Industrial / commercial warehousing experience

December 12, 2022
by a searcher from Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT Sloan School of Management in Lowell, MA, USA
Looking for industry experts in the warehousing space who has experience setting up operations / subleasing part of an existing facility. Some context - we recently acquired a production facility in Pennsylvania that has WAY too much space. We’d like to section off a piece and set up for warehousing. Any and all insights/tips/introductions appreciated!
from University of Dayton in Columbus, OH, USA
If you wanted to go with a more temporary option of just warehousing product - things to double check are floor load capacity (if it's a manufacturing your floor should be fine but never assume), any restriction on product storage (check your local fire codes), if racking or sprinklers are required, and what the tenants expected use is (are they showing up every day and running a dispatching operation or just coming once a month?).
Either way you go the most important thing to be aware of from my previous experience is tenant selection. Becoming a landlord or even temporary warehousing in your facility opens you up to a range of risks and potential legal/regulatory/compliance issues. Happy to connect if you have any specific questions.
from Texas A&M University in Elizabethton, TN, USA
Check out someone in your state for code info on firewalls and sprinkler requirements. Other than that, bathroom and lock / security are other concerns.
For users, be prepared as to whether you'll accept mechanic or machine shop tenants. If facility is newer, the oils and heavy equipment may not be your vision for a good tenant.