Archive for March, 2009

Creating the Perfect Office Space

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Whether you are moving into a new office space or rearranging the space you already have, make sure that you do it right.. During the tough economy we can’t seem to talk about enough, it is important to save money where and when you can while also being prepared for whatever the future may bring. The office leasing choices you make can make a huge difference in budget and the future of your company.

Take a minute to walk around your office environment making a mental note of things you see that could be consolidated. Do you have a filing system that is out of control? Maybe you haven’t purged the files in years or perhaps it is a matter of putting in place a better system or getting some better organizational tools like fixed shelving or larger cabinets. There are also companies that can help you get all your paperwork online as well. Storing all the paperwork electronically can be a great way to save space.

Do you have a central space in your office that is overcrowded with extra office supplies – one of those storage rooms that just seem to hold everything? Make sure it is organized and make sure you are not ordering supplies that are not needed. Creating a central place for all supplies can make it much easier to track everything on hand. And, if you have one central person to take charge of the ordering it can really help.

Cubicles can be utilized as opposed to offices in order to fit more people into one area. Take a look at the different types of cubicles available. There are cubicles with varying wall levels and in various shapes and sizes that can be perfect to accommodate all your space needs. Make sure that your employees are comfortable but use your space wisely when it comes to offices or cubicles. It can be especially useful to use furniture that can grow with your organization. Use furniture that might be easy to move or restructure if you are going to be adding or subtracting employees or simply rearranging the office.

If you are thinking about ways you can possibly downsize the office, perhaps having your employees work from a remote location is an option. Many times there are simple ways that employees can get access to all the information they need to do their job from home. This can not only be a space saver in the office but it also keeps some folks off the road as well, providing an environmentally friendly solution.

Take the time to plan out your office space so that you can make the most out of it. Walk around so you can find areas in which space is not being used wisely. Also, take a look at the furniture that you can add to make better use of organization and space. Whether you decide on offices or cubicles, there are ways to accommodate everyone in an organized way. In this economy we are all looking toward ways to make a difference in our budgets. Companies especially need to find ways they can organize and cut costs to make the most out of their office space. Make your office space perfect!

About the Author: Rebecca Beckett is a freelance writer for Innuity. If you would like more information about office space or office leasing go to  Royal Commercial

Qualities to Look for in a Good Commercial Real Estate Agent

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

If you are looking for a commercial real estate agent with a solid reputation, experience, and someone who offers a personal approach to real estate, not just a list of potential commercial real estate listings and building locations, you will have to do some research and asking around, because every commercial real estate agent is different. Like most things in life, it pays to do your research.

Here are some things to look for when seeking complete commercial real estate brokerage assistance. Your commercial real estate agent should help you in each part of the brokerage process including:

• Leasing for Your Office, Retail or Industrial Properties
• Acquisition or Sales Negotiations
• Budget Planning
• Construction Project Management
• Small and Large Details after the Deal is Closed

Why Settle For Anything Less Than the Best?

From planning and budgeting to facilities maintenance and ongoing operations, once you have entered an agreement with your commercial real estate agent, you want to make sure that each detail, whether big or small from site selection, rent rates, landlord concessions, parking and your ongoing operating expenses are discussed. A quality commercial real estate agent will help you with all this including connections with paint and carpeting improvements as well as office relocation assistance.

Look to Commercial Real Estate Agents with Experience

Commercial real estate agents with an experienced portfolio can bring a lot to the table. With years of experience in office moves, leasing and commercial real estate improvements, you will feel good that you are getting a great deal in both quality and price.

Whether you are relocating, needing a bigger or smaller space, your perfect property is not too far away when you work with a commercial real estate agent with experience and your business’s future in mind.

About the author: Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity.  For more information regarding commercial real estate agent go to Royal Commercial Corp.

Commercial Movers Still Busy in This Down Turn

Monday, March 16th, 2009

They say there are a few things that are recession proof, and one of them that does not usually come to mind are moving companies. In good times and bad, people are either moving in or out of houses, offices and storage units. Today, companies are not extending leases; they are downsizing or moving out into a storage unit while they re-organize and they use commercial movers to help.

Vacant commercial real estate is way up. As companies downsize or go under, movers are being called on to clear out unused space, tear down cubicles and move office desks into storage. When companies want to show the most support they can during this hard time, many offices ask their white collar employees to be the paid movers instead of hiring a moving company. Businesses that are about to go under can save money by using the employees they currently have instead of hiring a moving company. But that is usually the exception. Just last year, sources say that the nationwide, office space vacancy rose to 14.5 percent, with the prediction for it to rise to approximately 17 percent. That is a lot of offices that will need moving assistance.

Commercial Movers Moving More Than Cubicles From Office Spaces

Movers are often contracted by corporations to help move employees back sometimes across the country or state, if they were hired or transferred to work for another part of the company located in another state. This type of moving is called “repatriation moves,” and this one area of the commercial moving industry that is rapidly increasing. This kind of moving, sometimes to other countries, is very expensive and can be very lucrative for moving companies.

Even though the recession has commercial movers busy, there is a slight decline in other niche moving companies. These specialty movers for example are experiencing a decrease in business:

  • Fine art moving
  • Furniture sales moving
  • Single family home moving

Companies in the future will be more careful about the wording in their contracts for new hires and likely limit the amount of funds for relocation, temporary housing and the length of time movers are expected to get a job completed. Commercial movers looking to get an edge over the competition will want to advertise their efficiency to get the job done fast, meaning cheaper, in order to get contracts.

It’s often the case people who still need movers, (not the commercial type) will look to more economical ways to move. Due to the economy, people are renting trucks and doing the hard labor themselves. If you are a company needing cheap labor, it’s likely that people are advertising for small jobs like moving or hauling and on the upside, if you need a job you might want to look into the commercial moving industry.

About the author: Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity. For more information regarding commercial real estate or office space Go to Royal Commercial!.

What the Current Economy Means for Office Leasing

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Buying or leasing office space is a much different situation than buying or leasing a home. Over the past couple years, corporate real estate was doing really well as businesses were booming and filling up their space quickly. However, with the economy now businesses are consolidating and getting rid of space, so things have changed significantly.

For people managing corporate real estate or handling office leasing they are going to be in for much tougher negotiations. Rental rates are at a much lower rate than they were a few years ago and companies may be less inclined to sign a long-term contract.  Companies are doing everything they can to explore cost-cutting measures. Even the simple office supplies that weren’t a big deal to purchase in the past may now need management approval.

This type of leasing climate is especially good for those companies who know they are going to weather this economic downturn just fine. Yes, there are a few out there still making money. These companies can take advantage of the lower rates and the many incentives that are being provided. If they can take advantage of a longer term lease they may end up saving a lot of money. Tenants are looking for the best deal when they look for office space and landlords are really going to the extra mile to lock them in.

Lease negotiations are in the tenant’s court right now. With discounted rent or even free rent for a period of time, this is a good time to be searching for office space. Landlords that are struggling to find tenants may offer a variety of great deals such as paying for the space to be renovated or providing the options for additional build-outs on the property. Further, landlords are offering much more flexibility with the term of the lease. In good markets, landlords might be especially stringent when it comes to lease terms and getting out of a lease early. However, now they are much more willing to talk about ending leases early, which may be a cost savings to tenants paying for unnecessary space. Tenants are also setting leases with shorter renewal options to allow for better positioning when the market does improve. While they may be cutting costs now, most companies are looking forward to a day when they can get back to normal, hire more employees and re-fill up that space they just vacated.

Even though the economy has many wishing for jobs, grumbling about unemployment or afraid for the days to come, it also holds a lot of cost savings measures of which business should take advantage. With the better lease rates, more flexibility in negotiation and the incredible incentives on the table, it is a no brainer for companies to take advantage and save some money. We won’t always be in a recession; companies won’t always be struggling to fill their office space. However, right now, for both landlords and tenants it is a very different market. And, while tomorrow may change things for the better. Today, companies should stop and look at the many ways they can make choices today to improve their financial picture tomorrow, especially when it comes to their office space.

About the Author: Rebecca Beckett is a freelance writer for Innuity. If you would like more information about office space or corporate real estate go to Royal Commercial.

Small Ways to Change Your Office Since You Can’t Afford to Move or Pay for Upgrades

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

Wondering what to do with your ratty office carpet? Are you outgrowing your small office space? If you are like so many businesses who would like to repair their office space or move into a new one but can’t financially do so, or get the line of credit necessary to make these changes due to the economic climate, there are other options for you. Here are give ways to improve your office space right now.

  1. Initiate a Work Clean Up Party

So you cannot hire a cleaning service, painters or carpenters to help remodel your office but that doesn’t mean you can’t spruce things up with the resources you have at hand. Have a mandatory cleaning party at work. Pay your employees, provide lunch and drinks and crank up the music. Draw names for cleaning duties or separate yourself into cleaning teams. With some positive energy and dome good elbow grease, you can have a shiny new office space in no time!

  1. Shop Discounted Stores, Online Deals or Thrift Stores For Great Steals on Furniture, Cubicles and Décor -including Paint

If you have ever scanned online discount stores, auction houses or craigslist’s in the “free section” you would be amazed at what you can find! Entire office furniture sets for less than half their retail price or free! Paint, doors, carpet and even art is all available online for complete deals. Thrift stores, garage sales and warehouse stores are all great places to look for great furniture at rates you can afford. Even though you can’t afford to get a new office space and furniture now, you can get pretty close to it and at least get what you need.

  1. Stacking up? Throw it Out

One of the easiest ways to appreciate your office and make a big change for the better is to throw out what you don’t need. Broken doors, broken cubicles, torn furniture and clutter can immediately make a manageable office intolerable. Borrow or rent a truck and get rid of all your useless stuff! It’s just taking up space that could be used for so many other things. Don’t forget, many of those things you want to throw away could be recycled or donated.

  1. Too Tight? Allow People to Work at Home

If your staff is growing and your office is shrinking- the desire to relocate may be strong, but since credit lending isn’t exactly happening right now, you may have to think of creative ways to use your space. Doubling up two people to an office may sound like a good idea, but offering the chance for people to work from home is not just a great idea for desk sharing, your employees will appreciate the offer as well.

  1. Trade Services

Does your business have a service or product you could trade in return for painting, carpentry or new desks? Perhaps your marketing services, hotel or travel services or free cases of your energy drink that you produce could be in exchange for another company’s painting, carpet or landscaping services.

In today’s economic climate, it’s not the easiest time to get a line of credit to move into a new office space or use towards remodeling. Using your head, you can come up with several different ways of making things work at least in the meantime until things improve in the markets financially. Who knows, the new office furniture you bought online to go with the free carpet you got in exchange for business cards that you printed for the carpet company could be the best thing you ever did. Perhaps you won’t want to move after all.

About the author: Melissa Peterman is a web content specialist for Innuity For more information regarding, office space go to Royal Commercial.