Category Archives: Blog
Professionalism in Customer Service
If you want to develop a culture of excellence in the workplace, customer service is a vital place to start. Professionalism in customer service is a subject we’re incredibly passionate about here at Silver Star Properties. We’ve been in business for 39 years largely on the strength of values like the exceptional service we instill in our employees and teams and the ...
Read More
10 Great Reasons to Start a Business in Houston
To start a business in Houston is to tap into a veritable gold mine for U.S.-based startups. With its economic and social diversity, Houston fosters a culture of innovation, art, and technology, providing a well-rounded foundation for building your business. Here are some of the reasons why Houston, Texas, is a phenomenal place to start a business: #1: It ...
Read More
Texans lead Return to the Office, but It’s Complicated
Metropolitan areas in Texas lead the nation with the return to office trend. According to security company Kastle, which has been publishing a weekly “Back to Work Barometer,” office buildings in Austin, Dallas, and Houston are more than 33-37% occupied, compared to around 12% for buildings in cities like New York and San Francisco. The national average stands at about ...
Read More
Safely Return to the Office with Bi-Polar Ionization
Given the current reality, many companies are being forced to make tremendously difficult decisions about the future of their organizations. These decisions include determining things like whether long-term investments should be made in work from home infrastructure, if it’s worth onboarding new employees remotely, whether the current office lease should be renewed, when ...
Read More
The Energy Corridor Houston Submarket – the Next Home for Your Office
Located between Beltway 8 and the Grand Parkway, the Energy Corridor is home to several major energy sector companies. The Houston office space submarket boasts proximity to several existing and upcoming housing developments in the greater Houston area, making it convenient for commuters. In addition to the proximity to many neighborhoods, the district provides excellent p ...
Read More
The Best Office Locations in Dallas
Few Americans haven’t heard of the great city of Dallas. After all, it was put on the map back in 1978 when the prime-time soap opera of the same name first aired on television. For so many Americans, this city and the whole DFW Metroplex represent Americana at its finest, and when we think of the city’s name, we can’t help but hear that famous theme song in our head ...
Read More
The Best Office Locations in Houston
Houston has long been regarded as a great city to work and a great city to live. With the infrastructure to support the growing needs of international interests and three airports, Houston has thrived with a strong employment base. With that strong employment base comes a severe need for great office locations to house employees and bolster productivity and commerce. Si ...
Read More
How COVID-19 is Changing What Offices Look Like
As countries around the globe are beginning to reopen and relax their COVID-19 lockdowns, so are business owners trying to understand the changes that need to change within offices and workspaces. Though a significant portion of non-front-line workers have been able to work from home vs. work from office in recent months, it’s time to think about bringing that work back ...
Read More
How COVID-19 Affects Working Conditions
Over the last few months, the working conditions worldwide have changed in ways that we could never have imagined. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, it was estimated that nearly 50% of the workforce could work from home vs. work from office successfully, yet less than 4% did so regularly. Times have changed, however, and we are now seeing a substantial j ...
Read More
COVID-19 Reopening: Texas Economy To Be Fastest to Recover
We are sharing some good news with you in regards to our economy opening back up again. In a call with governors yesterday, President Trump proposed a phased reopening of the U.S. and is leaving it up to governors to decide how and when to let businesses reopen. We are sharing some highlights from that call with you as well as some highlights from Governor Abbott's pres ...
Read More
Workplace Trends for 2020
It’s no secret that technology and office trends have revolutionized almost every workplace in the last several years. In addition, technology and creative organizations are quickly changing what defines the modern workplace. Experts have predicted the demise of cubicles and cable-ridden desks for a long time, as minimalist tech gadgets and greenery are gradually taki ...
Read More
Commercial Building Security Mistakes that Can Leave Your Property Vulnerable
When it comes to checking out the security of prospective commercial locations, you may think a few security guards and a closed-circuit TV system means you’d be good to go. You’d be better off thinking again. A number of security mistakes can leave your company at risk in a building that’s making those errors. Posting any guard, anywhere Different commercial tenan ...
Read More
Feng Shui Tips for Your Office or Retail Space
There are many things to consider when leasing a new office or retail space. Is it convenient to your customers and clients? Does the layout suit your needs? Is there enough parking? But in addition to these considerations, you may also want to ask yourself, "Does this location have good Feng Shui?" Don't laugh off the consideration — there are Feng Shui consultation ...
Read More
Essential Questions to Ask Before Renting an Office Space
All business owners want an office space that will help their company grow and thrive. At the same time, every business owner will have different and specific desires when assessing office spaces. When you are looking for a place to rent for your office space, consider asking your potential landlord these questions to help you make an informed decision about whether the of ...
Read More
Simple Ways to Go Green When Leasing an Office Space
As the world and the world's consumers become more and more concerned about the environment, you may want to do your part as a business to be more earth conscious. Some businesses design green buildings from the ground up, but when you're leasing a building, you don't have as much freedom to make changes to the building. Fortunately, there are still some simple things y ...
Read More
4 Features Every Leased Law Office Needs
The productive, secure law office doesn't need to be situated on the top floor of a skyscraper or behind the wrought iron gates of a guarded corporate compound. But every law office should have four things. If you're shopping for a new office space to lease for your startup law firm or legal practice expansion, look for the following features as you take tours of offices f ...
Read More
When Does Moving From a Home Office to a Separate Office Make Sense?
With around 20 percent of American adults working from home these days, the idea of a home office has transformed from a "nice to have" to a "must have" for many employees and freelance workers and consultants. A 2013 survey by the Telework Research Network indicates that the number of work-from-home arrangements will continue to rapidly rise over the next decade as mor ...
Read More
Tips for Renting or Leasing Your First Office Space
There are approximately 28 million small businesses across the United States. Whether you are just starting out or have run your business from your home for years, you might want the ideal office space. There are probably several options to choose from, but because this is your first experience with commercial real estate, you might not know what you're looking for. Con ...
Read More
Is Your Team Ready for an Open Office? 5 Questions to Ask Yourself
The open office is here to stay. Notable firms are transforming their traditional office suites into free-flowing environments with overlapping workspaces, multifunctional booths, and floor-to-ceiling windows letting in the light and the view. The open office concept is a great way to inspire creativity and cooperation between staff members. But it's not for every offic ...
Read More
5 Steps to Transform Your Brick and Mortar Retail Space
Smart strategists for brick and mortar retail operations are always thinking of ways to keep their stores relevant and attractive to customers. As online shopping increases, real-life stores are seeing fewer customers and sales. Many big name retailers are closing locations and revising earnings estimates to reflect lower than expected in-store revenue. All is not lost ...
Read More
The Four Things Necessary To Create A Highly Productive Office Environment
Designing a fresh office floor plan that encourages productivity, teamwork, and job satisfaction is a daunting task. To be successful in your mission, you must take into account the work habits and job descriptions of both your long-term and yet-to-be-hired workers. You must see your company's future to envision an office that grows to accommodate the inevitable changes in ...
Read More
How to Investigate Your Prospective Commercial Landlord
When it comes to renting commercial space, landlords are always investigating prospective tenants to help ensure there will be no unpleasant surprises. And nothing says tenants can’t do the same before signing a lease and moving in. Landlord Credit Check A building owner’s creditworthiness is extremely important, especially in an economy where major real estate holde ...
Read More
How Open Office Environments Can Kill Productivity
The trend of open office environments is quickly killing off the traditional cubicle, but they could also kill employee productivity and bring on negative feelings unless they’re set up right. Noise, nearby activity and other interruptions make employees lose an average of 2.1 hours of worktime per day, according to a Basex Research report. That adds up to more than ...
Read More
How to Save Money with Your Office Space
Renting office space for your small business is a solid investment, but it doesn’t have to be one that breaks your budget every month. A few savvy strategies can help you save money with your office space. Take Advantage of Economic Realities Companies seem to be continuously downsizing, rightsizing or closing up shop altogether, leaving plenty of empty office spac ...
Read More
4 Easy Ways to Instantly Enhance Office Space
A good office starts with a prime location, efficient layout and ample space for your crew and other business needs. But the buck doesn’t stop there. Your company can make a few easy improvements that instantly transform an office from good to great. Refresh the Air Ever hear of occupational allergies? These sensitivities are not uncommon, and they can erupt from t ...
Read More
Red Flags to Avoid When Renting Commercial Space
Just as an experienced agent, solid property management company and good location are recipes for commercial leasing success, a few others can be a recipe for disaster. These red flags include inexperience, emotion and an inflexible landlord. Inexperience When it comes to commercial leases, just any old lawyer won’t do. You want a real estate pro experienced at han ...
Read More
How a Sunlit Office Improves Employee Health
Corner offices provide much more than a spectacular view. They can actually be good for your health. Two different studies examined the effects of natural sunlight on two different sets of employees, finding consistent exposure to natural light can do wonders for productivity, sleep, mood and a person’s physical and mental health. Workers and Windows A study pub ...
Read More
Tips For a Great Grand Opening
Whether you have been dreaming about this day for weeks, months, or even years, opening your own business is very exciting. It can also be scary. Many businesses dream about big grand openings. You may not think that you should have a grand opening but why not? Don’t you want to jump start your business? Here are some ways to have a great grand opening! Plan ...
Read More
Why Smaller Isn’t a Bad Thing When You’re Renting an Office Space
If you are interested in renting an office space, you might envision yourself choosing a big, impressive office. However, if you are looking to rent an office space, you may want to start looking at smaller spaces. These are a few reasons why smaller isn't a bad thing when you're renting an office space. Save Money First of all, you can save money on rent by renting ...
Read More
Why Lease From A Professional Management Company?
When looking to lease an office or retail space, it's important to not only consider the location and monthly rent, but also the management company's reputation. Private or individual landlords don't always have the necessary experience to efficiently manage their properties. If there's an issue with the rental, you'll need a management company that can quickly get it ...
Read More
Looking for an Office Space: How Much Do You Really Need?
Have you outgrown your home office? Maybe you never had a home office but you decided to rent an office space when you start your business. However, once you started looking for an office space, you decided that you really have no idea how much space you really need for your business. So, how much square footage do you really need? Here are some tips to help! ...
Read More
What Office Building Amenities Should Lessees Look For?
When seeking new office space most businesses concentrate on square footage, location and annual cost. While these are undoubtedly important, some consideration must be given to what amenities the office building has besides four walls and a door. While the nature of the business and type of employees may dictate the relative importance of certain extras, these prove ...
Read More
Design Your Office Space to Improve Engagement and Creativity
So you’ve found the perfect office space which will fit all your employees. It’s in a location that everyone can get to easily—employees as well as clients. Another plus is that you also find it affordable. You might think that, at this point, you don’t have to worry about office space anymore. However, there’s one important step still remaining to be c ...
Read MoreDesign an Office Space Promoting Creativity and Productivity
Once you have completed the process of locating the perfect office space, it is time to consider how you will design this space. You and your employees will be spending a lot of time in this space, so you want it to be conducive to your needs. For many businesses, creativity is a priority. Productivity is a key in every business. There are several things you can do to prom ...
Read MoreGreen Technology – 4 of the Latest Advances in Office Buildings
Sustainable, green, and environmentally friendly options have become exceedingly important in the world. Green technology has provided improvements in various industries, from transportation to architecture. The latest advances in commercial office building technology offer many eco-friendly advantages: 1. Recycled/Sustainable Insulation. Fiberglass is ...
Read MoreOffice Amenities That You Cannot Do Without
The day has finally come, and you are moving. You have worked in your home office long enough, and you have finally found the perfect office space. You have done all of your homework to make sure that this space has everything you need. Now it's time to check on the office amenities that will make your space just right. Office Amenities Control of the Thermostat: T ...
Read MoreHow to Use Color Psychology to Improve Office Space Productivity
Color has a profound effect on our mental and emotional states. It can even alter our perceptions. For example, painting a room interior with warm colors such as orange causes people to feel warmer while using cool colors such as blue make them feel cooler. This effect has been used to save on heating and air conditioning costs. The stimulant effect of coloring a placebo p ...
Read MoreConsiderations for Maximizing Office Space Productivity
Ensuring that your office space layout is conducive to high productivity requires consideration of many factors including the nature of the work, the corporate culture, and the management level of the people. While the optimal workspace can vary among the different types of employees, there are a number of considerations that universally apply to all situations. Conc ...
Read MoreLeasing Office Space: Common Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes every now and then, even though most of us do not want to admit it. Mistakes are all part of the life that we live; no one is perfect. When mistakes are made when it comes to leasing office space, those mistakes can be quite costly. The mistakes could end up costing you large amounts of dollars. Here are a few common mistakes that many tenants make ...
Read MoreWhy Leasing Office Space for Your Virtual Company is More Effective
Many new companies begin as virtual businesses so they can start on a shoestring budget. The overhead costs of renting office space, buying furniture, and paying utility bills might seem frightening for a new business, but the benefits outweigh the cost. Some of the benefits of the virtual company may seem attractive at first, such as greater flexibility, no daily commu ...
Read MoreFinding Office Space in Texas
In a fast recovering economy looking for office space on any significant scale can be a frustrating experience. Office-using employment in the Dallas-Houston corridor is quickly recovering to pre-recession levels. According to the Wall Street Journal, investment in office buildings in the Dallas-Houston, which had averaged about $175 billion in 2006-2007 fell dramatic ...
Read MoreLive/Work/Play: Where Will Millennials Be Leasing Office Space?
Millennials, or Gen Y, are those born between 1976 and 2001. They are over 80 million and will be fully half the workforce in America by 2020. A December 2011 blog post by Cornerstone Management Institute describes Millennials as “being raised at the most child-centric time in our history – the ‘My kid is an honor student’ generation. Perhaps it's because of the ...
Read More10 Great Reasons to Move to Houston
When people picture the city of Houston, they often picture the heat mixed with the oil refineries and turn their nose. But this does not do justice to the thriving city that remains one of the most up and coming in America. Not only is this place home to twenty six of the top Fortune 500 Companies, and by extension the best place to look for jobs, but your pay check will ...
Read More3 Things to Consider When Renting Office Space for a Small Business
There are several reasons why you may find yourself in the market for some new office space. Has your small business grown and you now have more employees to accommodate? Maybe you need more free space for inventory, or want to open a new location nearer to your customer base. Whatever the reason, the leasing process can be difficult without a plan. Save yourself time a ...
Read MoreIs Your Home Office Keeping You Productive?
Working from home gives you many advantages and a lot of freedom but is your home office keeping you productive or hindering you? Firstly you need to avoid mixing your work with your personal life. This applies to the home office too. Remember that your office is an office. So avoid watching television in your home office if it is not related to work or hanging out with f ...
Read More10 Great Reasons to Move to DFW
If you are looking for a new place to live, consider moving to Dallas Fort Worth. Here are ten reasons to move to DFW: 1. This city is the biggest metropolis in all of the South. It is actually the fourth biggest in America. This means that it has something for everyone to do ranging from nightlife to sports to dining. This city might be located in the South but it stil ...
Read MoreTips to Recycle in Your Office
Start to Recycle in your Office In an office there is a lot of opportunity to "go green" and recycle. In an office setting it is imperative that you dispose, recycle, and reuse old technology in a responsible manner. It is also important that your company engages in computer practices that are eco friendly. A company can help instigate recycling by providing recycling pro ...
Read MoreTop 5 Things to Consider when Traveling for Work
Top 5 Things to Consider when Traveling for Work When you are traveling for work there are five areas you need to consider. The first is pre-travel. Before you leave for business travel you need to ensure you have formal documentation that approves your travel from the company. You should ensure you have completed any necessary medical exams particularly for long term or ...
Read MoreFive Notable Office Buildings in Texas
You know the saying, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.” You may or may not agree, but there are definitely some large, beautiful, and interesting office buildings throughout the state. Finding the right office space for your company can take some time and dedication to the subject. There are few things better than feeling at home when you are actually at work, and that ...
Read MoreHow to Transform an Old Office into a Super Office
Does your current office space seem bland, boring, or disorganized? The look and feel of your office isn’t just about appealing to an important client who also happens to appreciate interior design. Your office design affects productivity and morale in big ways. The right setup encourages alertness, collaboration, and innovation in the workplace. Before you begin a renov ...
Read MoreHow You Can Save on Office Expenses
How to Save on Office Expenses When it comes to office expenses there are multiple ways in which you can save money. The first deals with the premises itself. The second deals with office furniture and equipment. Small businesses in need of saving money can use a flexible office space in order to save time and money. If your company has been downsized or you are just star ...
Read MoreHow to Calculate the Square Feet Needed for Office Space
Where to Begin? When you are starting a new business, or your business is in need of some reconfiguration, you may need a new office space. But where to begin the search? Before you sit down with your real estate agent, it will behove you to do some basic calculations for office space so that when your agent asks what your requirements are in square footage, you can give ...
Read MoreHow to Curb Negativity in the Workplace
How to Curb Negativity in the Workplace Meeting management is one of the most important aspects to maintaining productivity and curb negativity in the workplace. When employees are more involved in the decision making process they are more likely to work harder to see the goals through to completion and are going to be happier employees overall which reduces negativity. ...
Read MoreFive Features Every Retail Space Needs
Looking for the perfect retail space? It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a particular location, but you should always look out for what’s best for your business. Pay attention to these five features and how they relate to your retail store before you jump. Functionality for Customers Consider what features make the shopping experience easier, more pleasa ...
Read MoreFood Solutions for a Healthy Office
Finding Food Solutions the Right Way When you are stocking an office kitchen it is important to keep the shelves and the fridge full of healthy food solutions that won’t break the bank but will also keep employees motivated. Almost every office has a break room or kitchen of some kind in which healthy food solutions can be integrated. Instead of stocking the shelves wit ...
Read MoreHow to Find Office Space for Rent in Texas
If you are interested in office space for rent you should have a thorough understanding of the length of your lease. The rent on an office space for rent will be largely determined by the length of your lease. Landlords who sign lease agreements which are long term are generally open to concessions because a long lease ensures financial security for the landlord while simu ...
Read MoreTop Houston Submarkets for Office Space
Houston Submarkets to Lease In Office space in Houston has stayed strong through the last few years and is performing above and beyond the national average. As more office buildings are built inside the loop, office space is becoming easier to locate and helping the markets rise and have excellent performance. Below we will review the top submarkets to lease Houston offic ...
Read MoreGreenspoint District is Growing
Have you been thinking of moving into the Greenspoint district? Greenspoint is an international destination only minutes from Bush Intercontinental Airport and the Port of Houston. But what makes this location unique? Greenspoint district is actually a gateway to other parts of the world. With Houston being a huge part of the global economy in foreign trade, there are man ...
Read More