At Tenant Advisors, we posed the question : what does this generation value in a workplace?

We spoke with millennials that recently entered the workforce to discover what inspires and fuels their passion in competitive work environments.

Data Analyst: office size 75-100 people

 “ I work at a company that has outgrown its office space, currently we’re forced to have to maximize office space by sacrificing efficiency.

A lack of common space is detrimental, the only place you have is your desk area. If you need to take a phone call, we don’t really have anywhere in the office you could step aside to.

On the flip side – the office is in a great location. It’s very convenient to hop on the El and get to work in 30 minutes.

Our office has a great view of the city, we also have great facilities available in the building. Often times I’ll take advantage of the gym”

Inside Sales: office size 750-1,000 people

“ I think my favorite thing about my office is the layout and location. I am incredibly close to public transportation and am able to utilize the CTA to get to the office quickly, my commute is usually like 45 minutes.

My office has great amenities, they have a great common areas and a nice kitchen.

What I love about my office is the open collaborative, layout.

You can talk and interact among your coworkers, being able to get advice or ask for help from someone close by is really nice.

Something I think could be improved on is the aesthetic, I think the office could be better decorated. Don’t get me wrong, it looks really nice as is, but some fresh paint or new artwork would make a big impact in my opinion. Some more colors in the office would really brighten up the place and I would argue inspire creativity “

Financial Planner: office size 200-300 people

“ A lot of the work we do is collaborative and involves usually a whole team of people working together. Our meeting rooms are great, they are linked up with great technology so we can video chat among other offices really without having many problems.

Our clients depend on us to have a quick turn around so not having to worry about this or that going wrong, knowing we have reliable equipment allows us to better tackle the problem at hand.

Something I would improve on in my office would be to reconsider cubicles. Often times I find it acting as a barrier for productivity, often sending emails to people across the room.

I understand it’s how a lot of offices have been traditionally laid out, but this doesn’t necessarily mean this is the way it needs to be, ya know?”

There you have it, a first hand account from rising young professionals. For all your Chicagoland Office Space needs, Tenant Advisors will guide you every step of the way. Give us a call today at 847 778 0296, we look forward to hearing from you.

Location, Location, Location

The perfect office space can lose its charm almost immediately if it’s in the wrong location. A myriad of factors must be considered before putting ink on a lease. Are you and your employees close to the space? Will clients be visiting your office and will it be accessible to them? These simple questions often make a large impact when finding the right office space to fit your business needs. A dream office loses a lot of its charm if the commute is over taxing.

Know What You’re Getting

Before signing a lease, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting! With so many factors to consider before choosing your space something can be easily overlooked. Commodities to solidify during negotiations include the parking spots received, the condition of the space upon move in, and what will you be able do to customize your space? Taking the word of your landlord is much less reliable than seeing it clearly laid out in the lease.  All parties need to be in understanding and agreement.

Office Size

The square footage is crucial when leasing your office. Take an honest look at the needs of your company as it is, and then try to predict the foreseeable future. Will you be holding meetings? A conference room will be needed. Looking to expand down the road? Account for this growth by increasing initial square footage so desks and cubicles can be added with ease. Consider your work environment: will you require larger collaborative workspaces or does something more reserved where employees can work privately better fit your needs?

Before signing your lease imagine breaking your lease it. An infinite number of factors could lead a tenant to break a lease.  You may find yourself in this position. What fees or penalties will be assessed on breaking your lease? All things to consider before even signing.

Keeping Up With Appearances

If you anticipate clients in your office, try to imagine your office from their point of view. Their image of your company begins the moment they enter the building, how would you like them to perceive your company?

If image isn’t important and only employees will work in the space, certain amenities may not be as necessary. If clients will visit frequently, your image and the way your client perceives your company become more important. An elegant lobby area makes a strong impression. In your office, optional commodities such as signage and a reception area may cost more initially but the image portrayed to your customer can pay out in the long run.

Conveniences

Assuming you’ll be spending a fair amount of time at or around the office, consider the surrounding area where you’ll be spending all of this time. Simple things like a package pickup service or restaurant in the building can make time at the office more enjoyable, while hopefully allowing day to day operations to run smoother. When visiting a space initially, visit the convenience store, cafe, restaurant. Can you picture yourself getting lunch here regularly? Amenities like this, a workout facility or even a laundry service can really add to making an enjoyable workplace for you and your company.

Also consider the surrounding area, will you be in a more commercial district with lots of restaurants and amenities? Being close to public transportation, restaurants, and entertainment are all added benefits of the surrounding area, these can prove most important when choosing between two locations.

The Lease of Tomorrow, Today

The length of the lease may be the single most important factor when considering choosing your office space. Realistic expectations for your company are crucial when choosing the length of a lease. If you’re unsure of where the size of your company is headed, a more moderate short term lease may be more appropriate. If stable, steady growth is in the horizon then a long term, larger lease would prove more beneficial, as many concessions are proportional to term length. How many employees do you need to account for today versus how many will you need to account for tomorrow? Extraneous square footage could be a costly wasted space, but the opportunity to add more desks and employees may outweigh these costs. Not hiring an employee due to lack of room is an issue no business owner should face if they had considered their future before committing to a lease.

Reputations

The right broker can be the ultimate tool when working with a landlord over the course of your lease. A trusted broker is the best resource for helping you, the tenant, in finding the office space right for you. A reputable broker will be your go to advisor.  They are the best resource when it comes to landlords and any issues that could arise. With as much time and work as you’ll likely be putting in at your office, you want a broker that has your best interests in mind. With trusted brokers connected to landlords across the Chicagoland area, Tenant Advisors has become the most trusted resource by tenants in helping them find their perfect office space fit.

Will an Open Office Space Plan Suit Your Employee Size?

Open office space plans will work with certain employee sizes but not others. Before leasing commercial office space with an open layout, you need to consider whether your employee size will work with such an office setup. Frequently, when you have too many employees, who are bunched together in an open office space, the distractions are too apparent and will be reflected in the work product.

Does Your Type of Company Agree with An Open Office Space Layout?

It’s also vital to consider what type of company your entity is, with regard to figuring out if an open office space will be a wise choice or not. If your employees are often on phone calls and need to be in an office environment where they have quiet work time, an open office plan is one which business employers may avoid in order to produce the best work product for their clients.

Will Your Employees Be Able to Concentrate and Work Best In This Type of Setting?

One of the primary concerns for employers is to offer the best type of setting in which their employees can work and be productive. Although open office space is sometimes chosen by employers so that the employees can work more as a team and not be isolated from one another, or it simply may be a situation where the office building is set up as an open space layout already, there are times when an employer would rather not have their employees set up in this type of office plan.

Examining Your Options

Before you lease commercial office space, you’ll need to examine the options. Determine whether an open office space plan is suitable for your employees and see what’s available in the way of office space leases. It’s extremely important to examine the options before signing a lease because if you decide to lease an office with an open space floor plan and you later decide that this was not a wise move, you are stuck with that type of office environment until your lease term expires. Considering your office space options right in the beginning will help to ensure that you select the right type of floor plan and lease an office which suits your company and employees.

There are pros and cons to open office space plans and it’s up to the business employer to find an office space setting which is suitable for their office employees and company/corporation.

1. Experts will Be Life Savers – Consider all the experts that you can find as fantastic resources to get the best possible value for the property. Experts can determine all the answers to the who, what, when, where and why of commercial real estate. A tenant advisor can also provide insight into the current state of the market and when it would be ideal to move in on a property.
2. Take a Tour – When considering a property, even a rental property, take a tour of the property. You never want to be unpleasantly surprised with your rental office space. Even though you can trust your broker, advisor, etc., you can still look into how the property will fit you and the goals you have for your team.
3. Strategize – Knowing your business strategy can also help to decide your best options when it comes to a real estate venture. Looking at what your business’s needs and wants are now, and also what they will be in the length of time that the lease in binding. Consider all aspects from growth to expectations that will be affected by you choice in real estate.

If you are looking for Chicago office space rentals, check out TenantAdvisors.com to get the latest updates on properties in the area!

Why The Landlord Wants This Lease Term Included

A commercial landlord likes to have this type of term included within the lease because it is a safeguard for them, and a monetary one at that, should an interested party want to lease a larger office space which could be available should the landlord move a current tenant into a different space. This type of lease term enables the landlord to rent out more of their office space and gain  more income simply from doing so.

Although this is a standard lease term, it is one which not all landlords are able to have included due to some resistance from office space tenants at the time of the lease signing. Should the landlord be successful in having the office space tenant agree to this term, the landlord will be responsible for all costs associated with the tenant relocation should the landlord opt to put this lease term into play.

Why The Tenant Doesn’t Want This Lease Term Included

Frequently, an office space tenant will not want this type of lease term included within their commercial office space lease. Those who lease office space, usually choose their office space of choice due to its location, size, view and more. After all, why would the tenant want to be moved around after they carefully select their office space? However, during the negotiations and prior to signing the lease, this term often comes up in conversation and has to be decided upon at that point.

How an Office Tenant Can Have This Term Excluded

Most commercial tenants would want this term excluded. Therefore, it’s important to review the lease terms thoroughly to make sure relocation provisions are not included or, if they are, this can be discussed during lease negotiations with the landlord prior to signing the lease. By removing the relocation provisions term from the lease, you will ensure that you will not have to move to another spot during the lease, simply because the landlord wants to make more money off of an additional tenant who may want to occupy your space. Should the landlord not agree to omitting the relocation provisions term, just be sure that it is as fair to you, the tenant, as possible and that you know what could happen in the future should the relocation provisions term be put into play.

Why Is Signage Important?

First and foremost, you want the proper signage outside of the leased commercial office space advertising your business so customers can find you, whether they are current customers or prospective ones. When you have the proper signage, your customer base will improve as will your business’ income. This type of advertisement is the easiest way to draw people in and a cost-efficient method as well.

Why Might Landlords Restrict the Use of Signs?

There are a few different reasons why landlords may restrict the use of signs by their commercial tenants. First, they may not have the room to allow all tenants to put up signs, especially if there are many office space tenants within the building. Also, there may be city restrictions and zoning laws regarding signage, which wouldn’t be the landlord’s fault but simply something which prevents the tenant from advertising at the building. In addition, the landlord may not want a bunch of signs all over the building and simply restrict signage for that purpose alone. These are some of the more common reasons why landlords don’t want signs on their property.

How Does the Tenant Go About Getting Their Sign Up and Presence Known?

The best way to get your sign posted, whether it is a stand-alone sign only promoting your business or your name on a large sign alongside all of the other office tenants within the building, is to negotiate properly with the landlord during the lease negotiations. Some landlords will be flexible with regard to signage and, in this case, getting your sign posted is not a big deal. However, for other landlords who may be more hesitant to allow signs, you’re going to want to negotiate this factor prior to signing the lease.

If the landlord refuses to allow you to put up a stand-alone sign, see if they would agree to an addition to a sign already posted which has other office space tenants listed on it. This shouldn’t make or break the lease deal, however, if it is that important to you as a tenant, which it should be, try to work with the landlord to get some sort of signage posted. After all, if people don’t know where you are located or new customers can’t come across your business with ease, this will hurt you as a business owner. Negotiation is key so try to work with the landlord to secure some type of signage along with your commercial office space lease.

When you enter into a lease, you never know what the future may bring. Most business owners would like to believe that they will be in the leased premises to the end of the lease term but this is not always the case. Instances may arise where exiting the commercial office space ahead of the lease term expiration is a necessity. This is where assignment and sublease clauses will come in handy.

Understanding Assignment and Sublease Clauses

With both of these clauses, the current tenant may have another tenant move into their position under the current lease. With an assignment, the tenant will assign the remainder of their lease term to another tenant. From that point forward, the initial tenant is no longer involved with the lease agreement. As for a sublease situation, the initial tenant will have a new tenant take their place in the lease but the initial tenant will still be responsible for any payments which the landlord does not receive from the subletting party. In general terms, an assignment clause is more favorable to a tenant than a subletting clause as it allows the tenant to be done with the lease once and for all as soon as the new tenant enters the picture.

How the Inclusion of These Clauses Will Safeguard the Tenant

Both of these clauses will safeguard the tenant by providing them with a way out of the lease agreement, in some form, should they need to move out for any reason. No business owner expects that they will have to leave prior to the lease term but there are certain instances which may occur that make it necessary to assign or sublet the remainder of the lease to another party. When the clauses are included within the lease, this provides an option for the tenant, if it is needed.

Landlord May Insert Various Requirements in the Assignment and Sublease Clauses

There may be certain specifications included within these clauses to help protect the landlord’s financial security should an assignment or sublease take place. The landlord may require that the new tenant is financially secure and will be able to pay rent when due. There may also be some added fees that the current tenant must pay to the landlord in order to ascertain the financial stability of the new tenant, such as fees for credit checks, etc. All of these factors can be discussed during lease negotiations to ensure that both parties are safeguarded in the arrangement.

Always review your lease prior to signing it and make sure that an assignment and/or sublease clause is present and will benefit you as the tenant.

Why You Need Financial Analysis for Negotiations

Negotiations for commercial real estate leasing are time-consuming and involved in nature. You are not simply renting a home or an apartment, you are securing an office space lease which often carries with it a lengthy lease term. There is plenty to discuss during commercial leasing negotiations and large amounts of money at stake. Therefore, you want to be sure that the negotiations work well in your favor, the tenant. Financial analysis figures will help to show the landlord what you will be paying, outside of simply the base rental payments.

There are many other costs to consider with commercial office space leasing and you want to bring such costs to the attention of the landlord. This will also be a beneficial path to pursue, since you want to determine what your landlord will pay for and what you will be responsible for paying on your end of the tenancy. A financial analysis will lay it all out on the table and ensure that no stones are unturned during the leasing negotiation process.

Steps for Using Financial Analysis Figures During Negotiations

When a landlord is figuring out how much to charge a tenant for rent, they look at the effective rental rate. This rate takes into consideration factors such as market rental rates seen in comparable buildings, building operating costs and total transaction costs. With these three encompassing factors in mind, the landlord comes up with the rental rate. How do tenants go about reducing the rental rate asked for at negotiations? By completing a financial analysis of their own. By doing so, the tenant can show that certain aspects should be less, or more, in cost to get the negotiations to favor their side and, ultimately, result in a lesser amount on the overall rental rate.

To have your points duly noted, use a proper financial analysis program to come up with the figures. This will hold the most weight when you are in the negotiation phase with your landlord as you have concrete figures to show for your point of view. Also, have a tenant representative along with you for the negotiations. It’s important to be properly represented so that you are not going it alone in negotiations with the landlord. Lastly, be reasonable with your requests, especially if the office space is a highly coveted one and there is a bit of competition as to other prospective tenants wanting the same location as you. The landlord will be less likely to be flexible if there is another business owner out there who will pay the asking price for the office space lease.

Financial analysis is extremely important in commercial office space lease negotiations and you want to make sure you sit down at the negotiation table with financial analysis paperwork in hand and a tenant representative by your side.

Request a Shorter Lease Term

Just because the initial lease terms are on paper doesn’t mean that you can’t request a shorter lease term. Many landlords will opt for longer lease terms as it ensures that they will have a tenant in place for years in the future and provides them with security. However, there are times when the landlord may agree to a shorter lease term. You may have to pay a bit more for an office space lease which is shorter than a 5-15 year range, however, if you need the flexibility with regard to length of the lease, it may be worth paying a bit more to obtain such flexibility.

Ask for a Renewal Clause

Suppose you feel as if you will want to stay in your office space for many years to come and don’t want to risk being forced out when your lease term expires. The easiest way to gain security in this regard is to request that a renewal clause be added to the leasing contract. This will give you a documented right to renew your lease should you desire to do so in the future. It’s always good to have this type of safeguard in place and absolutely have it in writing.

Assignment and Sublease Options

There may come a time during the commercial tenancy where you have to vacate the lease ahead of the expiration of your current lease. Having assignment and sublease options in the contract will ensure that you will be allowed to assign or sublet the remainder of your lease term without penalty.

Inclusion of a Termination Clause

As with the prior section, should you need to move your business out of the leased office space prior to the conclusion of the lease term, you want to be able to do so without being penalized. Sometimes business owners don’t want to be responsible for subleases or assignments and this is where a termination clause will come in handy. Request that this lease term is also added to the contract and it will provide a flexible option for you as a commercial office space tenant.

Office space leases don’t have to be strictly structured nor do they have to benefit the landlord alone. Request that terms be included within the lease which will safeguard you as a tenant down the road.

Elgin, Illinois, situated 35 miles northwest of Chicago, is a city which offers options for business owners of various sizes. This is especially true for those who wish to lease office space there. Elgin is located in both Kane and Cook counties and has a population of approximately 110,000 individuals, a size which is quite beneficial for business owners who open their doors in Elgin.

New Housing in Elgin Means More Customers for Businesses

In the past few years, Elgin has seen a surge in new homes, townhomes and condos being built. With the large population base and more housing being created for individuals moving to town, this is a big pull for business owners and a reason why many businesses come to Elgin to lease and buy commercial office space.

Plentiful Transportation Options

Due partly to the fact that Elgin is one of the larger cities in Illinois, the transportation options are readily available. There are three Metra stations in Elgin, including National Street, Elgin and Big Timber Road, along with the Pace bus line which runs through the city at various stops. Amtrak may be planning a future stop in Elgin as well in 2015. For those traveling by car, Elgin is surrounded by various interstates, specifically I-90 and I-355, as well as a vast amount of local roads running through town.

Retail Stores, Restaurants and Entertainment Options in Elgin

There are many wonderful shopping options in Elgin. From well-known national retailers such as Payless Shoe Source and Family Dollar to more specialized local shops including Fat Cat Custom Guitars and Shockey Jewelers, Elgin offers much in the way of shopping. Dining establishments are also wide and varied when it comes to national chains and local restaurants. Some of your dining options in Elgin include Chooch’s Pizzeria, Crave Deli, Dunkin’ Donuts, Gasthaus and more.  

For entertainment, Elgin offers the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Public Museum and plenty of city parks and golf courses. Whether you crave indoor culture or outdoor activities, Elgin has quite a bit to offer its residents, business owners and business employees. There is also the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, for those who like to do a little bit of gaming and indulge in casino dining and entertainment.

Why Your Business Should Lease Office Space in Elgin

As a business owner, you have many options when it comes to leasing office space and which city to do so within. Elgin is a strong contender as it has plenty of amenities to draw people in, a large residential base, is located in an easy to reach spot and is continually expanding. Whether you are searching for a small professional office to fit a few people or want a large corporate headquarters, the city of Elgin can accommodate you. Leasing office space gives you the opportunity to ensure that your chosen spot is a good fit for your business and that the end result is a large client base which will provide individuals to buy your products and/or utilize the services offered by your business. Elgin is a good choice, no matter what type of business you run or how large your business may be.