Frequently Asked Questions

1. What other charges am I going to incur?

• CAM charges Some owners charge per sq. foot to maintain the property and pay for snow plowing, or otherwise pass on the costs to tenants. We do not have any additional maintenance charges. Your responsibilities are clearly outlined in the maintenance addendum to your lease.

• R&M charges What are you responsible for and are you responsible for a total replacement? We provide a comprehensive list and we limit you to $100 on larger items like door repairs and HVAC repairs.

• Utility expense Does the unit have gas heat which is usually substantially less expensive to operate? Is there a separate system for the office so that you don't have to heat the warehouse to the same temperature as the office? Nearly all of our units have separate systems. All of our units are well-insulated and I would be surprised if heating expense was more than $1/sq. ft. per year. Electric should be quite nominal unless you are operating several pieces of equipment.

• Water expense Some owners have each unit's water usage sub-metered and read by a reading company and they bill you a minimum charge plus whatever usage. We do meter your usage, but allow the first 1400 gallons per month for free, and do not have a monthly billing fee, so most users will not have a water bill.

• Trash Disposal Costs are rising for trash services. Two yards picked up once a week can be as much as $85 per month. Trash disposal is included in your rent with a limit of two yards per week at our South Hilliard locations, our Polaris/Powell locations, our Worthington locations, and our Dublin locations. At other sites, you can combine with other tenants to get better pricing from the trash disposal companies.

• Increased real estate taxes and insurance Some landlords pass along increases incurred in real estate taxes and increased insurance. We do not pass along increases.

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2. Is my unit likely to be burglarized?

Our buildings are designed to maximize the security of your property stored inside the unit. Typical units have solid steel doors with double locks and latch guards. Instead of windows, we have glass block to let light in, without compromising your security. Units with glass doors and windows are pre-wired with security systems and can be activated for a nominal monthly fee. Demising walls are concrete block providing maximum security between you and your neighbor. Buildings are oriented on the site to create maximum visibility of the parking areas from the street. Also, in most of our units, the office can be locked off so that non-office employees can access the garage without having access to the office. All of our properties have a large array of surveillance cameras to monitor activities 24/7.

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3. Will I experience roof leaks?

Roof leaks in units can damage equipment including computers, ruin important papers, and damage important materials and supplies. We have the best roofs that money can buy and the roofs are inspected regularly and every effort is made to avoid roof leaks. However, if a roof leak does occur, our maintenance team can respond promptly and install diverters to alleviate the situation until a repair can be made.

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4. Will I have sufficient parking?

This is really important because most facilities have very limited parking and parking needs can add up quickly when tenants have trailers or they add service vehicles to accommodate business growth. For everyone's benefit, during normal business hours, we limit tenants to 3 parking spaces. If your normal parking needs exceed 3, you might want to consider our South Hilliard locations which have abundant parking. We also do not allow recreational vehicles and other non-business vehicles to be parking on our lots overnight.

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5. Do you have 220 and is there enough electric so that I can run my equipment?

Prospective tenants are always saying that they must have 220. Everyone has 220 available. 220 volts (208 or 240) is how the electric is transmitted. It is then usually split so that we have the safer 110 volts to plug into. So, yes, we have 220, although you will probably have to run a line from the panel to hook up your 220 piece of equipment. Another electric issue is the size of the service. Our units have 100 amp services or higher. So far, 100 amp services have been sufficient for all tenants. Some tenants ask for 3 phase power. All of our properties except our Dublin area location have 3 phase power.

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6. Do you offer hi-speed internet?

Doesn't everybody? Not necessarily, because cable expansion usually did not happen in Industrial areas because the cable was for television which was not important to most businesses. And, sometimes, the DSL is not usable because the site is too far from the nearest central station. Broadband Cable is readily available at our Polaris/Powell locaions, our Grandview locations, our Dublin locations, as well as our South Hilliard locations. Other locations have DSL available. If a hi-speed connection is important to you, I recommend that you verify its availability.

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7. Shouldn't I just rent a place close to home?

Many tenants' priority is to be close to home. This is fine. But, if you are operating multiple service trucks, please take some time to evaluate the cost savings of a more central location or a location oriented to the bulk of your customers. Also, think about the time spent going to office supply stores, filling stations, banks, post office, and printing shops, to name a few, and ask yourself which location is the most cost-effective. Our locations are conveniently located near major highways and freeways and have all of your service needs nearby.

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8. Do I have to worry about zoning?

If your use is more commercial in nature than industrial then the zoning might not permit your use, and you would need a variance which would take a couple of months, an application fee, and for which you might be turned down. An example of this is a gymnastics studio. These kinds of uses also cause us to worry about parking and we would question you closely about the timing and amount of your parking needs. A space in a storefront might be more appropriate. Be sure to ask what the zoning permits and be up front about your parking needs. Normal uses of material storage, vehicle storage, and fabricating should not be a problem.

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9. How large of an office do I need?

This varies greatly depending on your business and also how much privacy each office employee needs. Office space is expensive to build and therefore is more expensive to rent, so if you can get by with less, you will save money. Our offices are small, typically less than 15% of the total square feet and ranging from 12 x 12' to 12 x 20'. I have frequently seen 2 people share the 12 x 12' office. Tenants are permitted to add office space at their own expense, but we ask that they keep our parking limitations in mind in making that decision.

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10. How much will the Security Deposit be?

The security deposit is equal to one month's rent. When you sign the lease, you will also need to pay the first month's rent.

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11. Do I ever get my Security Deposit back?

Our policy is not to charge for reasonable wear and tear such as small nail holes in the wall where pictures were hanging. We also do not charge to repaint the unit. If you turn in your keys, have everything in good working order and have swept out the unit, you will receive a full refund of your deposit. Otherwise, we will deduct the costs of repairs and send you the remaining balance.

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12. Do I have to pay an application fee or brokerage fee?

There is no application fee. We may do a credit check but will do so at our expense. The brokerage fee is paid by us.

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13. If I am using a real estate agent, how will he/she be compensated?

On a one year lease, the total commission is 8% and your agent will receive half, 4% of the total rent. No commission is paid on renewals.

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What can I expect?

Leasing

Maintenance

Tenant Relations