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In a previous post, I explored five reasons it might be time to find a new office. Now, let’s do the reverse. Here are five reasons it might be time…
You’ve had little or no growth
Not every growing business needs to take on additional office space. Depending on your industry, you might need to hire more people who work in the field and not at a desk. If that’s the case, then you don’t need any additional square footage. It can actually be detrimental to take on added square footage when it isn’t necessary. And if your business is stable or has had little growth, the space that you’re in likely still works just fine. No need to make a change.
Also: Four things to Ask When Renegotiating a Lease | Looking for Lease Leverage? Start Early
You don’t have enough savings to move
Relocating can be expensive. Consider that you will need to pay for the physical move, the wiring, changing your letterhead, buying new furniture, and so on. Even if you find a space that could save you $100k on your next lease, it might not make financial sense because your move will eat up the entire cost savings, if not more. Don’t get me wrong: Sometimes you just need to move, especially if you’re saddled with a Landlord who’s making you miserable and eating into your productivity. You might not see any tangible savings on the move, but ultimately, you’ll save.
You’re Already in the Perfect Location
You love your building, your staff loves your building, and overall it works for everyone. What’s the expression? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it? The same goes here. If everyone is happy and business is good, then renew your lease.
Plus: The Election Effect | What Makes a Good Tenant Rep?
You’re in a Tightening Market
In rare instances, there just isn’t any space available that meets your criteria. Depending on your market there can be a shortage of vacant space. If that’s the case, it’s crucial to fully understand the market so you can negotiate the best possible terms on a renewal. Your best bet is to hire a knowledgeable broker to do this for you.
You can negotiate better renewal terms
Since the day you signed your current lease, your expenses have been going up, in one way or another. Given that there will almost always be vacant space, it’s fair to at least take a look at what’s available. Sometimes you’ll find the most unexpected diamond in the rough. Other times, you’ll see a few things you like but nothing that really moves the needle. If you start looking, your current Landlord will almost always catch wind of it and will do as much as they can to get you to stay. That usually means reducing the rent, updating your space, or one throwing in other types of concessions. As long as your Landlord is offering fair terms and you’re happy with your situation, then renewing is probably the path of least resistance.
Know When to Bring in Your Broker
In my experience, tenants move for only a handful of significant reasons: a major reduction in rent, a need for more space, a need for less space, unreasonable ownership, outdated offices that would be too expensive to renovate and lastly, a need to change location. It’s fair to say that if you don’t fall into one of those categories, a renewal might be in your best interest.
It’s important to note that your broker can, and should, negotiate your lease renewal. It’s been estimated that approximately 70 percent of all tenants renew or extend their lease on expiration, sometimes even sooner. Needless to say, that means brokers like me spend most of our time working on lease renewals. Make sure you involve your broker so you can benefit from their expertise and garner the best renewal possible.
Based in Princeton, N.J., Vinny specializes in tenant and landlord representation for Colliers International, working directly with his clients in the acquisition and disposition of office space. For more commercial real estate insight and trends, follow Vinny on Twitter.
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