Over the next five years, E-commerce is expected to grow at a compounded average rate of 10 percent, creating tremendous opportunities for owners and developers of warehouse and distribution space. Currently, more than 166,000 men and women in the United States work in the storage and warehouse leasing industry.
Since 2000, the amount of occupied distribution and warehouse space has increased by more than 86 percent and the need for warehouse space isn’t going down any time soon. If you or your company is looking at leasing a warehouse or wondering how to go about finding a warehouse to rent, here are some helpful things to keep in mind:
- Space: If you’re leasing a warehouse, it’s important to know how much space you’re getting. Depending on who you’re leasing a warehouse from, he/she may calculate square footage a little differently. You want to make sure you’re only getting charged for usable space instead of the total area.
- Operation costs: If you’re going to be leasing a warehouse, you also want to know what the operating expenses are and what’s included in those operating costs. Typical costs include insurance, taxes and maintenance, but you need to know exactly what you’ll be paying for versus what the landlord might be paying. The last thing you want is to be left holding the bill when a major repair is required that you weren’t previously aware of.
- Maintenance: Regardless of what you may be leasing a warehouse or leasing warehouse space for, make sure a maintenance plan is in place. Again, this is about spelling out explicitly who’s responsible for what. Trash is a typical expense if you’re leasing warehouse space, but you don’t want any surprises.
- Expansion: You may find in the process of leasing warehouse space that you need more of it. If that’s the case, don’t be afraid to check with your landlord what the lease terms are for tenants right next to you might be. If your business suddenly booms and you find yourself in immediate need of more space, make sure that’s a viable option. You might be able to negotiate with neighboring tenants and/or landlords to find a way to get the space you require.
- Electricity: Whether you’re leasing a warehouse for storage or for office space, you want to make sure you’ll have lighting when it comes to using the space. Not only that, you want to make sure you have sufficient lighting and power for both the space you’ll be using and your needs. Check with your landlord and maybe check with an electrician too to figure out what your electricity/power needs might be. It’s all about preventative maintenance and preparation so you aren’t surprised when or if a transformer blows.
- Shipping/Delivery: If you’re leasing a warehouse for business purposes which include packing and shipping, you want to be sure you’ve got a way to do both. Are you going need room for delivery trucks to maneuver? Are you going to need room for loading equipment? Are you going to need room to pack up products and materials to be shipped? Regardless of what your needs might be, you want to make sure you’ve got the space to move around and keep your business humming along.
The six tips listed above are just a few of the many helpful hints available when it comes to leasing warehouse space. If you’re interested in leasing a warehouse in Lakeland, there are many good reasons to do so. Lakeland is strategically located in the center of Florida with more than 8.5 million people living within a 100-mile radius, so if you’re in need of warehouse space for rent or interested in renting a warehouse, Lakeland is a good spot to find it.
