Turning Office Space into the Next Commercial Real Estate Opportunity
With so many companies offering remote working options, there are now plenty of headlines in the media about remote working. Even though most employees have always worked remotely, having their homes become their primary offices has been catching on like wildfire. During the pandemic, remote working was seen as an attractive option and the only way for some white-collared jobs to survive.
While there was an increase in vacant offices during the COVID-19 crisis, that doesn’t necessarily mean that offices aren’t going to be needed again.
It’s important to note that only some businesses can successfully transition all their employees into remote work. For example, professionals interacting with the general population still require an office space to meet clients face-to-face. But when you decide to buy a space or a building for an office, you must take professional advice and ask for pre purchase building inspections.
As technology advances, the lines between work and home continue to blur. As a result, many professionals say they want to return to the office.
Why do companies still require offices?
Because competition among businesses is so fierce, it’s essential to protect sensitive information from competitors.
Some people who work for these types of organizations prefer to work remotely because they feel that it gives them more freedom than if they were required to be at an office daily. Others enjoy going into the office whenever they want without feeling guilty about not doing so.
Monitoring Employees Is Easier in the Office
Companies of all sizes need to monitor employee activity, but the fact remains that only some people are trustworthy enough to be trusted with access to sensitive information.
Remote working has become increasingly popular, but living and working together often leads to
distractions instead of focusing on achieving business goals.
Because concerns over employee productivity often lead companies to utilize some workspace, employees still have autonomy over their own time. Still, it is much simpler for some to focus away at home than to produce the same high output with pets, kids, and other responsibilities nearby.
Benefits of Office Space
If you’re still deciding about office space, don’t worry – there are plenty of good reasons why you should consider it. Here are some of them:
- Comfortability: Staff members are used to coming into the office instead of messing with unfamiliar event halls or other temporary spaces.
- Centralization: A physical location means that everyone knows exactly where they need to be at any given time, reducing opportunities for communication difficulties.
- Saving: Instead of carrying equipment from one location to another, everything stays at the office, reducing storage costs and making money available for other business goals.
Another benefit of having office space is that it allows companies to be tied down by physical locations rather than solely by their online presence. Here are some other benefits of having a physical office space.
Here are some tips to get the right commercial real estate for office space
Before jumping into any commercial realty deal, do some thorough due diligence. You want to avoid getting stuck with an investment property that doesn’t meet your needs.
Here’s what you should know:
- It would help to consider the geographic region where you want to open your business. Like residential real estate, commercial real estate (CRE) still follows the same basic principle of the geographical area being extremely important. If the region needs to be more familiar, try looking it up online.
- Consider the space offered. Some types of business may be better suited than others. If you already know which kind of businesses you want to attract as customers, look into whether the space offered would be suitable for them.
- Pay attention to the financials when considering available listings: how much does it costs to maintain the space in case of vacancy; what repairs and upgrades are necessary to compete in the marketplace?
Consider these things when looking for commercial spaces to add to your realty portfolio.
There are several considerations when purchasing office space
Renting the property itself is just the beginning of your journey. The next stage is making the building attractive enough so that your employees will enjoy the space. You’ll also have to ensure that any needed renovations are done correctly. A well-maintained building may require a few upgrades.
When drafting your initial lease agreement, consulting with a commercial real estate lawyer is wise. Being able to draw a contract that encourages business owners to rent from you while still protecting yourself against any potential disputes is a balancing act that a lawyer can assist with.
It’s essential to have enough money left over after buying an office space to rebrand and market the area. You don’t want to buy an office space and cannot afford to change its appearance.
Impartial Research Is Key
If you’re looking for an investment property, consider buying some commercial real estate.
Research is the difference between having the best space possible and turning it into a lucrative part of your real estate portfolio. But, of course, it’ll be an investment, so remain objective when looking for the perfect location.
Alexia is the author at Research Snipers covering all technology news including Google, Apple, Android, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung News, and More.