There are a lot of office amenities that are nice to have — like fitness centers and rooftop gardens — but only some are worth paying more to rent.
Corporate tenants who are keeping their budgets in mind will prioritize properties with practical amenities. They’ll weigh the benefits of what will improve the workplace experience for their employees versus the luxury amenities they can do without.
With that in mind, here are five of the amenities tenants value most, all of which can increase profits for property managers.
1. Natural light
No one wants to be stuck in a windowless office all day. Lack of exposure to natural light can have negative effects on physical and mental health, such as sleep loss, headaches, and inability to concentrate. On the other hand, employees who are getting enough light throughout the day are more creative, productive, and positive. So it’s no surprise that tenants are willing to pay 6.1% more to rent offices with ample access to natural light.
But too much light isn’t ideal either. In the warmer months, light from traditional glass windows can quickly overheat an office and cause blinding glares that interrupt work. One solution to this is installing smart glass, which automatically dims as sunlight increases. This keeps brightness levels optimal for employees.
2. On-site childcare
Today’s employees are looking to improve their work-life balance, and that can be a challenge for parents who need to provide a safe place for their young kids while they’re at work. If their job isn’t accommodating, they may have to leave it for a more supportive position.
That’s why one of the top workplace benefits that supports employee retention is reliable on-site childcare. Parents who are able to keep their children nearby also become better workers — nearly 85% of employees who have this arrangement said they stayed engaged at work.
Of course, this makes an office property with childcare amenities more appealing to employers — and they’re willing to pay more to have it.
3. Flexible offices
Traditional and coworking leases are no different in terms of rent profits. But there remains a high demand for flexible spaces that can accommodate a variety of companies.
Though startups of 20 employees or less are most likely to lease coworking and flexible offices, it’s an option that’s growing in popularity among larger corporations. One study expects this trend to lead to more flexible spaces being allocated to private offices. And private offices tend to bring in the most profits — 65% of flexible offices’ revenue comes from private office membership fees.
4. Convenient tech
Modern employees are tech-savvy, and they appreciate amenities that save time in their busy lives.
There’s a wealth of technologies out there that make daily work life easier for employees. Tenants will be happy if they can use technology to book meeting rooms, access the building without fumbling with keys, and power their work with reliable, high-speed WiFi.
5. Delivery accommodations
More and more consumers are receiving food and package deliveries at their offices these days. So they’ll value facilities that offer efficient means of accepting and protecting such deliveries.
Many employees choose to ship their personal e-commerce orders to the office to avoid package theft. So they’re counting on those deliveries to arrive safely. Whether it’s a space set aside in the lobby for food drop-offs, designated mailrooms, or secure package lockers, no commercial building should be without delivery-friendly amenities.
Curious about how mailroom software and package lockers can make your property prosperous? Contact us to learn more.
