utilizing laptops instead of bulky desktops. If you can afford it, consider getting new and better printers rather than lugging old ones to a new space. These upgrades will not only make your move easier and possibly save you some money, but they might also have a positive impact on your productivity going forward.

What are our energy costs?

Even if an upgrade in equipment is not in the budget for you, now might be a good time to check your costs and see if you can get a better deal with other utilities providers. Go online to compare costs of different providers and see if you can save yourself some money by switching over to a new service when you move.

Take this opportunity to really evaluate your energy costs and needs going forward to make sure you will be as efficient and cost savvy as possible in your new space!

If you’re interested in moving to an Overland Park office space for rent, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our affordable office space in Overland Park!

3 Technology Tips For Small Businesses in Office Space in Kansas

Technology can be both a blessing and a curse for many businesses, but this does not have to be the case if you really brainstorm what your business needs and find the right tools to carry it out. Here are a few technologies that have proved really helpful for small businesses, as suggested in the article “3 must-have tech assets for your small business”:

Cloud Storage. Storing all of your documents in servers onsite can really take up space and slow down your computers, so consider taking advantage of cloud storage, in which you access your records through the internet. This allows the added bonus of flexibility, since you can access files anytime and anywhere.
Mobility. Along with cloud storage, the use of smartphones and tablets can really help small businesses to be mobile, meaning they can be more responsive to customers, more able to collaborate regardless of location, and more able to be out working wherever they are needed.
Web Security. So much work today involves utilizing the internet, and malware and infections from websites can really set a company’s productivity back. Reduce risk for your business by investing in good web security software.

Small businesses who make technology work for them in a positive way can really set themselves above the competition.

If your business is interested in office suites for rent in Overland Park, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100!

5 Tips for Upping Productivity at Your Office Space in Kansas

Sometimes the key to getting more work done is not putting in more hours, but working smarter. Here are a few tips for making the most of your workday so that you can get more done and still enjoy your personal time, as suggested in the article “5 Ways To Be More Productive”:

1.Turn back the alarm clock. This can be hard to do as the days get shorter and the mornings get darker, but it is one of the easiest ways to get more done. Try to get up just 30 minutes earlier, then try an hour if you can. This will add a total of 5 hours to your workweek without requiring you to stay at the office late. You might use that time simply to check emails, exercise, or get the kids ready for school, but regardless of what you do it will take the frantic edge off of busy days.

2.Block out distractions. In this age of technology, it is so tempting to constantly be checking texts, social media updates, online news stories, and more. But one step towards higher productivity is making the conscious decision to turn everything off for a little while. You can schedule small breaks for yourself for these activities if need be, or try noise cancelling headphones to help block out the day-to-day sounds of the office for a while.

3.Have the supplies you need. Make sure that your work area is properly equipped with everything you need to do your work efficiently. Maybe it is time to restock on pens or paper clips, to get an external hard drive so that your computer isn’t so full, or maybe just untangle all of the cords that seem to knot themselves together under a desk.

4.Make to-do lists. It seems like an obvious tip, but so few people do it, which means that they either forget things all of the time or have remarkable memories. Whether it is on a sticky note or in a planner, try to keep a to-do list for yourself that includes both immediate daily tasks and overall weekly tasks.

5.Give yourself a break. It is important to occasionally take a break in order to sustain focus for a long day of work. Studies suggest that short and intense work sessions are actually more productive then working at something for a long period of time. Try to work for 90 minutes straight without any breaks or distractions, then walk away from work completely for a little while—have a snack, a cup of coffee, or even try to get a little workout in if you can. You’ll come back to your desk fresh and ready to work again.

If you are feeling like you are constantly behind and unfocused, try out a few of these tips for making better use of your time!

If your business is interested in executive office rental in Overland Park, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100!

What is the Difference Between a Triple Net and Full-Service Lease for an Office Space in Kansas?

There are a few different types of leases, but two very common leases are the triple net lease (NNN) and the full-service lease (gross lease). Here is some information about each type, as outlined in the article “The Difference Between Triple Net and Full-service Leases”:

Triple Net (NNN) Lease

In a triple net lease, the tenant pays for three primary net expenses: insurance, taxes, and maintenance. Base rental rates for these leases are usually low, but the unpredictable costs of net expenses can be risky. For instance, repair expenses for the building are divided between all tenants, and these kinds of expenses can be difficult to predict and vary majorly from year to year.

Full-Service (Gross) Lease

In a full-service lease, these basic net expenses are included in the rental rate. As a result, rent is higher, but tenants can more easily budget because they know exactly what the rent will be each month.

There are pros and cons to each type of lease, and it is hard to say which lease is more cost efficient. The key is to determine if your business would rather risk unpredicted costs for an overall lower rent, or pay more but have a stable budget.

If your business is interested in The Difference Between Triple Net and Full-service Leases, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of one of our office suites for rent in Overland Park.

Determining Your Leverage in Negotiations for Business Space for Rent in Overland Park

An important part of successful commercial lease negotiations is understanding where your landlord is coming from and using that information to determine what your leverage is. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to figure this out, as suggested in the article “Develop Negotiating Skills”:

Why does the landlord need to rent out the space?

Did a business recently fail in the space and now the landlord needs to find a new tenant in order to stay financially stable? Have there been issues with the location or a high turnover rate? Educate yourself a little on the recent history of the space.

How will the landlord benefit?

A landlord might be extra motivated to rent the space if there is some extra benefit for them. For instance, if you are particularly compatible with another tenant who is considering leaving their space if a business like yours doesn’t move onto the property, they might be more motivated to rent to you.

What leverage do you have and what leverage does the landlord have?

Once you know a little bit about the landlord’s motivations for renting you the space, make yourself a simple list—a column with leverage you have and a column with leverage the landlord has. Consider both sides’ vulnerabilities and pricing power, and use this information in negotiations to determine where you can be tough versus where you can be flexible.

Doing a little research and planning before negotiations can help you enter them with more confidence!

If you are interested in office space in Kansas, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100!

Checklist for Leasing Overland Park Office Space

There are a lot of different factors that go into the decision to rent a commercial office space. Here are a few things to check off your list of considerations as you get closer to signing the dotted line on a lease, as suggested in the article “Location and Leasing”:

Consider the possibility of expansion. Will your business grow in the next few years and need more space? Ask if you can put a provision in the lease that allows you to expand into more space if necessary.
Check for local competitors. Technology has made this step easy: just go to Google, enter the what type of business you have, and click the “local” link at the top of the page and put in your type of business to see the location of similar businesses in the area.
Understand your lease and expenses. Know what type of lease you have, such as net or gross, and if you have net, make sure you know what kind of net lease it is and what expenses you will be responsible for related to CAM charges, insurance, taxes, etc.
Keep your options open. Talk to your landlord about having options at the end of your lease term. It is a good idea to aim for a short term lease to give you flexibility in case of growth and to reduce the pressure of a long term rent obligation. However, you will want to try to give yourself the possibility at the end of your lease of either renewing it or moving to a new space based on your needs at that time.
Consider factors besides rent. While you don’t want to pay for a space that is beyond your means, try to factor in other things when judging a space, such as location.
Consult a lawyer. You might want to retain a commercial real estate attorney to help you negotiate your lease. Given what a huge investment renting a space can be, especially for a small business, it might be worth the cost of a lawyer to make sure that you have negotiated the best possible lease.
Take your time. There are plenty of possible options out there, so take your time to do careful research. It is also a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to search and negotiate if you know that you need to move out of a space by a certain date.

Leasing an office space can big a big transition and investment for a business, so make sure you take the time to check each step off your list!

If you are interested in renting office space in Kansas, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100!

5 Tips for Creating a Collaborative Environment in Your Kansas City Office Space

Google, Facebook, Pixar – what do these companies have in common, besides huge success? Collaborative and creative workspaces. With big name companies like these leading the way, many businesses are shifting to office space models that offer a more relaxed environment in which employees are encouraged to use each other as problem solving resources. As suggested in the article, “How to Build a Collaborative Office Space Like Pixar and Google,” there is a strategy to creating this type of environment, and here are some tips for bringing that into your own office:

Space and Bustle – The overarching principle behind creating a collaborative environment is making sure that an office has plenty of space and other design features that encourage employees to bump into one another throughout the day, fostering casual interactions.
Common Areas – the key is to have more than are necessarily needed – workspaces, cafeterias, anything to get people out of cubicles and surrounded by coworkers when doing their jobs.
Food Stops – Google’s rule is that employees should never be more than 150 feet from food – whether it is a cafeteria, a restaurant or a small kitchen in a break room. As employees casually snack throughout the day, they have more opportunity to interact with others.
“Thinking” Spaces – Along with having a lot of common spaces, it is important to have “no-purpose spaces” so people have plenty of options for where to do work outside of their office or cubicle space.
Two or More – These companies also try to emphasize having two or more people in a space when designating office spaces.

The key to collaboration is creating as much space as possible for the kind of casual interactions that can lead to tossing ideas around and problem solving as a team!

If you would like to learn more about office space for rent in Kansas City, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100!

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!