office suites for rent in Kansas City

3 Questions to Ask When Looking for Self Storage Options for Your Office Space in Kansas

So you have done your spring cleaning and now you need a place to store everything you have cleared out. Utilizing a self-storage company might be a good option, but do a little research on what companies have to offer, including visually inspecting the storage unit before renting it. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when looking into self storage, as suggested in the article “Making the Most of Self Storage Companies”:

Does the storage company have pickup options? Try to find a company that will bring storage containers to your office space and then transfer them to the storage unit for you. Calculate to see if you can save some time and money by avoiding doing the transport yourself.
Does the storage facility have 24-hour access? Granted, you might never need to track down a particular file at 3 a.m., but you might need to access specific equipment or some other item after regular working hours. It might give you some peace of mind knowing that you can access what you need on your time rather than a storage facility’s time.
Do you need climate-control? Consider the items that you are storing, such as archived files, and decide whether they need to be in a climate-controlled environment. If so, make sure that both you and the facility have the same idea of what climate control looks like.

Do your homework before picking a self-storage facility to make sure you find one that meets your needs!

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!

Clauses to Look at When Negotiating a Lease for a Kansas City Office Space

There are several different types of leases, so before you even begin to negotiate the lease contract, make sure you have an idea of what lease conditions will best suit your business, a topic discussed further in the article: Negotiate the Lease Contract.

You will want to start by both thinking about how long of a lease term you are looking for and making a list of provisions that would be best for your business. If you choose a short term lease, you will have the opportunity to change demands within just a few years, but a long term lease means that you are secure in your space for a long period of time. Negotiations might seem like an endless process, but do not hurt your business in the long run by allowing yourself to be stuck with a lease that is not as favorable for your business as it could be. Do a little research and enter negotiations with some knowledge of at few basic clauses that you should be wary of, as well as ones that will be favorable to your business:

Unfavorable Clauses:

Making a personal guarantee in your lease
Assignment Clauses
Permitted Use Clause
Relocation Clause
Changes in rental rates based on the CPI
Limitations on Office Space Improvements.

Be aware of the ways that these different provisions could be harmful to your business.

Favorable Clauses

An Exclusion Clause
Defining the boundaries of a space
Terms of security
Etc.

These are additional terms that you might want to propose in negotiations to help your business.

Think about the possible terms you will come across and be sure you understand how they could help or harm your business!

If your business is looking at commercial MLS listings in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of one of our office suites for rent in Kansas City.

Six Tips for Finding the Best Deal for a Kansas City Office Space

Finding commercial real estate is a process, and it requires plenty of business smarts to find good, affordable spaces. But how do you determine what commercial real estate is going to be the best for your business? What is the difference between a great deal and financial losses waiting to happen? Here are a few tips to help you thoroughly evaluate your commercial real estate options, as suggested in the article, 7 Steps to a Hot Commercial Real Estate Deal:

#1 Have a Plan

Have some criteria for a space in mind and an idea of what you are willing to put forth before you even begin looking. Consider the following issues:

How much space your business will need
The kind of space you will need and any specific amenities that must be included
The amount that your business can budget to pay for a space
Whether you need to find other businesses to share a space with

Be ready to walk away from negotiations of a space does not meet your requirements.

#2 Learn How to Evaluate Like an Insider

In order to really navigate the world of commercial real estate, you need to learn what the professional real estate hunters know. A lot of people are not aware of the differences between leasing a commercial space and leasing a residential space. For instance, commercial property involves a bigger cash flow and the income on a space corresponds directly to its usable square footage. The lease terms for commercial real estate spaces also tend to be longer than those of residential leases. Finally, you need to know that commercial property lenders typically want you to be able pay at least a 30% deposit upfront, so plan for that when you are making your budget.

Preparing for your foray into commercial real estate is just as important as being a tough negotiator!

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!

Choosing a Kansas City Office Space: Step 1

Selecting a location for your business is one of the most important decisions a small business owner will make, so careful research and preparation is required. Here is the first of a few steps to help you find the best location for your business:

Determine Your Business’s Needs

An obvious factor in choosing a business is customer exposure, but here are a few other factors and needs that you might also consider:

Plan For Future Growth – If you think your business might grow during the duration of a lease term, be sure to determine if the property has extra space you can lease and what that process would entail.
Competition – Are the surrounding business in the property complementary or competitors?
Brand Image – Does the location fit with the image your business is trying to uphold?
Local Labor Market – Are there potential employees in this area? Will they have to commute far?
Zoning Requirements – These dictate what kind of business you can conduct in a location. Contact a local planning agency to make sure your business operations comply with the regulations.
Safety – Is there a high crime rate in the area? Are there measures in place to make sure your employees and customers will feel safe in your parking lot?

Determining your needs before beginning your search for a business will help you quickly determine whether to pursue or reject various properties.

If your business is interested in office suites for rent in Kansas City, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100!

Critical Terms For Your Small Office Lease in Kansas City: Part II

If you are a small business owner looking to negotiate an office rental space for the first time, there are some key terms that are typically included in a lease that you should be familiar with as you begin the process. Here are a few more critical terms you can expect to come across:

Security Deposit – and the conditions for the return of this payment.
Improvements – know whether there will be fixtures added to the space, or any modifications or improvements (these are called build outs when a landlord is finishing a new space to a tenant’s specifications). Clarify who will pay for these, and who owns them after the lease term is over (typically, the landlord will own them).
Maintenance and Repair – whether it is your responsibility or your landlord’s to maintain and repair the space, including heating and air conditioning systems.
Subleasing – whether you can sublease or assign your space to another tenant.
Renewal and Expansion – whether there is an option to renew your lease for another term or expand into surrounding spaces.
Termination – determines if and how the lease may be ended; this clause includes any agreements on penalties for termination, notice requirements, and any alternatives to taking a dispute to court.

Doing some homework before you start looking for a space can help you become a savvier lease negotiator!

If you are interested in office suites for rent in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our affordable office space in Kansas City.

The Difference Between a Commercial Lease for an Overland Park Office Space and Residential Leases

Renting a commercial space is a big responsibility and can majorly impact the success or failure of your business, so it is important to understand the difference between leases for commercial real estate and residential real estate before approaching a landlord. Both legally and practically speaking, commercial and residential leases are very different. Here are some main distinctions between the two:

No standard agreements. Typically commercial real estate leases are not based on a standard agreement or form, but instead each lease is customized to the needs of the landlord. This means that you as a tenant need to carefully examine each lease agreement different landlords offer.
Less legal consumer protection. Commercial leases do not have the same protection laws that are in place in residential leases. For instance, there are no rules to protect a tenant’s privacy or limits on security deposits.
Long, binding terms. It is difficult to break or change a commercial lease, as it is a legally binding contract involving a lot of money.
Flexibility and Negotiability. One of positive differences from a commercial lease is that they are typically subject to more negotiation potential than residential leases, since landlords are often in need of tenants and willing to extend special offers or accommodate special features that businesses might need.

You might already be an expert on residential leases, but make sure you understand how commercial leases differ before you enter into negotiations for a space!

If you are interested in commercial real estate in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available office suites for rent in Kansas City!

Determining Office Size for an Office Space in Kansas City: Part III

You can ease some of the stress of determining the amount office space you need by considering a few important factors. Here are a few final ones to think about:

Conference Rooms
Adequate space in conference rooms is essential. Think about how many people are typically invited to meetings. A good rule is to allow for 20-25 SF per seat, which will help ensure adequate space per employee. Here are some guidelines for estimating conference room dimensions:

Board Room – (375 sq. ft.) Holds 15 to 18 people
Conference Room – (300 sq. ft.) Holds 12 to 15 people
Small Meeting Room – (225 sq. ft.) Holds 9 to 11 people

You might also consider sharing resources such as conference rooms or break rooms with other tenants on the property, though be sure to look into lease types and terms before making that decision.

Future Growth
A final factor to consider is the growth of your business; you want to aim for a space that will accommodate all of the personal projected through the midterm of the lease. A common calculation used for projecting future growth is simply adding 10-20% to the current needed square footage. However, bear in mind that growth can vary by industry and a variety of other factors, so talk to the landlord about the possibility of expanding in the building during your lease term.

Pinpointing your business’s needs, especially in regards to space, is the most important part of finding a new office space. Be sure to consider factors such as personnel, area layout, special arrangements, conference rooms, and future growth as you calculate square footage!

If you are looking at office suites for rent in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100!

5 Red Flags to Avoid in an Office Space Lease in Overland Park: Part III

Here are two final red flags to be on the lookout for as you negotiate your office space lease:

Red Flag #4: A Bad Relocation Clause
A relocation clause will always favor the landlord, since it gives the landlord the right to move your business to a different space within a building if a tenant with a bigger business needs your space. Though you will not be able to do away with this clause, remember that you do have a right to ask for certain provisions. Make sure you get a written statement that your landlord will pay for the relocation and any renovations required. Ask to maintain the same structure and quality of space, plus the same rent, and insist on at least one month’s notice before you have to move.

Red Flag #5: Short Terms and Unclear Renewal Clauses
Unless you are positive you only need a space for a short period of time, make sure your lease offers the option to renew. Renewal options should be clearly defined and state how much time you need for renewal as well as a percentage of how much rent might increase. Options to renew give your business flexibility, so opt for those over long-term leases if you are a start-up company not wanting to make too long of a commitment.

Negotiating and understanding a lease can be a tedious process, but it is essential to making sure your business does not find itself in financial trouble down the line. Take the time to do your research and even talk to an attorney about what you want—and don’t want—in a commercial lease.

Searching for office suites for rent in Kansas City? Give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 to talk about our office space leases!