How Do you Select the Commercial Property or Warehouse To Rent in Germiston?
A real estate agent listing a commercial property in Germiston should undertake a detailed property inspection before they give any indication of price or rent to a landlord or property owner. In only this way can they really know what the property is all about; that is what positive and negative aspects the property can create as an investment of Commercial Space Available For Rent Near Me .
Every property is different and for that simple reason it pays to have some form of checklist to run through when as an agent you are listing the commercial property in Germiston . The focus of the inspection will change depending on whether the property is to be for sale or for lease but here are some of the key issues that you would want to know about in listing of the commercial property for rent.
Interesting Facts About Warehouse and Commercial Property To Rent in Germiston :
A warehouse is a commercial building used for storage of goods while warehousing is the process of proper storage and handling of goods and cargo using scientific methods in the warehouse and making them available conveniently when needed. In today's scenario, warehousing is considered as one of the most important aspect of trade.
Need for warehousing
- Some commodities are produced in a particular season only. To ensure their off-season availability, warehousing is needed.
- Some products are produced throughout the year but their demand is seasonal. Warehousing is important in such cases.
- For the companies which opt for large scale production and bulk supply, warehouse is an unavoidable factor.
- Warehousing help companies ensure quick supply of goods in demand.
- Production of goods and their movement of goods are important for the companies for continuous production of goods.
- Warehousing is also important for price stabilization. For necessary goods, the Government stores them in the warehouses and control its supply in the market as per the price fluctuations.
- Another important need of warehousing is for bulk breaking. Consider a trade agent who imports goods from a country for a large number of buyers in his own country. He first takes the goods to his warehouse and break it into small parts for supply to the buyers.
- When it comes to cost saving, warehousing helps the traders with cross docking. All the goods are consolidated in the warehouse and then stuffed into containers as per their destination. This is especially beneficial for small traders who export low quantity of goods.
Characteristics of an ideal warehouse
- It should be conveniently located near highways, railway stations, air ports, sea ports etc. for loading and unloading of goods.
- Mechanical appliances should be there to lift, load and unload goods.
- It should be spacious enough.
- Food storage warehouses should have enough facilities to prevent food from perishing.
- Proper arrangement to save goods from sunlight, dust, rain, moisture and pests should be available.
- Sufficient parking space should be there to facilitate quick and easy loading and unloading of goods.
- Security arrangements should be strict and round the clock.
- Modern and tested firefighting equipment should be installed in the premises.
The Benefits of Renting Warehouse Space For Your Business
If you ask any banker, he'll tell you that anything over 4 units is considered a commercial property. If you ask any municipality regarding their trash pick up, you'll get the same answer, ditto with insurance companies but are apartments really commercial properties?
When you think of commercial property, do you think of tall skyscrapers, office buildings and warehouses...and possible large apartment complexes?
Well, apartments over 4 units are commercial properties but there is one big difference between apartments and offices. One space is occupied by residents and the other spaces are occupied by businesses.
That's a big difference! Did you know the 3 out of 4 businesses go out of business after the first year? Ninety percent are out of business by year five! If your renting to businesses, chances are, your turnover rate is going to be higher than a residential property and you should know that tenant turnover is your biggest expense in any multi-unit property.
There is one other thing you should consider, when you're attracting a commercial tenant for your property, you usually agree to do a "build-out" which means you change the space to make it conform to the business. This could cost you thousands of dollars.
With an apartment unit, the "make ready" usually consist of paint and carpet. If more is needed, it's usually paid for from the previous tenants security deposit.
Yes, apartments over four units are considered commercial properties but as you can see, they are in a class by themselves when you compare risk versus reward.
Where is Commercial Space Available For Rent Near Me in Germiston?
Leasing is a major part of the commercial real estate market activity at the moment and for the immediate 24 months. This is due to the opportunity of lower rental and better premises for existing businesses. Some businesses are handling the economic pressures in this market just fine. These businesses are the ones that you want to be closely working with as they seek to relocate to better premises.
The high value you bring to landlords in this market is your ability to tap into a significant data base resource of tenants. Every day you should be tapping into your database and adding more businesses to it. Those agents that are doing this at the moment are the ones that are earning the good commissions.
Tapping into Tenants Needs
When working with or for prospective tenants to find them new space to occupy, it is useful to compare buildings in a logical and material way. Some agents choose to specialise in leasing commercial space and comparing buildings is undertaken as a standard part of the professional services provided.
It is useful if you create a checklist for the process of property comparison. An excel spreadsheet is ideal for the purpose. The quality of your checklist will test and support your skill in judging property functionality for the tenant in both tangible and intangible ways. Ordinary agents and brokers do this in only a superficial way and with little attention to the process or to detail.
Your Point of Property Difference?
So this process can be a distinct part of your commercial property leasing services and if done in conjunction with the tenant, will show your complete understanding of what the tenant needs. Compiled in a correct way it can build tenant confidence in your services and strengthen future ties or repeat business. So let's now look at what you can put in your 'Property Comparison Matrix'.
The comparisons are to be made property to property. The data is entered into the columns of a spreadsheet. These headings below should be the columns of your spreadsheet.
- Rent: this is the rent required to be paid in the first year of the lease. How does it compare to the market and other properties around?
- Rent review profile: this is the escalation profile of rental over the term of the lease. Rent reviews are to be done in different ways and you need to know how they may impact the landlord or the tenant (it does depend on who you are acting for as to your interpretation)
- Incentives available: this is the type of incentive that can be given in the lease deal and its relevance to the tenant at the start of the lease. Is it in the form of a rent reduction, rent free period, fitout fund, or provided established existing fitout? There are advantages and disadvantages to be assessed in each case.
- Term of lease: the term of the lease that the tenant can achieve in the property is important and will be a fundamental factor for them to consider. How flexible is the landlord in giving the tenant a longer occupancy if required?
- Option available: some tenants need an option to occupy the space for an extended time. If this can be provided by the landlord it will be a selling point for the new lease. Care must be exercised in how the rent will be set in the new lease term of the option.
- Lease deposit: this is the amount of deposit required by the landlord for the premises. The amount of money is usually one month's rent paid in advance.
- Rental guarantee: this is the type of guarantee required by the landlord as part of lease acceptance. It is common for guarantees to be either cash, directors or personal guarantees or bank guarantees. The amount sought by the landlord will vary.
- Moving or relocation costs: every property will present differences in moving costs. This can be due to the distances involved in the relocation and or the physical attributes of the property to which they locate.
- Floor coverings, wall treatments, and window treatments: all of these are both cosmetic and functional for the new occupancy. The quality of these should be a commercial standard. Some landlords may choose to take the cheaper option with the cheaper products which will deteriorate quickly during the term of the lease. Commercial grade materials are desirable at all times. This should also be enforced on the tenant when they consider their individual fit out construction.
- Existing fitout: It could be that the potential new property that the tenant is considering has some established fitout which is useable in the new occupation. This will be a cost advantage for the tenant in minimising its costs of new fitout.
- Storage: with today's modern business, it is a great advantage to have storage capabilities onsite for the use of tenants. Typically these areas can be in car park locations, plant rooms, and service areas that are not frequented by tenants or members of the public. Obviously the areas need to be secured and in doing so a rental will be charged to the tenants for the use of the space.
- Signage: many tenants require a business presence that is identified by exterior signs. This can be signs on the exterior of the building, pylon signs, and directory board signage. In most cases, rental is charged for signage. It is the importance of the signage and the buildings ability to provide it that will be relevant to the tenant.
- Car parking: the availability of onsite parking is important to many tenants today for both staff and or customers. Car parking should be separately charged to the tenant given the number of spaces that they require. The availability of car parking and the number of car parks available will influence the tenant in their future occupancy decision.
- Expansion space: many tenants need to know that expansion space can be achieved in the premises as time proceeds. This should be looked at and assessed in case it is of interest to the tenant.
- History of the building: some tenants and like to know that they are located in buildings that have an established presence and performance. Any history of the building will be of interest to the tenant.
- Quality of ownership: well established landlords with a history of quality building performance will influence a tenant in their occupancy decision. Gather whatever information you can regards the landlord's track record in building performance. It will also be interesting for the tenant to know if the landlord regards the building as a long term holding or short term investment.
- Quality of maintenance: it is easy to see if the building is well maintained from its general appearance. Experienced landlords will spend money on cosmetic upgrades regularly so that the building gives a first class appearance at all times. This then supports the rental in any new lease and the ability to escalate rental over time. Help the tenant and the landlord understand this critical component of ongoing occupation.
Where Can You Compare Commercial Investment Properties to Lease?
Trying to understand commercial property lease terms can seem like navigating a mine field - there is plenty of new terminology and industry jargon to comprehend. When it comes to negotiating, some landlords may try to pass off a lease document as "a standard lease" that all tenants must sign. In many instances, unknowledgeable tenants could end up agreeing to terms that are less than favourable - which are in fact not standard policy. Be wary of the following clauses:
- Early Termination - this clause often allows landlords to terminate the lease early and reasons for the early termination may or may not be given. Resist the inclusion of such clauses in your negotiations.
- Default - be wary of onerous clauses that allow a landlord to evict a tenant if the rent has not been paid within a week of the due date. While it may seem standard, it is more typical for leases to stipulate written notice be given to tenants at least 14 days before any consequences are enacted. Negotiate for required written notice in the case of default.
- Redevelopment - try to avoid redevelopment clauses that allow a landlord to terminate the lease in order to redevelop or renovate the premises.
- Indemnity - be aware of indemnity clauses that indemnify the landlord against claims for loss or accidental damage by the landlord. Be sure to check your insurance policy to see if an indemnity clause on your commercial property could violate your policy.
- Handover dates - the handover date is the date the premises are turned over to the tenant to begin the installation of fit-outs, before the fixed commencement date of the lease. Avoid leases that allow a landlord to alter the handover date without compensation - as you could find yourself incurring substantial costs if you are delayed or caught unprepared for fit-out construction.
- Make good - a make good clause generally requires the tenant to leave the premises in good condition upon departure. This usually includes the removal of any fit-outs that were installed by the tenant during the term. If your premises come installed with fit-outs, negotiate to alter the "make good" clause to a general expectation to leave the premises in good condition and repair.
There are plenty of other clauses and terms that can be negotiated - from who is responsible for whose legal fees as well as any upkeep, repair and maintenance costs. Many businesses will find that they have much more success negotiating lease terms to help reduce their costs rather than trying to get a landlord to come down on price. A tenant broker service can help with the lease "legalese" - they'll help you get a better understanding of what your options are.
