We at the BBB have a project: We need to expand our workspace area and our current lease is expiring this year.

We’ve had to look out into the marketplace to find businesses that we can trust to help us through this process. We’re not the experts in dealing with renegotiating a lease, determining effective workspace, or how to make lease hold improvements to meet our growing needs.

The first decision we made was to choose BBB Accredited Businesses. These are businesses we know we can trust.

Now we’re working with three BBB Accredited Businesses, two of whom we have neverhad a relationship with before.

The first need was to have someone to assist us in making the decision on whetheror not to stay in the same office space or find a new space. We chose a leasing agent, Larry Traverence, Vice President, Commercial, Dexter Associates Realty Commercial (BBB Accredited Business since 1993).

Until now, we didn’t know Larry. Astounding. Larry worked with us to, first of all, make the decision on whether we want to stay or move to a new location.  He would fare better in income if we chose to move, yet he helped us make the decision to stay.

Larry then strongly suggested that we determine our space requirements for at least the next five years. He encouraged us to ask ourselves hard questions,including if we foresaw an increase or decrease in staff in the next five years. He had us look at our current workspace and ask ourselves if we are using our space efficiently and may even require less space.

Larry recommended several times that we hire a space planner. I mention the word “several times” because we did not really see the need, but as he took us through the process, we could see that we are not the experts in effective use of space.

We know our business and what we need today and tomorrow to manage that business.We also know our company culture and realized that the way our office space presents itself to our visitors, guests, customers may not be presenting the image we want.

Sowe hired a space planner – Mila Djuras, Owner, Intermind Design Inc. (BBB Accredited Business since 2008). We didn’t know Mila, either. Astounding! Not only has she addressed a more efficient workspace and traffic flow, but she also captured and understood our culture and is working that into the “dressing up” part of the space planning!

And finally, we had some immediate additional work station requirements so contacted David Jacoby, Owner, JacobyOffice Innovations Inc. (BBB Accredited Business since 2001). Two days later, we received the work stations we needed. Astounding!

It is important to note that we did seek at least two quotes for each of the services and products we required. That’s the same advice we give to consumers every day. 

All three companies provided excellent customer satisfaction. In fact, they exceeded our expectations. And we’re continuing to work with these companies to completion of the project.

So folks, we at the BBB walk the talk! We do everything we can to choose the right business the first time! Do your homework, check with the BBB, and help us decrease the huge volume of complaints in 2011. We will be very grateful!