We’ve spent a long time helping businesses create a home and grow into a larger entity. We have seen various types of businesses in different industries find their first home, or move into their final home. Helping companies create the right home base for their employees, clients, & customers is what we do. Today on the blog, we hope to help any new or young business owners around Western New York to understand what types of qualities they should look for when investing in a lease for their office.
Smooth Systems & Transparency
When you’re checking out a new office space, you should look to see if the landlord or property is cutting any corners. A financially stable landlord handles repairs and downturns without cutting costs on managing the property.
It’s also important to review your Common Area Maintenance fees, or CAM fees. Landlords should always provide clear, itemized breakdowns so that tenants know exactly what is included in their lease. Operating expenses and tax pass-throughs should also be clearly outlined.
When it comes to leases, there should be no surprises for anyone, especially the tenant. Landlords must be realistic in their expectations and clearly outline any lease terms, penalties, and utility billing methods.
Communication & Organization
Be on the lookout for smooth and easy lines of communication. A quality property manager or landlord will always have open lines of communication. This starts from the very first outreach. Be mindful of how they respond over the phone and through text. Do you feel valued? Is your first reaction a good one?
You shouldn’t read a book by its cover, but you should certainly be mindful of professionalism when investing your business into a commercial property owner. This is where your team and brand will be represented. This is where your employees will call home for hours and days on end. The landlord should provide clear signs of ethical professionalism right off the bat.
Reputation
Buffalo is a small town. Chances are if you’ve made it far enough to be looking for office space, you know a good amount of people. Talk to other business owners and colleagues in the area to see if they know anything about renting with the company or landlord. Buildings and companies that retain tenants demonstrate professional and fair support as a landlord.
Take a tour around the property and ask questions about the property maintenance history. Think about things like the parking lots, lighting, signage, landscaping, etc. If you notice things are in good shape, that’s a good sign of a landlord who cares about their property!
If you really want to get down to the nitty-gritty, you can also consider checking public records to ensure the property is free of any legal disputes or issues.
Flexibility
A good partner for commercial office space in WNY will be willing to help be a part of growing your business. This means accommodating your business if you need to expand or downsize your office as you go. The ability to renegotiate terms as you grow can be a huge help if your business does well. Not being able to get out of a bad lease could mean stymying your growth.
If you or someone you know is looking for commercial office space in Amherst, we welcome you to come check out our (3) buildings at the corner of Alberta Dr. & Sheridan Dr. We have several spaces available, including storefront lease space and medical spaces. We look forward to meeting you!