We’d love to welcome you to the 3dWNY blog! It’s only our first post here, as we’re just starting to launch a more digital presence to help get the word out around WNY that 3d is the proud owner of the Alberta Sheridan Office Park at the corner of Alberta Dr. and Sheridan Dr. in Amherst! 3 buildings that offer unique opportunities for Western New Yorkers looking to rent an office!
We are so excited, and we have so much to share and so many ideas, but ultimately, we need to start somewhere! You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook to have an idea of some of what we have to offer, and we plan to use that space to offer imagery and information regarding available units, fun tips, and interesting tidbits.
Here on our website, we will use this blog to help provide useful content, tips, and ideas for business owners here in Buffalo. You can consider it your WNY office rental HQ when it comes to content. Today, for our first post, we are going to be focusing on new business owners and businesses that may be moving up and out of a home office and need to open their first office! We have plenty of smaller offices and Ready2Rent office suites, and they have proven to be beneficial for newer businesses or growing businesses.
Here are 5 Things to make sure you have in your first small office in Buffalo.
- The Right Amount of Space
- A Safe, Clean Environment
- Good Parking
- The Right Resources
- A Caring Property Manager/Owner
The Right Amount of Space
Obviously, the first thing to look for is the right amount of space. You probably wouldn’t be looking for an office if you had the space you needed at home or remotely, but once you know it’s time to rent an office unit, you need to think about how much space will be the right amount.
Think about things like your manpower, equipment, and storage.
You may need more or less space than you think. If you plan to grow and add a few more employees or teammates, well, you might want to build that into your vision in terms of space for their workstations. You also need to take into account other items like cabinets, conference tables, chairs, and other furniture. Lastly, what do you need to store, and how much space do you need for storage? These big 3 will help you get started as you’re walking around small office rentals to see if they’re the right fit.
A Safe, Clean Environment
When you’re on the hunt for a small office for your WNY company, thinking about the day-to-day experience of you and your potential workforce is something to consider. You want a place that is going to be safe and allow your employees to feel as though the office is somewhere they can always feel comfortable. This goes for the inside and the outside.
As you’re looking at offices and buildings, get a sense of the feel of the buildings’ surrounding environment. How is the security in and around the building? Is there proper lighting and signage? Do you feel as though you could see yourself comfortably walking in and out of the office when it may be dark or chilly out? Do they have the walkways shoveled and salted?
Cleanliness is another major factor in choosing an office rental building. Regardless of whether you plan to have 1 or 100 employees, they deserve a clean working space. That goes beyond your doorway. Common areas, bathrooms, hallways, carpeting, etc. Is the place in tip-top shape?
Good Parking
Parking is a big deal to employees! Ask anyone who’s worked in downtown Buffalo or tried grabbing a quick drink on Hertel Ave! Once again, no matter what size your company is, having a good place to park your car that feels safe and lacks a high bill that either you as a business owner or the employee would need to absorb.
Free parking, on-site, near the building, that is neatly maintained and plowed during the Buffalo winter, is a big need that some people omit from their needs list!
The Right Resources
Every business is different. Some individuals may need a little less room and a little less technological capability. Some industries may need vital resources like water for things like sinks or handwashing stations. Some companies may need more than 2 stalls for 200 workers.
Some businesses may not need 200 parking spots to accommodate their small team.
Some companies may have a hybrid approach, whereas some may require 100% of the staff to be on site at all times. You may need swipe cards so employees can enter a building after 5 or on weekends. As you are planning your office, be sure to consider the vital resources that your company needs to flourish.
A Caring Property Manager / Owner
One of the most precious things you can find when looking for an office to rent in Buffalo is a quality property manager. Whoever you’re going to be working with, you’ll want to feel good about paying your rent to. First impressions are important, but be sure to have questions for the property owner/manager that allow you to get a gauge for who they are as an individual and as a professional.
Look for positive qualities that you’d look for in a friend, boss, or employee. Align yourself with a building owner and/or property manager that you feel good about helping, and you feel they get something positive out of helping you. Look for the things between the line items and the cost of rent. Do you feel good about your business being represented in this location and building? You should!
Hopefully, this helps you if you’re someone in Amherst or Buffalo who is thinking about renting a small office. We’d love it if you gave us a call or reached out via our contact form to speak with someone regarding our 3 properties at Alberta Sheridan Office Park! We have several small, medium, and large-sized units that could be your company’s new home! Good luck with your search!