One of the worst dangers in real estate is to own property that becomes obsolete with modern design and tastes of tenants. And warehouse investing is no different. There are certain features that today’s warehouse tenants are looking for, and these are the ones that you should watch for when you are evaluating properties to buy.
Higher ceilings
The trend right now in industrial property is to stack things higher, made possible by advancements in forklifts and technology. As a result, you should look for buildings with 28’ to 36’ ceiling heights, rather than the 20’ to 24’ ceiling heights that were popular in the past.
Natural light
With the push for energy conservation, natural light is back in vogue after a multi-decade absence. When you have natural light you not only don’t have to use as much power to light the warehouse, but you also get the sun’s rays to help create warmth.
A large number of dock-high doors
With the higher intensity of inventory delivery thanks to the internet, the number of trucks coming and going has increased dramatically. This requires a large number of doors for those trucks to pick up and drop off freight.
Sprinkler systems
Fire prevention is mandatory for today’s industrial tenant. They have no interest in the potential of a fire destroying their business and demand modern equipment that secures their inventory.
LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) means that the facility has been upgraded to be highly energy efficient. This saves the tenant money on electricity as well as giving them the ability to promote the fact that they are concerned about the environment.
Plentiful parking
With a shift from manufacturing to inventory control and distribution thanks to the internet and on-line shopping, the average industrial property needs plenty of employee parking, as well as room for more truck traffic. Having an ample paved area around the building is a huge plus to handle this new demand.
Conclusion
Today’s industrial property user is looking for features that were not in demand just a few years ago. As a result, some buildings just happen to be in the sweet spot of demand and others don’t. This list will help you identify what those desirable features are.