Typical Selection Criteria - Warehouse for Lease, Rent or Sale
Last Updated July 1, 2022
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Typical Selection Criteria - Warehouse for Lease, Rent or Sale
If you are considering renting, leasing or purchasing a warehouse facility and would like to get off to
the best start possible, I advise taking ample time to define your needs in a facility. Here are some
specific criteria to consider
Clear Height
Warehouse operations inherently involve high ceilings under which to conduct various types of businesses. Some examples of these operations include manufacturing a product and lifting material with cranes, stacking pallets of merchandise in order to maximize storage capacity, or utilizing machinery with certain height requirements. Almost all warehouse operations have some requirements for clear height in the warehouse area. Unfortunately, the supply of high clear warehouses in a strong market can be extremely limited. In some instances, a lower clear facility may be available at a deep discount which may warrant redesigning operations. Calculations need to be conducted to compare the cost to store products by dividing total rent by the number of pallet storage achievable. Depending on availability and pricing, the more economical choice could be the less expensive lower clear facility or the higher clear more expensive alternative.
Click here for our separate article on clear height.
Loading
Truck loading facilities is another criteria that requires specific consideration. Just because the warehouse has a dock or grade level overhead door does not mean it will work for a particular requirement. when understanding a client’s requirement for loading, the following must be considered:
- What number of vehicles/containers need to be loaded/unloaded daily?
- What is the maximum length of the containers and truck expected to be loading/unloading at the dock (over the road rigs are much longer than local trucks)?
- At what level do these vehicles need to be unloaded? At grade, 2’, 4’, or other?
- Will truck traffic require a staging area (an area for tractor-trailers to park while waiting for a loading door)?
- Is there any requirement for side access to the containers or loads?
- How heady is the product to be (un)loaded?
- Will the loads need to be services by an overhead crane? If so, what lift capacity is required?
- Do the loading doors require door shelters? See an example here sold by Grainger - Dock Shelter.
Loading at warehouse facilities comes in many different forms. Here are a few examples:
Semi Dock Loading
Semi Dock, or Half Dock loading involved a 2’ height typically used by delivery trucks like FedEx or USPS. This type of loading can be achieved through either a true 2’ high building slab or a truck well excavated to the 2’ level.
Electrical
General warehousing does not typically require electrical service beyond that needed to operate an office area with HVAC. general warehouse lighting, and light-duty electrical plugs. However, many operations do require very specific electrical capacity in order to run the business. Be sure to know your needs before committing to a property as the installation of a heavy electrical service can be very expensive.
Click here for our separate article on heavy power.
Paved or Stabilized Yard
Designing and installing stabilization is very expensive. Consequently, paying a premium for property with existing surfaced yard may be worthwhile. Also, the time required to engineer the project and meet local requirements for drainage and storm water retention can be excessive. It is important to understand local zoning and other requirements, since some areas doe not allow crushed concrete to keep down dust. These areas may require concrete instead. Adding additional paving to an existing site will almost certainly require adding stormwater retention and/or a detention pond. This is often a surprise for property owners who think they can quickly and inexpensively add storage or parking by installing crushed concrete.
Click here for our separate article on paved or stabilized yard.
Crane Service
If you need crane service, you should really make sure the space you select already has the cranes you need. Existing cranes may not be exactly what you need, but if you are able to exceed your specs within you price range, most find it still works.
Click here for our separate article on Bridge Cranes.
Rail Access
zHaving access to rail siding which is actually being services can be one of the most difficult criteria to meet. In Houston, Texas, for example, rail served property is becoming quite a commodity as old, antiquated siding is removed or replaced with new roadways and development. Additionally, rail providers like Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Burlington all have minimum requirements for the number of monthly rail cars and type of product in order to agree to service a property. These entities are slow-moving and generally not terribly motivated if the user is not a heavy user of their services.
Click here for our separate article on rail access.
Are you looking for Warehouse, Office or other space in Houston or elsewhere? Do you need to renew your lease?
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