In today’s episode of The Render Podcast, Cam is talking about something that we are, in real life, going through right now. You may have guessed it — yep, we are on the search for a new HQ! With the inventory forever growing and shifting with our needs, we need more room and are on the hunt! We thought this would be a great time to chat about this process IRL with you and give you our top tips and tricks to this process! 

To kick off this chat, we are diving into the top 4 steps and things you should always consider when looking for your next HQ. Whether it be the prep work that happens before you actually move or the things to keep an eye out for when touring properties, you won’t want to miss today’s episode!

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Tip No. One | Planning Ahead For Your Move

We get it, moving into a new HQ that is spacious and brand spankin’ new can feel so exciting, but like all things that are coming with a large change, you must prepare. How can you make sure that you are set up for success for your move? We have a few tips that we lean on as we navigate through finding our perfect warehouse and office space. 

1. Like most rental agreements, you probably need to begin thinking about what kind of notice you are needing to give your landlord or the property management company. Begin looking at the end date of your current lease and plan your new HQ search around that. We recommend starting your search 3 – 6 months in advance. Why? Because if you are looking for a warehouse, you may need to paint, get some walls put up, or perhaps just get the space laid out in a way that best works for your rental business. Maybe you need to get some office space set up. Do you need permits to move in? Make sure that you have the time to get your new space set up in a way that is best for you and you have the time to also get any adjustments made that you may need. 

2. What needs do you expect to have within the next 5 years of being in this new space? Have you considered what your team growth will look like? What about the services you are offering? Perhaps the amount of inventory will shift some? What do you hope to do and accomplish in this space? Dream up what you want this business to look like so you can make that happen in this space. When you have a warehouse HQ that also has office spaces, you can double up your usage. You can have your, in our case, operations team, your showroom set up for client meetings, the floral team can have their area, as well as the office staff have their space. Dreaming up how you can use this space will determine how you pick your new HQ. 

3. What does your budget look like? This is for sure the largest factor when it comes to finding the space for your business. Look at the comps in the area and compare what the price per square foot is so that you can make sure you are getting the best price and something you can continue to afford. Gain clarity on what areas are maintained and what is all included in your lease agreement. Of course the inside of the space is important to upkeep and make sure it functions properly, but you also have to think about the outside appearance. What is included in the CAM (Common Area Maintenance)? Think of this like your HOA and how they take care of the property. What about the OpEx (Operating & Expenses)? That could include any mail services or water meters that may be shared with any other tenants in the same complex or strip of area. Another thing to consider is the Triple Net. That just means that there could be extra costs, so what would they be? Make sure that you are accounting for your utilities and your insurance as well. Being able to maintain those expenses as you are in this lease will help you stay on top of your expenses. 

Tip No. Two | Software To Help You Find Your Next HQ

Have you ever heard of LoopNet? Think of it like Zillow or Trulia when you are looking for a home. This is a commercial app to help better assist you for your wants and needs. You surely do not have to have a realtor to go through, but having one on your side is helpful when you are looking for commercial properties that may not be public knowledge yet. Typically more common than not, the realtor has properties in their back pocket that they can show you if you are interested in working with them. 

Tip No. Three | Tour the Property You Are Considering

One of the most important and fun parts of this process! Getting to go through the space that is brand new also comes with the exhilarating feeling of what you are dreaming up for your business. It almost is like a breath of fresh air — you may have felt drained and overwhelmed before, but entering a new space almost breathes new life into you. While dreaming, you must also remain realistic. Here are a few things we have done while touring potential properties.

1. Set aside a few days to go tour properties. Set up at least 3 properties to look at each day. Bring a laser tape measure device (we have linked our favorite one for your convenience) with you so you can get a feel for the space’s actual square footage and make sure that your racks and inventory are going to fit inside the warehouse, but you can also move around when everything is being moved in. 

2. Take a lot of photos! This is so important because when you are touring multiple warehouses in one day, it can get confusing on what space is what. Trust us, it begins to run together! You will also want these to go back on for reference when you are thinking about what might work best. 

3. Following each showing, make note and write down or type out in an email about any updates you may want to do to the property. This can be anything from painting, updating the flooring, adding on offices, etc. It does not hurt to bring this up for the landlord or commercial property manager so you can see what they may be able to do! 

4. Last but not least, make sure that you are going to stay safe! Vet the agent, vet the town that you are going to be in, and make sure that you will feel comfortable there. Keep a watch on your surroundings and always make sure that you are aware of where you are going. 

Tip No. Four | Spreadsheets Are Your Friend

If you know us at Render, you know that we love a good spreadsheet! We recommend keeping track of the property, the square footage, the pricing, the details per property, and your needs for each one! Keeping a spreadsheet so that it houses all of this key information will be helpful when you are referring back to all of these details. 

As always, we are so grateful and thankful to have you part of our community! Have you checked out our newly refreshed Render Educate website? We have many freebies and resources available for immediate download that have been created with you in mind. Until next week, friend! 

Joyfully,

Raven Scott | Podcast & Marketing Coordinator