Chicago Office Space Lease Negotiations

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Understanding Blend & Extend Leases 

Business owners who are searching for office space for rent have quite a few options available to them. Long-term leases, annual leases and month-to-month options are the most common types of leases. With that said, most leases are longer-term in the 3-7 year range, and they reflect the market conditions that were in effect at the start of the lease term. So, what happens when a company’s need for office space changes midway into its lease term? or what happens when market conditions change dramatically, but the company still has considerable time left in its lease term? Is he stuck? The short answer is: not necessarily. A relatively new type of lease has emerged which business owners have found to be advantageous to their leasing situation, and that is the blend and extend lease. These leases relate to tenants and landlords who are in a current lease relationship, and want to extend the lease for an additional term while in the midst of their current lease. When a blend and extend lease is initiated, the parties also get to alter the terms of the lease which is an additional benefit to such a lease. The following will highlight more information regarding the blend and extend office lease and cite the various pros and cons of such an office space rental agreement.

What You Should Know About a Blend and Extend Lease

The first thing which commercial property owners and renters need to know about is that there must currently be a lease in place between the landlord and business owner tenant. As the purpose of a blend and extend lease is to get an early renewal with lease term changes it goes without saying that there must be an active lease agreement at the time in which a blend and extend lease is discussed.

You should also be aware of why a blend and extend commercial property lease is desirable. Commercial office leases are often lengthy in duration and this makes altering terms more difficult as when compared to an annual lease. With that said, landlords do not like to take chances of having their office space be empty once their current tenant’s lease expires. With a blend and extend lease, tenants benefit by negotiating for a more favorable monthly rent and lease terms and landlords benefit by ensuring that their current tenant remains in the premises for years to come.

The Pros of a Blend and Extend Office Lease

There are many benefits on both sides of the lease relationship associated with an office space blend and extend lease. The landlord favors a blend and extend lease as it guarantees them that their office space will not be vacant for long periods of time. In today’s economy, office rental demand is on shaky ground as are many other business-related aspects and the landlord can have peace of mind knowing that its tenant will be in the office space for years to come. This will increase the chances that the landlord can cover the mortgage payment every month and not have to worry about paying a real estate agent to find replacement tenants for them.

For the tenant, a blend and extend lease works in their favor by providing them with the opportunity to renegotiate the lease terms and oftentimes renew the lease with a less expensive monthly rent. The rent is not the only thing which the tenant can renegotiate in a this kind of lease. Rental abatement, options to renew, expand or contract and office space improvements are also negotiable points in the new and revised lease.

The Cons of a Blend and Extend Commercial Office Space Lease

As with any negotiations, there may be some less than favorable aspects of a blend and extend lease. With regard to the landlord, although the blend and extend lease provides the landlord with a longer lease term in which the tenant is required to stay in the building, the landlord may have to accept a lower monthly rent payment as well as agree to office improvements and other concessions. As for the tenant, it may receive a more favorable monthly rent under the blend and extend lease, but it will be locked in to the office space for a longer period of time and not be able to move from the office should it desire to do so a few years down the road.

In The End A Blend and Extend Lease Is a Good Option

When all is said and done, a blend and extend lease can often be a good option for both landlord and tenant to consider. If the landlord/tenant relationship is a good one and the office building location works well for the tenant, then there really is no reason to ignore the blend and extend lease option. Even with the few potential negatives listed above, the pros often times outweigh the cons of this type of lease. A blend and extend office lease ensures that the office property remains rented and the tenant gets a better deal than it had previously. It is easy to see why blend and extend leases are becoming much more common in the commercial real estate market-place.

Affordable Office Space Lease: Considerations To Follow

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chicago office space listingsA lot of consideration goes into leasing commercial office space. This is not a small-term or residential lease, so you want to be sure that the office space you select is one which will fit your needs as well as your budget. Not sure how to accomplish this goal with certainty? The following three factors are important considerations to take note of when leasing affordable office space and ones which will greatly help with the final decision.

Structure and Layout Will Dictate Price

When searching the various office space leases, keep in mind that the structure and layout will dictate how much you spend on the overall lease cost. You want to consider if you are going to embark on any structure changes and how much that will cost you. An office space which is ready to go and needs little revision to the structure or layout will save you money and be the most cost effective lease arrangement.

Location Is a Determining Factor with Lease Cost

Where your prospective office space is located will be a factor in how much you pay. Consider the desired location carefully when you search as this can save money. By moving a short distance away and refocusing your search on a neighboring area, but still one which is beneficial for your business, will oftentimes offer a reduced cost. How much an office space landlord charges for rent will depend on the location and the demands associated with it. If you are considering two different locations, where one will be more cost effective, consider the pros and cons to see if the less expensive location will be just as efficient as the pricier one. This will save money and leave you with an office space location which is reasonable in price and will serve your company just as well.

Lease Terms Can Coincide with a Reasonable Price

Chances are that the landlord will have a set price in mind for the lease. However, this doesn’t mean that terms are non-negotiable. The more beneficial the lease terms are for the tenant, the higher the lease price may be. With that said, the future commercial tenant must always negotiate for the best possible terms and still aim for a reasonable price. No lease terms are concrete and everything is up for negotiation when it comes time to discuss the lease. The tenant should always broach favorable lease terms and seek out an affordable lease cost while obtaining exactly what their company needs in an office lease.

Finding an affordable office lease is not an unattainable goal. It can be achieved by choosing an appropriate structure and layout for your office space, picking the right location which will also be cost effective and making sure that you get all of the lease terms to suit your needs and the needs of your company. Although commercial office space leasing may be competitive in certain areas, there are still plenty of options to choose the best office space lease which will accommodate your company or corporation perfectly without having to pay a fortune.

Office Space Negotiations

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Commercial office space lease terms can be lengthy, especially when compared with their residential counterparts. However, there always comes a time when a lease term is up and it’s time to either renew or look for a new office space in which to relocate. Landlords are often in a better place at this time since they know that it’s no easy task to get up and relocate your entire business. Therefore, negotiating terms is often on the side of the landlord. With that said, this doesn’t have to be the case, especially if you show signs of interest in moving to a new location.

Look Around at Other Office Space Leases in the Area

When the time comes to renew your lease, you don’t want to be scrambling trying to find possible alternatives to your current location. You should know what other options are out there in case you and your landlord cannot agree on favorable lease terms with a new lease. Also, by checking out the other alternatives, you are letting your landlord know that you are not 100% set on renewing the current lease, which may make the landlord more likely to offer new lease terms which are more favorable to the tenant in the leasing contract.

Discuss Future Lease Arrangements with Current Landlord Well in Advance

Another easy way to show your current landlord that you may, or may not, be renewing your lease with them is to sit down with your landlord and discuss the future lease terms. Before you commit to a new lease with your current landlord, you want to be sure that this will be the best move for you and your company. If your landlord feels as if you have no other option but to stay in your current location, they will be less generous with the lease terms which they offer. You don’t want to be put in that position so be sure to get a feel for what your landlord will be offering if you decide to renew your commercial office space lease.

Utilize the Services of a Tenant Representativechicago office space listings

An additional way to let your landlord know that you are searching for other accommodations is to hire a tenant representative. When you utilize the services of a tenant representative, your landlord knows that you are not just going to settle for any and all terms which the landlord offers to you and you will be fighting for the best tenant-oriented lease terms possible. Your tenant representative can help out, no matter whether you decide to renew your current lease or venture out to find a new location in which to set up your company.

As a tenant, you still have flexibility when it comes to getting the best possible lease terms in a renewed lease. Just be sure to explore all options and don’t let your landlord believe that you will automatically renew your lease for lack of any other options as this will not help you to obtain the best lease terms should you choose to renew.

Office Space: Tips For Obtaining A Flexible Office Space Lease

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chicago office space listingsCommercial office space leases are often long in lease term length and strict with regard to getting out of the lease prior to the lease term expiration. Many business owners who are eager to lease office space feel as if they have no choice but to accept the lease terms as-is and just know that they must accept a lengthy lease if they want to gain office space. This is not always the case. Although landlords may be the ones to structure the lease, the lease terms are not ones which are absolute. There is always the option to negotiate lease terms and make them more flexible for the benefit of the tenant. The following will offer some tips for obtaining a flexible office space lease.

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.Oak Brook

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.

Is It Time to Move Your Commercial Office Space?

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As businesses grow, they outgrow their current space; as time passes, needs change. Your office space should meet those needs whether they are getting larger or smaller. When is it time to make this decision? Let’s start by asking a few, simplified questions to help us answer the big question: Is it time to move your commercial office space?

Growth

Does your current office space meet your projected long-term needs? If not, put a tally in the move column. Whether you are expanding or consolidating, your commercial office space must agree with projected work demands. If you bottleneck here, you hinder earning potential.

Convenience

Location, location, location, right? This element is true for your financial requirements just as largely as your client base. Long, arduous commutes are a deterrent for new hires and a hindrance for retention, so distance effects your employees as well. For this matter, consider parking. Difficulties with parking can lead to unwanted client and employee frustration.

Security

Leases are complicated. How can you be certain that your rental agreement is secure? What if you get to the end of your lease and your property owner wants to increase your rates? What if your office rental is out-bid on? These are all very realistic concerns. The best answer is to get a commercial real estate expert who can work in your favor to put limitations and restrictions on your lease.