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Cost-Effective Ways to Increase Employee Comfort at Your Overland Park Office Space

The studies are becoming more and more prominent – cubicles, a longtime favorite office layout, might actually have a negative effect on productivity. While cubicles, especially in an open office plan, put workers and a shared space, they’re not necessarily the best way to promote collaboration. Most businesses don’t have the money to completely overhaul their office space, So here are a few tips for improving employee satisfaction and motivation in cubicles without overspending, as suggested in the article “6 Inexpensive Ways to Help Employees Escape the Cubicle Crush”:

#1 Create Public and Private Spaces

Because cubicles are somewhere in between public and private spaces, it might help people to designate spaces that are clearly collaborative and clearly more private. For collaborative spaces, push together some tables in the middle of an open office space so that people can sit and work together on projects. While not everyone can have a private office, having a few private rooms available where people can spend a few hours or even a day to really get some work done might allow employs to escape cubicle-land if they really need to focus on something.

#2 Encourage Mobility

As long as work gets done, does it really matter where employees do it? Allow employes to leave the premises and work in a coffee shop or library for a few hours, or just head to the cafeteria to escape the office space for a bit. Even consider allowing some flextime for employees to work on a specific project from home, but be sure to set clear goals and timeframes beforehand.

#3 Check the Noise

One of the biggest complaints people have about cubicles is that they can be too noisy – not only in terms of talking, but just general background sounds like phones ringing. Encourage employees to turn their ringers off, consider adding white noise like a fan for a consistent backdrop, or even allow employees to use noise canceling headphones if they have no other escape options.

#4 Monitor Temperature

Something this simple can really affect employees’ workday experience – particularly if they feel like they are freezing every day in the office. Try to keep the temperature at an even 69 degrees to keep people comfortable and productive

It might not be possible to avoid cubicles in your office, but try a few of these inexpensive ways to make your employees workday more comfortable and productive!

If your business is looking for an office space for lease in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Overland Park.

8 Words to Know When Renting an Overland Park Office Space

If you are thinking about renting an office space for your business, there are a few terms you should be familiar with before you start the process. Knowing these terms will give you a better idea of what your business is looking for and will help you understand the language of landlords and commercial real estate attorneys. Here are a few words and phrases to know, as suggested in the article “Vocabulary for Commercial Real Estate”:

Common Area Maintenance – also called “CAM” fees, this is the amount of additional rent that a tenant must pay for the maintenance of common areas on the property, including the cost of landscaping, insurance, lighting outside the building, property taxes, and the cleaning of common spaces.
Gross Lease – a type of commercial lease in which a tenant pays a flat rental rate that covers all of the expenses that the landlord takes care of, such as insurance, maintenance, taxes, and utilities.
Net Lease – a type of lease in which the tenants pay for the operating costs of the building themselves.
Escalation Clause – a clause in an office space lease that gives the landlord the ability to raise the rent to accommodate inflation, tax increases, and operating costs.
Letter of Intent – a preliminary document formed by the landlord and tenant stating their agreement to begin lease negotiations. Often both the tenant and landlord utilize the help of legal experts at this stage of the process.
Vacancy Rate – the percentage of all the space available in a property that is considered vacant or unoccupied at the time.
Occupancy Rate – the percentage of spaces in a commercial property that are occupied at a given time.
Usable Square Footage – the square footage number of the space that the tenant rents solely for their use, which includes both the office space itself and their private areas such as storage closets or restrooms.

If you are beginning to search for commercial real estate, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the vocabulary of the process. Doing a little research and seeking expert help can save your business money in the long run if it means you get a better lease deal.

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, Give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park A call at 913-685-4100. We can answer any questions you have about our available office spaces and even set up a tour for you!

5 Steps To Take When Finding A New Overland Park Office Space for the New Year

One of the keys to success is finding a degree of happiness in the workplace. A big part of your attitude in your professional life is the environment in which you work, so finding a good office space is so important. By the same token, approaching the office space search with a positive attitude and a clear mind can make a difference in handling the stress of such an involved process. Here are a few steps to take when looking for an office space to rent with a positive attitude, as suggested in the article “New Year’s Resolutions and Your Office”:

#1 Decide What You Want

Give yourself time before you start searching to actually think about what you want for your business – not just thinking about what you should want, but the kind of place and future for your business that will increase your happiness. Perhaps you need more time, more money, a better sense of balance. Whatever you are looking for, give yourself the time to really think about it before rushing into the process.

#2 Make a Plan

Once you decide what you are looking for, make a plan for your search. It is important to actually write this out – it gives you a higher chance of actually realizing your goals!

#3 Execute!

Don’t wait! Put your plan into action. Know that the process will take time, but put in the necessary work searching for space and researching the market – it will pay dividends in the long run.

#4 Check Your Attitude

It is important to approach this search in the right frame of mind. Sometimes finding an unexpected great deal is possible, but this demands some persistence and passion. Visualize what you want for your business and continue to pursue this vision.

#5 Be Ready For Obstacles

There are often a lot of roadblocks and dead ends in the search for the perfect commercial space, so be ready to have plenty of plan B’s. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a bad deal, and make sure to give yourself plenty of options to compare.

Start your New Year with a plan to make your work life positive – either in your current workspace or in your search for a new one!

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Overland Park.

3 Aspects to Understand About Renewal Options for an Overland Park Office Space

The process of creating an option to renew begins in lease negotiations. Landlords don’t always want to grant these provisions to a tenant because it limits their options down the line. However, most tenants demand this option, so it is fairly common in leases. The renewal clause determines when the tenant can ask for renewal, the length of the renewal period, and either the rental rate or the way that rate will be determined for the renewal period. Here are a few parts of the renewal option to be aware of as you negotiate your lease, as suggested in the article “Negotiating the Renewal Option”:

Notice date – renewal clauses usually require tenants to notify their landlord that they want to renew their lease within a specified period of time, usually a year to several months before the end of the lease. As a tenant, try to negotiate to make this period as long as possible, which will give you time to evaluate all of your options and make the best decision.
Rental rate – sometimes the renewal clause will actually state the renewal rental rate, but more often just the formula for this rate is stipulated and will be according to fair market value.
Term – the renewal clause also typically states the length of the renewal term. When you’re negotiating your lease, try to ask for several different potential options for lengths of the renewal term so you have some room to choose when the time comes.
Fair market value – if your rental rate is going to be based on fair market value, It is important to clearly define fair market value. Your goal is to make this interpretation as detailed as possible to avoid leaving it up to the landlord’s discretion at the time of renewal. There are a lot of aspects of this to discuss; one of the important things to ask for is a cap on the renewal rental rate. Also consider including a provision that determines that a third-party arbitrator will be consulted in the event of a disagreement.

Be sure to thoroughly consider your renewal option as you negotiate your initial lease. Make this clause as clear and detailed as possible to avoid complications and disagreements when it comes time to renew. It might be worthwhile to solicit expert advice to make sure this aspect of the lease is fair and favorable.

Give Kathy Woodward at DDI Commercial a call at 913-685-4100 if you’re interested in executive office rental in Overland Park!

5 Ways to Boost Employee Morale and Productivity in Your Kansas City Office Space

Making an office space more efficient has the double positive effects of both boosting employee morale and, in turn, also generating greater productivity. By engaging employees and improving general office productivity, you might also see an improvement in operations and profit increases—creating a positive cycle of job satisfaction and a better bottom line for everyone. Here are a few things to try to improve the efficiency and mood of your office space, as outlined in the article “5 Tips to Improve Office Space Efficiency and Productivity”:

#1 Improve Lighting

If at all possible, try to utilize natural light in your office space. Studies have shown that sunshine can improve people’s moods, and lack of sunlight can actually lead to decreased work motivation. Even simply keeping blinds and curtains open—as long as it doesn’t interfere with anyone’s workspace—could help boost mood and make the office cheerier.

#2 Set Boundaries

It is important for small businesses who operate from home to restrict disturbances while concentrating on work, such as putting a “do not disturb” sign on an office door. This approach can also apply to an actual office space, particularly if there are open area work spaces. Headphones can be a sign that someone doesn’t want to be bothered, or certain workstations can be designated for quiet, independent work, whereas others can be for a more collaborative environment.

#3 Work on Organization

Sometimes a cluttered or disorganized space can really drag down productivity. Take some time to do a little cleaning and rearranging as necessary. Buy cheap storage options such as bins or small shelves, create labels for files and binders to make it easier to find them, and think about ways you can start to go paperless using cloud based software for storage of documents you don’t need regularly. If you have no idea where to start and cannot invest the time in such a project, look into hiring a professional to help your office get organized.

#4 Simplify Your Space

This goes hand in hand with getting organized. Sometimes the solution is to purge unecessary items, not just put them in more boxes. Get rid of things that take up too much space and don’t add a lot of function. Cut down on clutter such as piles of papers. Try to keep the space tidy and create less cleaning work for yourself in the future by keeping to the “less is more” rule.

#5 Add Scents

Air fresheners can really improve a space, and other options are also available, such as dried flowers or scented oils. Fragrances can really improve mood and motivation. Consider scents like vanilla, lemon, lavender, jasmine, rosemary, cinnamon, and peppermint. Another simple and natural way of boosting the office mood is adding plants to a space. Plants can both improve the appearance of an office and are proven have a positive effect on mood.

#6 Improve Meeting Rooms

Employees often spend a ton of time in meetings, so consider ways to make this necessary part of office life more comfortable. Add a water cooler, a coffee pot, or even some of the above mentioned fragrances specifically in a meeting area.

While these tips and practices may all seem to small and simple, sometimes little difficulties such as florescent lighting or a cluttered office can be barriers to productivity. Consider putting into practice some of these suggestions to help improve efficiency, morale, and productivity in your office.

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.

5 Cost Efficient Ways to Improve Your Overland Park Office Space Decor

While decor is not necessarily a high priority item in a small business’s budget, it is possible to create an inviting space without spending too much money or violating any lease terms. Here are a few key things to focus on when sprucing up your space, as outlined in the article “6 Tips for Decorating the Perfect Office Space”:

#1 Reception Area

Some spaces might not have a reception area built in, so you will need to add one yourself. Instead of going with plain plasterboard walls, try to do something interesting that will make a good first impression on clients or customers, like setting up a rail or hanging a curtain to delineate a reception space. It can look good and add character to an office without costing too much to create or remove at the end of your lease.

#2 The Floor

If you can choose what to do with your carpeting options, look for a carpet tile. It is easy and cheap to replace just one stained carpet tile, versus having to replace the carpet in the entire office.

#3 The Walls

There are ways to create a bright, colorful space without actually painting the walls—If you leave the walls white, you will not have to repaint them at the end of the lease. Instead, create pops of color through furniture items, colored dividers, workstations, or hanging framed artwork prints around the office (be sure to use removable hooks).

#4 Break Area

If you’re looking to both break up the office space and boost employee morale, consider creating a little break area where people can go to be away from their computers. Some offices put in pool tables, foosball tables, or TVs, but even simple couch or a table and chairs can be a nice area for staff to get away for a few minutes.

#5 Plants

It is hard to go wrong with plants in an office, and adding greenery could be an extremely cheap way to really transform a space. Not only do they brighten up a space, but plants are proven to improve people’s moods. Be sure to pot the plants correctly to avoid any issues with soil or water stains on your carpets.

Consider these tips for improving your space if your goal is to keep the budget low and make good at the end of your lease without any problems!

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100!

7 Ways to Use Office Supplies for Organization in Your Overland Park Office Space

Do you feel like you cannot be productive when your workspace is constantly cluttered? A little organization might get you back at the top of your game. Here are a few tips for tidying up your space using materials you already have in your office, as suggested in the articles “Office Hacks: Part I & Part II”:

1.DIY Charging Station. If you have so many devices to plug in that your workspace requires a power strip, consider hiding some of the ugly cords by making a charging station out of a simple box. Simply cut the bottom off of a nice looking box and cut separate holes in the side of the box for each cable. Put the power strip inside and feed the cords through the holes—this will prevent cords from getting too tangled and looks a lot nicer than a power strip!

2.Cord Organizer. Another way to keep cords organized is by using large binder clips to clamp the foldback, or extra cord, to the side of your desk, then threading the end of each cable through the handle of the clip to keep them from getting tangled.

3.Keyboard stand. You can also use large binder clips to prop up your keyboard. People prefer their keyboards to be at various levels—especially since typing all day can cause wrist problems—so adjust yours to a level that is comfortable for you by clipping the binder clips to the back of the keyboard and using the handles of the clips to prop the keyboard up. You can slightly adjust the handles or use bigger or smaller clips to set your keyboard at the perfect height for you.

4.Post-it decorations. If you want some cheap, easy decoration for your wall, create shapes out of post-it notes. Keep it simple with abstract designs or try to recreate a favorite painting. It is quirky, interesting, and very easy to create and take down.

5.Wall mount for a tablet. Sometimes your tablet might be best served hanging on a wall—for instance if you need to watch something or give a presentation to someone. Create an affordable wall mount for your iPad or tablet by using 3 or 4 hooks on the wall in the size and shape of your tablet. Slide the tablet into the hooks to use it temporarily, or leave it up as a clock, weather station, or virtual photo album.

6.Water reminders. Many people drink cup after cup of coffee throughout the day to stay alert and focused, but staying hydrated is even more important and can also help you clear your mind. Remind yourself to keep drinking water by buying a large water bottle and adding labels to it from top to bottom for each hour of your workday. This will help you drink certain amounts of water regularly throughout your day.

7.Make your own phone speakers. If you need a little music to stay focused, try creating these easy phone speakers out of a toilet roll and two plastic cups to amplify the sound a little. Simply cut a slit into the toilet role to hold your phone, then cut holes into the sides of the plastic cups and connect them to the toilet roll so the cups are lying on their sides.

Get creative with the materials you already have in your office to find ways to keep yourself as organized and efficient as possible!

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our affordable office space in Kansas City!

2 Potential Layouts for an Overland Park Office Space

Designing the layout of an office is an important part of setting up a functional business. It can be difficult to balance employees’ need for privacy with the desire to create an atmosphere of open communication. Recently, the trend in office furniture and design has been shifting from traditional layouts to accommodating concerns about making offices more teamwork friendly. Here are a few ideas to utilize in your small business space to create a productive and welcoming environment, as suggested in the article “Office Workplace & Workspace Designs That Work”:

Open Space

The traditional image that comes to mind when imagining a large office space is a maze of cubicles—but this has become associated with an overly divided and sanitized space that blocks communication between employees and stifles corporate culture and personality. Designers have been trying to change this approach by creating open office spaces that allow employees to see each other, experience natural light, and communicate more easily. An option with this layout is also to add a small meeting table to the middle of a department space for meetings, as well as adding more private spaces for confidential gatherings.

Hub Layout

Another way to foster natural communication and gatherings in an office is to create a central hub at which these interactions can take place. This area can contain shared equipment such as fax machines, copiers, and scanners, and a break area with coffee, snack machines, and water coolers. If you want to make it more comfortable, consider adding tables and chairs to encourage informal meetings, birthday celebrations, or just casual conversations. This can also be the location of a company bulletin board, employee award postings, and any other important messages. By centralizing shared resources, you can encourage interactions between employees who might not otherwise talk.

Office design has to be a strategic process that starts when a business first moves into a space and continues throughout the duration of a tenancy. Too often it can be dictated by random expansion as new employees are brought on board. The most functional office layouts are created by carefully considering employee interactions and productivity at every step of office changes with the ultimate goal of encouraging collaboration and maximum efficiency.

If your business is interested in a business space for rent in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available Overland Park office space for lease!

Tips for Handling a Loner in Your Overland Park Office Space

If you are trying to develop a sense of teamwork in your office, you might have someone who just resists efforts to collaborate. This loner might be introverted, defensive, and exhibiting a me-versus-them kind of mentality. While they might be a major hindrance to teamwork, they might also be too valuable to let go. So how do you handle them? Here are different approaches for handling a “lone wolf” in your office, as suggested in the article “Building a Sense of Teamwork Among Staff Members”:

Give Them a Role

Assess what their strengths are and assign this person to a special niche or task within the team – something that they can do successfully. Affirm their strengths while at the same time emphasizing the importance of their role within the greater context of the team.

Peer Pressure

While loners might be on a different wavelength than their coworkers, they might still respond to explanations that their behavior is causing a negative environment in the office and creating ill will. Talk to them about how some changes might move the person back within the group, reduce bad feelings, and eliminate that me-versus-them atmosphere that they might be professing to suffer from.

Be Honest

It might be best just to lay out the reality of the situation. Affirm that the person has great experience, valuable skills, and might have even served the business for a time, but make it clear that the expectation is that they need to work with other people in the office. Everyone, without exception, might need to work together and embrace a collaborative mentality for the success of the whole business. If nothing else, they might respond to the fact that their job will be in jeopardy if they cannot work within a corporate culture of teamwork.

Dealing with a loner can put an employer between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, they might be good at what they do, and their experience and skills might be hard to replace. But a negative environment does not foster success, and teamwork might be crucial to the fruition of some projects. Consider ways to be firm with the person, while still making it clear that you value what they have to offer.

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Overland Park, give a commercial real estate broker in Overland Park a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of a space!

3 Ways to Avoid Excessive Common Area Maintenance Costs in Your Overland Park Office Space

Common Area Maintenance (CAM) costs can be a major expense for business’s renting commercial real estate, often to their surprise. While there are a lot of negotiation points in a lease that affect CAM costs, here are three general principles for keeping your CAM costs manageable, as suggested in the article “Avoid Common Area Maintenance (CAM) Cost Surprises”:

#1 Know Who is Really Paying

While you and your landlord might have established in the lease who is immediately responsible for certain costs, be wary about the ways costs can come back to you in different forms—such as through high CAM fees. Read the lease thoroughly to make sure you are not paying double for anything and to check that all costs seem reasonable.

#2 Understand the Management Fee

Oftentimes you will have to pay a fee based on a certain percentage of your gross payments or some other calculation that goes towards property management – salaries and overhead for people on the property management team. This cost might be unavoidable, but make sure you clearly understand how your landlord is calculating the percentage to check to see that they are not overcharging you. You will want to make sure that the salaries are not also included in your CAM fees, which would mean you are paying double. Be sure to carefully analyze the language describing additional costs to make sure it is reasonable, then factor in what this percentage management fee means for your true cost of rent.

#3 Negotiate for Caps

If there is no way around certain costs, make sure that you at least a set a limit on how much the landlord can charge you, because if not, they have no real reason to keep those costs down. To keep a landlord transparent, see if you can get a copy of a budget of CAM expenses for a first year. You might also ask for an approval process if a landlord’s spending exceeds a specified cap, or simply state that the landlord is responsible for all costs beyond a certain amount. If you would prefer consistency, consider negotiating for a flat fee, rather than reimbursing a landlord for occasional expenses. It is a gamble as to whether or not this will save you money, but it will at least allow you to plan your budget accordingly.

CAM fees have a major effect on the actual cost of your rent, so make sure you understand them completely!

If you are interested in commercial space for rent in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our affordable office space in Overland Park!