Southcreek News

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.

Three Things to Remove from Your Desk in Your Office Space in Kansas

If you haven’t cleaned off your desk in a while, it might be a good time to revaluate what you actually need on your desk. Not only does your desk affect your productivity, but it also says a lot about who you are. Here are a few things to consider removing from your desk, as suggested in the article, “What You Should Take Off Your Desk Right Now”:

#1 Useless Objects

Useless objects could cover a wide range of things. Think about old tax documents, thank you cards, knick-knacks, or random office supplies that you don’t use very often. These items are dead weight. If you haven’t used them in over a year or no longer appreciate their sentimental value, and might be a good time to get rid of them. Think about what positively affects your energy versus what just takes up space.

#2 Piles of Work

While it might seem like a good idea to pile up the work you have waiting for you on your desk, this can actually be a bit overwhelming and add to your clutter. Put those items away, and instead just keep the to do list on your desk.

#3 Computer Cords

If cords are still cluttering your desk, consider updating your technology. Going wireless will not only give you more workspace, but it will cut back on visual clutter.

Try to eliminate this clutter and instead keep things on your desk that both make you productive and boost your sense of well-being and energy!

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

4 Mistakes For Entrepreneurs to Avoid in A New Kansas City Office Space

Any entrepreneur knows that starting a small business is a risky procedure. So many new businesses fail, often for simple reasons. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid, especially within your first year, as suggested in the article “4 Reasons Small Businesses Fail”:

#1 Finances

This is probably the largest and most obvious challenge for start up businesses. Even if someone has a great idea or product, people often underestimate how much money is required to get a business off the ground. Major expenses include start up costs, expansion, purchases for inventory, and fortifying your business. Carefully calculate the true bottom-line cost of starting your business, and look into the Small Business Administration loans often available to entrepreneurs.

#2 Getting the Word Out

Successful marketing is a huge part of getting a business going, but so many entrepreneurs aren’t fully utilizing modern technology to market their services or products. Small businesses might not be able to invest the money in marketing that big companies can, but there are many cost-efficient ways to market, such as using ratings and reviews, analytics, live chat, and more. Small businesses might be less visible, but they are also more nimble, especially in an age where online shopping is becoming more and more popular.

#3 Poor Management

While setting up efficient systems and processes isn’t the most fun part of the new venture, inconsistencies in these areas can hurt customer satisfaction and ultimately the business’s bottom-line. These tasks include marketing, customer relationship management, inventory management, and accounting processes.

#4 Growth

Just because a small business is successful in the beginning does not guarantee continued success. Small businesses need to keep an eye on their industries and evolve accordingly. This can be difficult for entrepreneurs, who are often already overworked and acting in many different roles, but keeping an eye on the direction of your business and the climate of your industry is well worth the time investment.

If your small businesses is just starting out, be aware of the pitfalls that have led to the failures of other small businesses. It can be difficult to wrap your mind around every aspect of starting a new business, but don’t let yours go under because you neglected something as obvious as marketing or finding the right loans.

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

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.

Four Potential Cons of Joining a Co-working Office Space in Kansas City

There are a lot of benefits to renting a co-working space, especially for startup companies, including the connections you can make, the money can save, and the overall solidarity and creative energy of a collaborative environment. However, you should also be aware of the cons of this option as well. They might not be so detrimental as to prevent you from pursuing this option, but it is important to be prepared and decide in advance how you will handle these potential downsides. Here are a few factors to consider, as suggested in the article “The Reasons For and Against Joining a Co-Working Space”:

#1 Cost

Despite the fact that the cost of a co-working space is less than that of an actual lease, this option can still be expensive, especially for entrepreneurs trying to pinch pennies as they get their business off the ground. Carefully consider your monthly expenses and what will be most cost efficient for your business in the long run before signing up for space.

#2 Disputes

When you’re sharing space with people from other companies, conflicts can sometimes be an unavoidable part of work life. Ideally, you will find group that meshes well together, but if you do have conflicts within your space it is important to make an effort to be polite and mature in seeking resolutions.

#3 Proximity to Competitors

You might find yourself in the occasionally uncomfortable situation of working with a direct competitor. If this happens, just stay focused on your own work. Ideally, you could even turn a competitor to someone you can collaborate with if you are both like-minded and headed in the same direction.

#4 Social Distractions

While collaborative environments can have great energy, they can also potentially be distracting if too much socializing takes the place of productivity. Focus on only socializing during breaks, and consider a change of scenery if you find yourself too easily pulled from your work.

There are a lot of benefits to joining a co-working space, but it is also important to bear in mind that there are downsides. If you go into a co-working space fully aware of that pros and cons awaiting you, you can be more prepared to take advantage of the benefits and avoid the pitfalls.

If your business is interested in commercial space for lease in Kansas City, give a commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-9100.

Three Pros of Joining a Co-Working Kansas City Office Space

Collaborative workspaces have become very trendy, especially in entrepreneurial or small business environments. The communal setting can be a great way to boost creativity and motivation, as well as share the cost of a better quality office space. Here are a few reasons to consider renting a space with tenants from other businesses, as suggested in the article “The Reasons For and Against Joining a Co-Working Space”:

#1 Connections

A big benefit of working in a collaborative space is the opportunity to network with other small businesses and entrepreneurs as you’re building your own business. The communal work environment not only puts you near like-minded people, but could also mean access to investors or professionals that might be able to help your business. Who knows what kind of lucky break you could have while chatting with other professionals and entrepreneurs in your shared space.

#2 Affordability

Obviously the cost of an office space is a major concern for any startup business. If you want the amenities of a great office suite, but can’t afford to rent an entire office yourself, co-working might be the best way for you to diffuse the costs of a good office space. Together with other businesses, it will be easier to afford equipment you need, and you might even meet freelancers who can help you with various tasks.

#3 Solidarity

Sometimes being a self-starter can be lonely and it can be hard to motivate yourself each day. So being surrounded by other people, especially like-minded people, can help keep your spirits up and keep you accountable as you strive to make your business successful. These other people can also be great sources of creativity and might be able to help you with problems or roadblocks that you encounter.

Consider these positive aspects of joining a co-working space if you are trying to figure out what kind of office rental space is best for your business. A collaborative environment is not necessarily suited to all business types, but could be a lifesaver for startups in need of a community and a lower-cost office space.

If your small business is looking for affordable office space in Kansas City, give one of our real estate brokers a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our Kansas City office space for lease and discuss what kind of space is best for your business.

Spring Cleaning Your Technology in Your Office Space in Kansas City

When you’re thinking about “spring cleaning” this year, remember that this can also extend to your technology in your office! Here are a few suggestions for how to overhaul your office technology this spring, as suggested in the article “Spring Cleaning Your Office”:

If your laptops have become outdated, consider switching to tablets to increase mobility and save space.
If you cannot get rid of a laptop or desktop, consider investing in an ergonomic keyboard to alleviate wrist strain when typing.
Go green with your outdated technology by recycling the items you no longer need, such as ink cartridges, monitors, and printers.
Literally clean up your technology by wiping down all of the surfaces and blowing the dust out of keyboards and cracks.
Clean up your desktop itself by getting rid of apps you no longer need. You might also consider making sure that everything is backed up and have a recovery plan in place.

Don’t forget about your technology – cleaning, updating, and even recycling it – as you do your spring cleaning this year!

If your business is looking into commercial realty in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our executive office rental in Overland Park!

3 Ways to Stay on Top of Emails in Your Office Space in Kansas City

The amount of time the modern office worker spends sifting through e-mails is astounding. Workers can spend a significant portion of their workday trying to read and respond to e-mails, with people in management positions having to deal with hundreds or thousands of e-mails on a daily basis – research suggests that one fourth of the average workday is spent on emails alone, the second biggest time commitment next to an employees actual job specific duties. E-mail can be a great way to communicate with clients, coworkers, or employees, but it can also become a very real drain on a person’s time and energy. Here are three suggestions for staying in control of your inbox, as suggested in the article “4 Tips to Better Manage Your Email Inbox”:

#1 Timing is Everything

Effective time management is the best way to keep your inbox from overwhelming you. The first step in taking control of the time you spend on your e-mail is setting aside specific periods throughout the day to check e-mail. The amount of time you spend on each e-mail checking session and the frequency of these sessions will vary depending on your business style. Some people like to limit themselves to just two or three times a day, but some entrepreneurs find it more effective to check e-mail every hour or even every 15 minutes.

Whatever your limits are, consider really enforcing these for yourself by exiting out of your e-mail program for most of the day, shutting off alerts and beeps from incoming messages, or even turning off your cell phone for certain chunks of time. You can also create an automated response that lets people trying to contact you know exactly when you will be checking your e-mail during the day and offering them a phone number to call if their issue is urgent.

Not only is it important to schedule your e-mail checking times, but also to really be productive during those periods. This means dealing with e-mails immediately as they come into your inbox. Try to make fast decisions and take action instead of postponing issues until another day. If you cannot respond right at that moment at least send the person a message letting them know you’ve received to their e-mail and you are working on providing an answer. Then add the task to a to do list or calendar and set a deadline for yourself to follow up with the person.

#2 Isolate What is Important

Promotional e-mails or spam can really clutter an inbox. Every now and then take the time to unsubscribe from newsletters or advertisements that you do not look at. You can even simplify this process by searching your inbox for the word “unsubscribe” and then sorting through those search results to see what you can eliminate.

In addition to occasionally unsubscribing from mass e-mails, you should also scan through your e-mails as soon as you open your inbox to determine what is important out of that batch of new messages. Delete anything that is spam or unnecessary, scan and archived e-mails that do not require a response, and then you will be at a point where you can better evaluate the tasks you really need to tackle. Remember that if an e-mail is important it should not sit unread in your inbox for days at a time.

#3 Stay Organized

While it is good to consistently delete or archive e-mails, there are probably still many messages you will want to keep. It is a good idea to keep track of important communications with clients or fellow employees in case you need to refer back to them later to clarify an issue. Keep these old e-mails organized by taking advantage of labels, categories, and folders in your e-mail program. Group messages just like you would any other files so that you can easily locate E-mails about a specific topic or aspect of your job if necessary. You can put these folders into even broader categories labeled clients, finances, or projects. In addition to taking advantage of folders and subfolders, also be sure to mark your e-mails according to importance so that you can easily find high-priority messages when you need them.

If you have been feeling overwhelmed by the emails you deal with on a daily basis, consider stepping back to evaluate a better strategy for handling your correspondence. Setting a schedule for yourself, addressing things according to importance, and keeping your inbox organized might help you limit the amount of your workday spent on e-mail.

If your business is interested in office rental space in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about office lease rates in Kansas City.

3 Questions Small Businesses Should Ask About Office Space in Kansas

Once an entrepreneur gets their company up and running and begins to experience success, the next big challenge is finding an office space from which to conduct their work. It is a big commitment for small businesses and there are many important factors to consider, such as the location and whether or not renting an office space will eat up all your profits. Here are three questions to ask yourself when starting the search for your first office space, as outlined in the article “Office Space – The First hurdle for any Entrepreneur”:

#1 Can I afford it?

Obviously one of the most important things to consider when looking at an office space is the cost. Look at traditional office spaces as well as unconventional spaces, such as plug-and-play options, sharing a space, or subleasing. Do not fall into the trap of overestimating the growth your company will experience, which could really cost you in the long run. Be prudent and only rent exactly as much space as you think you’ll need. To avoid getting locked into something, try to negotiate for shorter lease terms, such as a one year lease with an option to extend to three years or rent adjacent space if your business experiences a growth spurt. Don’t forget to factor into your budget the cost of utilities and maintenance. You can never be too careful when making sure that you fully understand all of the charges you will be responsible for and planning for them in your budget– and of course make sure that everything is documented in your lease.

#2 What is the best location?

The location you choose might often be dependent on your budget. It might be in your best interests to rent an older space in the suburbs of the city, rather than a new space or office downtown–but make sure this does not interfere your customers or clients reaching your business. Another factor to consider is convenience for employees. Can they make it to that location? Is it safe and secure? It is important to your employees will be reasonably happy in your new space.

#3 How much space do we need?

When considering how much space your business needs, consult your business plan. Look at your total number of employees or your projected number of employees if you’re anticipating growth and new hires and plan space according to this number. To maximize your use of a small space, consider having mobile workers or flexi seating. Perhaps your employees can cut down on space and equipment by working from their own laptops or working from home some days.

Consider these three questions if you’re thinking about moving into your first office space!

If you’re trying to calculate square footage for your business, give a DDI Commercial real estate broker in Kansas City a call at 913-685-4100 and we can help you determine how much space your business needs!

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!