The Pros and Cons of An Open Office Floor Plan

The Pros and Cons of An Open Office Floor Plan

You’ve got everything ready for your new office, now it’s time to decide between the privacy of cubicles or the open spaces that come with the bullpen layout. Earlier this year the New Yorker reported that 70% of offices go with an open floor plan. That being said there are numerous articles discussing that open floor plans may lead to too much collaboration. Here are some key differences between the two styles:

BULLPEN PROS

·         Open communication

·         Collaboration

·         No department segregation

·         No “status symbol” desk locations

BULLPEN CONS

·         Noise & distractions

·         Little to no privacy

·         Lack of confidentiality

·         No suitable for all personality types

CUBICLE PROS

·         Less distraction

·         Privacy

·         Feelings of ownership

·         Collaboration is still possible

CUBICLE CONS

·         Lack of a team atmosphere

·         Isolation

·         Cramped space

·         Lack of socialization

 

Ultimately what floor plan is best for your office depends on what your company’s work and daily responsibilities are.  Cubicles can diminish distractions but bullpen layout encourages collaboration. If you are thinking about changing your office’s current layout think about polling your employees to get their input on what would be most effective in your Monroe office. Successful companies have used both types so the decision really comes down to what will enhance and support your office workflow the best.

World's Coolest Commercial Real Estate Offices

World's Coolest Commercial Real Estate Offices

Recently, Inc.com came out with their list of the world's coolest offices to work in for 2014. With this being their 4th annual review, the stakes were risen. With commercial real estate back up on the rise this year, it is no shock to see that some of these offices are awe-inspiring, spectacular and really just mouth dropping. Some of the winners though are obviously large headquarters, but with the amount of branding, fixtures and views added in to their offices, you will understand why they are on the list.

The part that is truly amazing is that these companies were able to create these offices without a high budget. These commercial offices are sophisticated pieces of art to work inside and outside of and are designed for future use as well. Here are the top coolest offices currently being used in the world.

  • Beats Electronics
    • Culver City, CA
    • Office Designed By: Bestor Architecture
  • Google
    • Tel Aviv
    • Office Designed By: Camenzind Evolution
  • Coca-Cola
    • London
    • Office Designed By: MoreySmith
  • Mojang
    • Stockholm
    • Office Designed By: BSK Arkitekter
  • Nasty Gal
    • Los Angeles
    • Office Designed By: Bestor Architecture
  • Superheroes
    • Amsterdam
    • Office Designed By: Simon Bush-King Architecture & Urbanism
  • Wieden+Kennedy
    • New York City
    • Office Designed By: WorkAC
  • WeWork
    • Washington D.C., Wonder Bread location
    • Office Design By: WeWork

Now that the top 8 winners have been announced, who do you think should have been on the list, who are you shocked made it, or is this list perfect the way that it is?

Top 3 Items To Ask Your Monroe Commercial Real Estate Agent

Top 3 Items To Ask Your Monroe Commercial Real Estate Agent

The process to purchase or sell an office can be a long and tedious one. Working by yourself as a for sale by owner can make this process even more taxing than it needs to be. This is why we definitely suggest working with a Monroe Real Estate Agent on both ends of the deal. If you are a buyer, you may not be aware, but you will not pay a cent more for a real estate agent when you purchase the property. The agent’s commission will actually come from the seller, so the amount you pay will not change at all with or without an agent.

If you are a seller, you may be wasting more time and money than you expect by not utilizing an agent. It is statistically known that a Monroe real estate agent can actually get you more money for your property than if you sell it buy yourself. Of course the amount of time that it takes to show the property, market the property, do the paperwork, contact the closing company, title company, lenders, mortgage, etc is enough for a for sale by owner to throw in the towel. But what should you ask the agent to make sure that you are getting the best realtor for your property or buying process?

Here are some of the main questions that we may suggest asking your next Monroe Real Estate Agent before you sign on to make them your realtor:

  1. Where are office prices going and will they appreciate over the next few months, years, etc?
  2. Why should I use an agent when I can shop for an office myself online?
  3. How great of a benefit is owning an office versus leasing one from a landlord?

If your commercial real estate agent cannot answer these five questions in a detailed and calm manner, you may want to steer clear of signing the documents. Knowing that your Monroe real estate agent can answer these questions fluently will give you a piece of mind that you are in good hands and can rest assured that the process will be an easy one for you and your family.

What The New Workforce Truly Wants

What The New Workforce Truly Wants

The new workforce that is starting to evolve the office environment from what we have seen over the past few decades is coming in at full force with new ideas, new ways of working and new infrastructures. The new generation of workers are motivated in different ways, want a different type of workplace and communicate 24/7. Of course, the Monroe office that you have come to know and love will always be there, but the individuals inside the office may be a little different.

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As you can see from the new age techniques compared to the old tried and true methods of working in the office does not necessarily mean that it needs to be in the office. This new workforce is wanting a work anywhere, anytime on any device type of infrastructure and most corporate locations are even buying in to these changes. Flexibility is at the top of the list and the companies that are adapting these new trends are seeing employees that are more dedicated to their work than ever before. With the option to work remotely whenever they want, more hours are being put in to work than during the old fashioned 9-5 work week. This amount of freedom though does force the employee to have a higher level of accountability being away from the office for a set period of time.

Unlike before, many employees are looking to make their own moves up the "corporate ladder" by moving at their own pace. By doing extra work with the anywhere, any device policy, you can actually see employees start to pick up additional projects to assist with outside of their job description. There has also been a noted change in the team mentality as collaboration is still on the top of many employees list. Even though meetings in the office are not happening as frequently, technology is allowing them to make them as concise as possible. This is freeing up more time to complete different projects or tasks, allowing for more work to be completed than before.

Now this does not mean that the Monroe Office is going away. Once again we wanted to reiterate that. What this does mean for your business though is that you have the opportunity of taking work to wherever the individual is. This will increase the amount of work that they are producing and could even improve productivity and overall employee happiness. The Office will always be a crucial part of the business, but with the freedom to work wherever and whenever, you are giving this new workforce the opportunity to work smarter and not harder.

 

Where Will Our Office In Monroe Be In The Future?

Where Will Our Office In Monroe Be In The Future?

Productivity is always a top priority of every office. How to make the office infrastructure work like a well oiled machine is what every company truly looks for. Many companies now though are looking to a more lackadaisical approach to the office.

Employees have the option of working virtually or even from home when time allows it. Most companies have spread across the globe and have created a way for different employees to work with them simultaneously while not even being in the same continent. But you may want to forget about everything that you think the new Monroe Office of the future will actually look like.

Published in the Harvard Business Review, if you are looking to increase your employees worth and knowledge to the company, it may not be due to the individual employee. Chance and face to face meetings, brain storming sessions or encounters ideal improve performance. This is a big change from what people truly believe as technology technically keeps us together and integrated even when we are working remotely from the office.

From a survey that was conducted, the closeness that individuals gained from the office actually boosted their communication virtually. Of the office employees that worked near each other on a particular project, they were 20% more likely to communicate to each other about the project in a digital manner and sent approximately 4 times more emails to collaborate. In the end, the project was completed 32% faster than the other staff that were working remotely.

The great part about this study is that the Monroe office that you may be commuting to on a daily basis in the next 10-20 years may actually look very similar to the one that you are in right now. Whether it is an open office, cubicles, corner offices or any other design that you company currently has in place for you, that structure may not change. Overall, working in the same place as your co-workers and bosses will allow you to produce at a higher level than when virtual.

Considering A Build To Suit Monroe Office Lease?

Considering A Build To Suit Monroe Office Lease?

When looking for a new place to call home for your Business in Monroe, you have four options that are readily available at any time:

  1. Lease out an office that is vacant
  2. Purchase a building and potentially renovate the interior
  3. Build your own office and own the building
  4. Utilize a build to suit lease

If you are looking to create a new office that is completely designed and customized to the needs of business, but do not wish to fork over the large upfront payment for construction, then a build to suit lease may be the best option. In this particular option, the company would look for a commercial real estate developer to completely design and create a new custom building on a site that is preferred, but will then lease the property from that development company. In this scenario, the business never actually owns the property.

Since this building is designed with the business in mind, space efficiency and location will not be an issue as the completed commercial real estate will provide answers to all previous issues the company may have faced at their last location. You can also be assured that the newest cost-effective energy systems and technology will be a part of this long term project. Employee retention can occur much easier as the entire building can be built with the company in mind, even from an exterior standpoint, projecting their image and branding wherever possible. 

With all of this being said though, you must weigh out the pros and cons. A build to suit lease will be more of a long term lease as the market today is showing that properties may have some vacancy from a rebound in the economy. On top of this long term lease, build to suit leases are typically more expensive than renting space from a pre-developed office. Although, in the end you may end of saving money in the long run due to the new energy efficient utilities.

Each company will want to look at the four available choices to choose the one that best fits where their company will be in the near and distant future. Each choice does have their advantages and disadvantages, but if the company can benefit from the uniquely designed office structure, then hiring a Monroe Commercial Real Estate Developer may be the best option to get this project underway.

Monroe Commercial Leases and SNDA's

Monroe Commercial Leases and SNDA's

Whenever you are looking at relocating, moving or just signing in to leasing a Monroe Commercial property, you must obtain a Subordination and Non-Disturbance Agreement. Normally known to the commercial market as a SNDA, the clause enables the rights of the tenant in the building are lesser than that of the lender. In a market that has been plagued with foreclosures a few years back, this is just one of the expected requirements for new tenants to sign. 

With many people involved in the leasing process, the grant gives certain rights to tenant, whereas a loan will giver other particular rights to the lender. By signing this document, the lender is thereby stating that in the event that a foreclosure does occur, the lender will not disturb, interfere or stand in the way of the tenant during the process. The tenant must be in complete compliance of the original sign lease of the Monroe Commercial property, other wise the SNDA may be able to be voided or terminated.

As a tenant who is leasing the space, if the lender comes in to foreclosure on the property and the tenant is in the subordinate position, there is a possibility that the lease can be terminated with the tenant not able to remain in their current space. In order to avoid these issues, the tenant in this case would want the lender to have established a nondisturbance agreement as well, allowing the tenant to remain in their current space.

Overall, the SNDA is around to protect the Monroe Commercial property leaser. Although foreclosures are not as dominate in the market as they once were, they still have the potential to cause issues. With that being said though, it would be wise to have a SNDA in place when signing the lease in order to avoid any potential complications at a later date.

Should You Own Or Lease Your Monroe Office?

Should You Own Or Lease Your Monroe Office?

Leasing or owning an office is one of the most sought after questions you will hear in the Monroe Commercial Real Estate market. What most buyers find attractive if the option to own your own business real estate. Purchasing or leasing really should not be decided solely upon financial stance alone, yet should be taken to a more comprehensive decision. By owning the property, you are also making multiple risk in having your name on the title of this space. In the end, internal and external factors will play a large part in this decision.

When thinking of owning or leasing the Monroe office, these factors may play a crucial role in your decision:

  • Leasing Benefits
  • Leasing Risks
  • Ownership Benefits
  • Ownership Risks
  • Required Capital
  • Required ROI
  • Short and Long Term Business Plans
  • Employee Headcount now and in the future
  • Market Conditions short and long term
  • Income Tax
  • Financial Reporting
  • Exit Strategy

Business needs should be held with the highest of consideration as owning an office could be quite cost effective in the long run, but if you are looking at expanding then it may be detrimental to the purchase. Owning the facility that you will be working in can be quite the advantage financially long term, whereas a short term purchase may cost you more than expected. On top of that, owning will also bring about operational and risk decisions that you would not of had to make while leasing.

Do not get side swiped in to thinking that owning is an attractive alternative to leasing based on rent alone. You may be paying more due to new risk that you never experienced. In the end of it all though, you must go over all of the crucial roles we displayed prior when looking to purchase Monroe Commercial Real Estate before signing on the dotted line. This can make or break your company for the next few decades and owning a piece of property that you may not want when it is time to move can make your life a little bit more hectic. Weigh out all of the odds and see which one goes in your businesses favor.