Every year, different industry groups, consultants and government entities publish their lists of “Top Locations for Business” (Cities, States & Countries). While the intent is good, and the methodology sound, there is significant fault in the findings and corporations should only use them as a comparative starting point. The data points are solid: Accessibility, cost…
Few areas hold as much impact on capital outlay as real estate and leasehold expenses. Ensuring that your company is not overpaying is integral to fiscal management. You know an audit is in order when you see: SIGNIFICANT JUMPS IN OPERATING EXPENSES / ADDITIONAL RENT Performing a simple trend analysis of your year-to-year operating…
Corporate leadership ranks “overall efficiency” as very high on their list of priorities. It’s not always directly related to corporate real estate, but it should be. When you tour one of your company’s facilities, it seems to be fairly efficient. What isn’t fully apparent are the significant gaps in utilization rates & overall efficiency created…
“If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got”. -Albert Einstein OLD SCHOOL THINKING The historic approach goes something like this: “We currently lease X square feet. We probably need about the same going forward or Y square feet because we have fewer people or more people,…
Although corporate real estate and facilities represent a very significant portion of the balance sheet and operating expenses, they often do not receive the attention they deserve despite the huge potential for creating competitive advantages, reducing costs and improving operating efficiency. Corporate real estate must be viewed as a strategic asset, not a liability or…
The costs to construct / renovate and furnish office space are key components in your company’s overall cost of space, particularly under current economic conditions. During the past few years, the costs of labor and materials have increased sharply while the lack of availability of each has become a significant problem. In addition, municipal permitting…
Current Work Force Time is leverage. Most companies do not allow enough lead time to adequately prepare for, analyze, and execute a successful relocation or renegotiation of an existing lease. Have your team develop a timeline, including critical action dates, for use throughout the project. Commutation Studies When comparing alternative locations, identify and map…
A move is the best time to implement new work processes and technologies to help create greater efficiency, raise productivity and morale, and control long-term occupancy costs. However, problems in the relocation process most frequently arise through insufficient planning. The following should help you avoid common pitfalls during your company’s next move. Assemble Team…
Commitment Commitment is the cornerstone of great service in today’s highly demanding, rapidly changing business environment. It is essential that service providers are committed fully to delivering comprehensive solutions that satisfy the client’s short and long-term needs. Communication Efficient reporting and regular interaction are key to any successful relationship. Communication timetables, forms, and parameters…
Advance Preparation The odds of achieving optimum results on any real estate project are greatly increased when sufficient time is given to fully analyze needs and develop a thorough plan of action. The size and complexity of the requirement will dictate how many months in advance to begin a needs analysis, compilation of locational data…