REoptimizer^® Blog

With the proliferation of co-working space providers like WeWork, some companies are considering abandoning their traditional office space. Co-working environments have some unique benefits, but they are unlikely to completely replace traditional offices. After all, they represent an evolutionary step from the executive suite, and those facilities haven't crowded out regular tenancy.

With rents going up and interest rates continuing to post rates that are at or near historic lows, the balance might seem to have shifted to the latter option in the lease vs. purchase decision. However, leasing remains a strong option for many companies.

The "Business 2.0" punditocracy has been posting dire blog posts for years claiming that office space is obsolete. After all, office space is expensive, employees don't like commuting, technology enables anyone to work from anywhere, and jobs are fluid. Those four assertions are all true. However, they don't add up to the obsolescence of office space. In fact, modern business is rediscovering the value of having a central place to work and of having teams together. They aren't pining for a more simple past, either. Instead, controlling office space as a tenant or owner makes good business sense in the twenty-first century. Here's why:

When members of corporate real estate teams are empowered to function independently, your company is best positioned for success. Fully empowering employees involves considering a number of elements, but by making simple changes, instituting the right policies and investing in the right people and technologies, you can put the power to succeed in the hands of your team.

When you're considering your options for commercial real estate, you may be tempted to rule out green buildings, as rents may be higher for properties that are built with sustainability and conservation in mind. The truth, though, is that the benefits of leasing space in a green building often outweigh any difference in cost. Here are some of the best reasons to consider leasing in green buildings:

A while back, we shared a blog post called "3 Tenant Improvement Allowance Myths and Why They're Not True".  Here are three more TI myths -- and why they aren't accurate.

Time and time again, studies have proven that working environment matters. The right office space has been shown to improve worker productivity and increase employee satisfaction, making companies more successful and greatly reducing turnover.

If you've ever signed a residential lease, the first thing to keep in mind is that you have fewer protections under a commercial lease than you did under the agreement you signed for your apartment or rental house. While most states step in to protect tenants in residential transactions, commercial occupancy agreements are treated as a negotiation between equals. As such, your rights are usually what is in your lease, and nothing else. While leases vary based on both local law and on the actual terms of the document, below are some of the common rights that tenants usually enjoy.