Thinking about upgrading or downgrading your office space? If you are looking for a new home for your business, we can help you get the best deal for your new space. When it comes to negotiating rent for your new space, there are many things to consider, but if you play your cards right and do your homework, you can be the proud owner of a great space that inspires you and helps you get the job done. Here’s how you can find the best office space for your business.
Put the Word Out
One of the easiest ways to find a great new office space is to reach out to your network and let people know that you are in the market for a new place. Whether you are looking for your first space after starting your business online or you are looking to move to a new space after years of helping clients, your immediate network is going to be full of great ideas – and more contacts – for you to tap into. Before reaching out to your network, though, consider what it is you want or need in your new space. Think about more than just the square footage: think about location, exposure, traffic, accessibility, parking, rent, amenities, and anything else that will be helpful in promoting your business and providing a great place to work for you and your employees.
Check the Classifieds
While most people are running their lives on the internet these days, some commercial space operators are still posting rental opportunities in local newspapers, rental boards, and in community spaces. Don’t limit your search for the perfect office space to the internet. You might be missing out on opportunities that are right under your nose. Your network can also keep an eye out for these opportunities as well; reaffirming how important it is to let others know what is going on with your business.
Drive Around
Never underestimate the power of being in the right place at the right time. In order to facilitate such luck, you need to get in the car and check out your preferred neighborhood. If you want to move uptown or downtown, take some of your employees and get out and see the area. If you are new to that part of town, be sure to check with local business owners who have been in business for a while and find out about amenities, public works support, such as snow plowing or garbage pick-up, and don’t forget to ask about taxes in the area. Business taxes can be a real drag for brick and mortar businesses so don’t pass up the chance to find out as much as you can from people who are already operating in the area.
Put Out an Ad
Rather than wait to find the perfect office space for your business, publish your search for your next great office space online, in local newspapers, and on community boards. It’s like a reverse classified advertisement. While commercial space operators and landlords are preparing to rent their spaces, you can bet that they are checking out what the competition is asking and offering and if they see your request for space, they might reach out to you. Make things as easy as possible for yourself and put your network and reach to work for you to help you find your next great office space.
Be Willing to Compromise
In order to get what you want, you might have to give up some of the things that would be “nice to have” but aren’t deal breakers for your new space. For example, you might not be able to get a great ground floor location, but if you don’t have walk-in traffic, it might be cheaper and you might get a bigger space if you go up a few floors. If you are looking to save some money, skip on the view. A view of the bay or green space is going to cost more than if you are looking at the side of another building. If your view doesn’t matter, or if you are willing to compromise on that piece, you can save a lot of money. Check out buildings without elevators. Nobody wants to take the stairs these days and so if you can find the willpower to go up and down the stairs a few times a day, you could also save some money and get a great space in a prime location. These spaces are often overlooked because of the work involved in setting up the space, but once you are up and running, you might not mind taking the stairs on a daily basis.
