office space Overland Park KS

6 Ways to Plan for Unforeseen Events in Your Office Rental Space in Overland Park

While there are a lot of issues that are very unlikely to happen during the course of your tenancy in an office rental space, such as natural disasters, accidents, or other sources of major damage to the property, it is best to consider those possibilities and their consequences when first drafting your lease. Here are a potential remedies to unexpected casualties to consider as you negotiate, as suggested in the articled “Planning for the Unexpected: Casualty issues in Commercial Properties”:

#1 Repairs

Even if it is unlikely that your office space suffers any severe damages throughout the course of your tenancy, there is a good chance minor issues will crop up occasionally, caused by weather or the natural wear and tear of a building. In order to prepare for minor and major damages, make sure your lease makes it very clear who is responsible for repairs, insurance, or replacing or improving any parts of the space. Don’t forget to factor in build-outs that might not be added until later in your tenancy.

#2 Lease Termination: Tenant and Landlord Rights

It is important to make sure that you will not be stuck in the lease in the event of major or partial property damage requiring repairs that will take a long time. Try to negotiate for permission to be released from the lease in the event that the timeline for repairs exceeds a reasonable amount of time, for example if it is going to take more than six months or a year, depending on the size of the space. Consider also what will happen if your landlord sets a reasonable original timeline, but unexpected delays occur and push back that timeline. Be clear about what the parameters are and if and when you can terminate the lease.

On the other hand, a landlord might to provide for their own right to terminate the lease if the damage to the space means that you as the tenant can pay a rental rate far below market value. You as a tenant want to avoid a situation in which the termination of your lease by the landlord is permitted if tenants in similar situations also have their leases terminated.

#3 Rent Abatement

It is common to include in a lease a clause allowing a tenant’s rent, CAM expenses, and tax payments to be reduced in the event of a casualty while a landlord performs the obligatory repairs.

#4 Damage to Important Parts of the Property

Even if your specific office space is not damaged, it is important to talk about what will happen in the event that other key areas of the property are damaged—for instance, the parking lot, or the space of an anchor tenant who might leave and decrease the value of the location.

#5 Waiving of Tenant Fault

Make sure that in your lease you negotiate for a mutual release from responsibility for property damages for both parties so you are not in danger of being pursued over subrogation costs. Even if the landlord tries to claim that the damage was partially because of tenant negligence, you should protect yourself from this possibility in all aspects of the lease since you already help pay for the landlord’s property insurance through CAM costs.

While you might never have to use any of these clauses in your lease, it is important to make sure your business’s rights and interests are protected in the event of a casualty to the property.

Is your business looking for affordable office space in Overland Park? Give us a call today at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of an office space in Overland Park, KS!

Co-Working vs. Traditional Office Space in Overland Park, KS

A lot of businesses are experimenting with new office space models, ranging from remote offices, to hot desking, to co-working spaces. For businesses who want to keep their offices fully occupied, here are two different options to try, each with their pros and cons: the co-working space versus the traditional office model. Below are some details on each, as described in the article “The 21st Century Debate: Remote vs. Office vs. Co-Working”:

Co-Working Space

A co-working space is a great option for businesses who have extra space that they want to do something with. Provided that their lease allows them to sublet, they can rent out this space to very small businesses or freelancers who just need a desk. These tenants could belong to a variety of different businesses and not even be in the same industry.

The benefit of this option is that it is a good financial arrangement for all parties – freelancers or small businesses can more easily afford this kind of space, and you can reduce your rent costs by making sure that no spaces in your office sit empty. The mixture of potentially different industries can also lead to interesting relationships and insight that might not be possible when everyone in the office is in the same field.

However, the downside of co-working is the possibility of a dysfunctional environment if employees and renters do not get along, which can negatively affect productivity and creativity for your business.

Traditional Office Space

While companies like Facebook and Google are very visible examples of non-traditional office spaces, the tradition space is still the dominant mode in the U.S. In this setup, collaboration between employees is easy, and the arrangement is ideal for employee-client interactions. Management can also more easily monitor employee performance and encourage teamwork.

The drawback of this option, besides the usual distractions that can come from colleagues working in close proximity to each other, is the expense, since your business has to shoulder the cost of the entire office space alone.

What works for your business depends on your financial situation and the work habits of your employees. If what you are doing right now is not working as well as you would like, don’t be afraid to change things up and try a new model!

If your business is interested in Overland Park office space for lease, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call today at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available space!

4 Reasons to Renovate Your Office Space in Overland Park, KS

As a small business owner, you have to do so many things on a daily basis to ensure that your business continues to be productive and grows—which often does not leave a lot of time for considering long-term strategies for your business’s improvement. While you probably spend a lot of time thinking about improving customer service or encouraging employee productivity, you might not have thought about the ways that renovating your actual office space can improve your overall business. Here are a few reasons to consider renovating your space, as outlined in the article “The Benefits of Office Renovation for Your Small Business”:

#1 An Office Facelift

Sometimes you just get stuck in a rut at work and need a little change of environment. Even simply making a few small changes, such as new window treatments or a paint job can make your office look like a totally new place. A facelift like this can really make it more appealing place to be and improve your mood every time you walk into it.

#2 Attracting New Clients, Customers, and Employees

Renovating a space is a great way to improve the first impression you give to your customers. Particularly if your business attracts a lot of foot traffic, making sure your space is inviting and modern is a great way to attract prospective new customers or clients and send a message about who your business is.

Additionally, you will not only attract new clients or customers, but a nice office can also have a lot of appeal to prospective employees. Obviously most people’s first choice would be to work from home, but the runner-up would definitely be in office that looks well-maintained and contemporary. A nice looking space might mean a few bonus points for your company in the eyes of a prospective employee who is filling out an application or interviewing.

#3 A Productivity Boost

An office renovation can also help increase staff productivity. There as a lot of decoration wisdom out there about how to decorate your office to affect mood, for example, by painting your office a soothing color or an energizing color. Amenities like ergonomic furniture can help increase the comfort of your employees, or even just rearranging the office to make better use of space will help people move around more easily and be more productive. A better office design will not only increase employee comfort and satisfaction, but a truly efficient office design will also help everyone work harder—and hopefully increase your overall profits.

#4 Green Improvements

Renovating your office can also increase your energy efficiency, which has the twofold benefit for you of knowing that you’re being an environmentally responsible business and being able to save some money on energy costs. If you’re already upgrading your office, it can’t hurt to make some of those upgrades “green.” For example, adding a programmable thermostat, automatic faucets, or windows with double panes—all simple things—can cut energy costs yearly by as much as one-third.

If your business has considered renovating your office, you might think about how each of these different benefits could best be achieved by your renovations. If you have been too busy with the day today of running a small business, take a moment and consider whether renovations could be a beneficial long-term investment for your business!

Interested in commercial space for rent in Overland Park? Give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at today 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available spaces and even set up a tour.

3 Tips for Outsourcing to Local Businesses Near Your Overland Park Office Space

As a small business owner, you’re responsible for keeping a lot of plates spinning at once. This can often mean that you and your employees are doing double duty on a variety of jobs. While it is good to keep costs down, sometimes outsourcing tasks is better for your business in the long run because then people can focus on their areas of expertise without getting bogged down by extra work. Here are some tips for partnering with local businesses to outsource some of your needs, as outlined in the article “A Match Made In Heaven: Tips for Partnering With Local Businesses”:

#1 Establish Goals and Expectations

The first thing to do when working with a local service provider or vendor is to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that your goals and vision are clear. Lay out all of the details of the project or projects ahead of time, including things like overall budget, deadlines, and any other expectations. Make sure all of this is understood by both parties before starting any projects.

#2 Deal with Conflict Effectively

There are bound to be a few disagreements in the course of your relationship with this business, but if you want to form a lasting partnership is important to be mature and effective in your handling of conflicts. Address any problems as soon as they arise, rather than letting things compounds and worsen overtime. Create an environment of openness and communication, making sure that the partner knows that they are also free to approach you with issues as necessary.

#3 Check for Cultural Compatibility

It is also important to understand the culture of the business you’re partnering with and how it differs from your own business’s culture. Your relationship my depends on making sure that these cultures mesh. Do they work unusual hours? Are they easy-going? Do they preferred phone or e-mail communication? Getting a grasp of all of these aspects of a business’s culture well help you anticipate what working with them will be like.

Remember that good relationships are built over time, so be selective, but also be patient. It might seem like a big step to entrust another business with some of your work and to pay to outsource, but doing so could be very beneficial for your growing business in the long run.

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

4 Ways to Improve Your Small Business’s Customer Service At Your Office Space in Overland Park, KS

Small businesses trying to build their reputations really need to develop a strong customer service policy to increase referrals and get positive customer reviews. Here are a few simple tips for improving your communication with customers or clients, as outlined in the article “5 Ways Small Businesses Can Boost Their Customer Service”:

1. Quick Turnaround Time

Nothing demonstrates that you are concerned about your customer our clients’ problems more then a quick response, especially if their issue is time-sensitive. Sometimes you might not be able to solve the problem quickly, but even contacting them to let them know that you are working on it and when you hope to have a solution will most likely make them feel pacified and increase their confidence in you.

2. Take Responsibility

If your business made a mistake or something didn’t come out as you planned, be direct and open with the customer, and work quickly to try and fix your mistake or else offer the client an alternative idea or solution. This seems like an obvious strategy, but many businesses make the mistake of ignoring or deflecting their failings, and they pay for it in a poor customer service reputation.

3. Add A Personal Touch

The benefit of being a small business is that you have a closer relationship with a smaller number of clients. Avoid any sort of customer service scripts, and instead remember your clients’ names, and regularly thank them for their business. When responding to their problems, clearly tell them how you will address the problem, when they can expect the resolution, and how much you value their business, well as what in particular you have enjoyed about working with them. Be sure to end these conversations by checking to make sure that you have addressed all of their possible concerns.

4. Go Above and Beyond

It’s important as a small business to go out of your way to make your clients feel valued and to show that you were working hard for them. Really listen to your clients when they have an issue, and let them know that their problems are a priority by consistently communicating with them to let them know what your plan is and give them regular updates. In addition to dealing with regular problems, try to occasionally do a little extra for clients to make sure that they’re satisfied with what you’re doing.

Focusing on good customer service and communication skills is a great way to begin building your reputation as a small business!

If you are looking for a small office lease in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 for more information about our available space.

5 Lease Renewal Strategies for Your Overland Park Office Space

Lease negotiation is something that should be taken seriously by businesses, especially considering that real estate can be the second most expensive cost for businesses. Particularly when thinking about negotiating a renewal for your lease, be wary of the ways that the market can drive up your rent or an aggressive landlord can push for unfavorable terms for your business. Don’t be hasty to sign an agreement; make sure you really understand what you’re getting yourself into, especially in a long-term lease. Often tenants end up at a disadvantage because they find it an administrative hassle to take care of the lease negotiation, but they also want to avoid the time and expense involved in relocating. Here are a few tips for you as a tenant to educate yourself before entering renewal negotiations with a landlord, as suggested in the article “Five secrets for successfully negotiating a commercial or retail lease”:

#1 Don’t fall victim to bullying.

Landlords often try to strong-arm their way into more favorable terms for themselves by approaching tenants early and proposing a lower rate if the tenant doesn’t use a broker. Even though hiring an experienced broker might be an expense for your business, it could save you a lot of money in the long run because they have the expertise to help you negotiate a more favorable lease for your business.

#2 Consider the costs the landlord.

If you as a tenant are thinking about relocating, consider that it’s not only a financial burden for you but also for the landlord, which gives you some leverage. Landlords have to pay construction costs, potentially retrofit the space, and spend a lot of time and therefore money preparing, marketing, and negotiating a new space. On top of that, commercial space does not normally yield a profit for the landlord until nine months after the previous tenant leaves. You as a tenant need to be aware that the landlord is just as anxious as you, if not more, about the money, time, and risks associated with you vacating the space.

#3 Do your research.

Even if you know you don’t want to relocate, It is still important to research the cost of relocation opportunities to both give you some leverage and help you reevaluate your space needs.

#4 Think about the bottom-line costs.

If you’re starting to feel like renegotiation is a hassle, take a moment to calculate what a poorly negotiated lease could cost you over the course of 5 or 10 years. In addition to thinking about your overall rental rate, also think about other factors, such as expansion options, landlord responsibilities, taxes, and operating expenses. These kinds of things can really hurt a tenant, especially if you’re not used to dealing with leases and unprepared to work for favorable terms.

#5 Start early.

Conducting all this research and negotiating effectively is a long process, one that you should aim to finalize at least six months before your lease expires, which means it’s worth thinking about around two years before the end date of your lease term. Additionally, taking charge and being proactive shows your landlord that you are seriously committed to finding the best deal for your business and you’re not willing to simply accept the terms they offer.

If your business is approaching the point where you need to start seriously thinking about relocating or renegotiating, consider a few of these tips to give you an upper hand in the negotiation process.

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

The Pros and Cons of a Virtual vs. Real Office Space in Overland Park, KS

The traditional versus alternative work environment has been debated a lot recently in the business world. The trend of alternative spaces and a more mobile workforce has been rising, but many believe that the traditional office space is not going away anytime soon. Here are some of the different perspectives on virtual versus real office spaces, as described in the article “Virtual Office? The Office is Back, Was it Ever Really Gone?”:

Virtual/Alternative Offices

In this era of mobile technology, the idea of having a virtual office is been gaining a lot of traction. A 2011 study revealed that 86% of businesses are implementing some sort of alternative workplace strategy, and another 16% of these businesses had immediate plans to implement some sort of alternative workspace. The benefits of strategies such as home offices, mobile work, or having shared workspaces that employees alternate using is that businesses can save on real estate and employees feel like they have a better balance between life and work.

The Traditional Office Space

While virtual offices offer a lot of benefits, they are only a part-time solution for most employees, and only a small percentage of employees actually use these strategies. Many still believe that the best way to interact with coworkers, access technology and tools, and productively solve problems is through face-to-face communication in an actual office space.

While technology and a growing interest in collaboration are changing attitudes about office space today, the importance of face-to-face interpersonal communication still preserves the value of having a real office space.

Is your business looking for office rental space in Overland Park? If so give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our affordable office space in Overland Park.

5 Productivity Boosters for Your Office Space in Overland Park, KS

In any office environment productivity is a major issue. Most motivated individuals are constantly striving to find ways to be more productive during the workday and to feel at the end of the day that they really got something done. To boost your productivity on the job, here are a few tips, as suggested in the article “5 Daily Habits That Will Increase Your Productivity Levels”:

#1 Plan Ahead

A more productive day can begin the night before. Spend just 10 to 15 minutes before you go to bed organizing your to do list for the next day, marking tasks that are more important than others.

#2 Avoid the Traffic

Particularly if you live in a big or crowded city, consider getting into work a little bit early to beat the traffic and give yourself time to start and I’m your most essential jobs for the day. Sitting in traffic and feel like a frustrating waste of hours, and can be a real mood killer at the beginning and end of your day.

#3 Focus on Being Focused

This may seem obvious or redundant, but in this age of technology is so easy to get distracted. Be mindful of your level of focus and remind yourself throughout the day to avoid those easy distractions, both online and in your actual office.

#4 Give Yourself a Break

Leaving the office for lunch is a great way to relieve stress and come back to the office feeling refreshed. Consider even taking a short walk to clear your head and prepare yourself to refocus for the remainder of the workday.

#5 Think of the Big Picture

Sometimes it is easy in the daily ho-hum of work life to lose sight of your overarching goals. Keep a list of these big goals on your phone, a post-it note, or something that you can have with you at all times. When you can see your goals frequently it can help motivate you to get things done.

Building better productivity can take time. Always try to be a little more productive than the day before and and consider even keeping track of your progress so that you can actually see the transformation.

If your business is thinking about moving to a new commercial space for rent in Overland Park, give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100 to learn about our available spaces.

Avoiding Renter’s Regret Over Your Office Space Lease in Overland Park

Small businesses that jump into renting a space without doing the necessary research ahead of time can often end up regretting renting the space they chose—or even renting, period. Here are a few common regrets to be aware of and avoid when looking for your own office space, as suggested in the article “What Do Small Businesses Regret After Renting Office Space?”:

Renting – Sometimes small businesses regret renting at all and wish that they had continued to work at home. The reason for this is usually that money is too tight and they cannot comfortably afford the space that they lease. Sometimes it is better to take the time to save a little more before renting, or wait for growth—and certainly to make sure that a space is within your budget.
Not Reviewing the Contract – Small business owners often make the mistake of signing a lease without really reading it closely. Particularly if you are a first time commercial real estate lessee, it is important to have an attorney go over your lease with you to warn you of clauses that could be dangerous—such as a personal guarantee, which could put your home, car, and other personal assets at risk if your business is unable to pay rent.
Bad Location – If your business needs foot traffic for sales, it is essential that you choose your location wisely. Even if you find a beautiful office for a great price, it is not worth your money if it doesn’t have the foot traffic potential that you need. Avoid this regret by researching the demographics of an area. Who lives there? Will they be interested in your product or services? What is the competition in the area? Do your homework to make sure that you don’t find out the answers to these questions the hard way.
Too Much Luxury – It might be tempting to go for a higher priced space in an upscale area or with all of the gadgets and features you want, but be wary of spending too much on flashy luxury elements. That money could be used for more practical business purposes, such as increased advertising. You will be in that lease for at least a few years, so be careful not to sacrifice functionality and growth for slick looks.

Be sure to do research before renting a space to avoid regretting it later!

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!

4 Resources for Finding an Office Space in Overland Park, KS

If you are just starting your search for an office space, there are several different resources you can utilize to find spaces in the area where you are looking. The rise of internet listings in particular has made this process a lot easier, allowing businesses to look at several different options before making a decision on a space. Here are a few suggestions, as outlined in the article “How to Search for Office Space”:

#1 Online Listings

One good place to start is websites like Craigslist, LoopNet, or Cityfeet, which are inexpensive services that allow leasing agents to list available spaces. Check as many sites as you can find to compare spaces.

#2 Social Networking Sites

Use Facebook or LinkedIn to ask for recommendations from professional colleagues or friends, or even simply post a request for suggestions on one of these sites. This could save you a lot of time if you get a good recommendation, and it is always nice to have the assurance of a referral.

#3 Property Managers or Owners

If you already have your eye on a specific property, go directly to the firm that owns or manages it to get the most accurate information about what is included in the space or how it can be customized for your business. A larger firm might also be able to direct you to similar spaces in their property to the one you are interested in.

#4 Brokers

If you are looking in a particular geographic area, utilizing a broker might be the best way to look at multiple spaces in that location and compare them. Brokers get a commission from the landlord for bringing a tenant to a space, so make sure you are aware of any fees that might be included in your lease or demanded upfront.

Take the time to use your resources to find as many options as you can so that you have lots of room to compare! The internet and referrals are always good places to start, with added advice from professionals if you need to meet more specific needs.

If your business is interested in finding a commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100. We can set you up with a tour of one of our spaces and talk to you about what size and layout would work best for your business’s needs!