Compare the True Cost of Office Space in East Jefferson
A lower advertised rent may not be the amount you actually pay. Enter another property’s rent, lease year and what is or is not included to estimate its true office cost.
True Office Cost Calculator
Enter the competing property’s advertised rent ($/SF/year) applicable to the lease year being evaluated. The value updates the results instantly.
Evaluate any year of the competing lease (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or another). Used to calculate the base-year operating-expense increase.
Default 3.0% — editable. Applied only to base operating expenses to project the base-year increase. Never applied to advertised rent, after-hours HVAC, parking or conference-room space.
Many modified-gross leases can require tenants to pay increases in operating expenses above a base year. This calculator projects those base operating expenses at 3% annual inflation unless you enter another rate.
Does the competing lease have a base-year operating-expense increase?
Base operating expenses (CAM + utilities + janitorial + landscaping): $4.98/SF. After-hours HVAC is separate and is not inflated.
Estimated base operating-expense increase for Year 1: +$0.00/SF. Only the increase above the base amount is added — never the full inflated amount again.
Competing Office
Advertised Rent
$19.50/SF
Based on the selected lease year (Year 1) and projected annual operating-expense inflation rate (3.0%).
= True Office Cost
$25.24/SF
824 Elmwood
$21.50/SF
Full Service
- Utilities
- Janitorial
- No separate CAM charge
- No base-year operating-expense increases
- After-hours HVAC without additional charge
- Free abundant surface parking
- Free shared 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room
- Free common-area guest Wi-Fi
- 24/7 keycard access
- Elevator access to the second floor
Estimated Difference
+$3.74/SF
824 Elmwood costs less
Monthly Difference
+$347
Annual Difference
+$4,159
For 1,112 SF, Year 1 · approximately $4,159 less per year at 824 Elmwood
What else does the competing lease charge?
Not Sure defaults are estimates based on 824 Elmwood operating-cost analysis, not universal East Jefferson charges. Mark a cost “Included” if it is already bundled in the advertised rent or in CAM to avoid double counting.
CAM / Other Operating Costs
Estimated using 824 Elmwood operating costs. Replace with the competing property's actual amount when known. Mark utilities, janitorial, landscaping or HVAC “Included” below if already inside this figure.
Utilities
Electricity and water. “Included” = bundled in rent or CAM.
Janitorial
Landscaping
After-Hours HVAC
Estimated after-hours HVAC cost based on 824 Elmwood operating-cost analysis. Kept separate from base operating expenses and not subject to base-year increases. Replace with the competing property's actual charge when known.
Is paid parking required?
824 Elmwood: approximately 250 free surface spaces.
$0
Does your company need comparable conference or meeting space?
824 Elmwood tenants have free shared use of a 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room.
Also consider parking convenience. 824 Elmwood provides approximately 250 free surface spaces around all four sides of the building with three entrances. Results update instantly as you change any input — there is no button to press.
Competing Office
Advertised Rent
$19.50/SF
Based on the selected lease year (Year 1) and projected annual operating-expense inflation rate (3.0%).
= True Office Cost
$25.24/SF
824 Elmwood
$21.50/SF
Full Service
- Utilities
- Janitorial
- No separate CAM charge
- No base-year operating-expense increases
- After-hours HVAC without additional charge
- Free abundant surface parking
- Free shared 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room
- Free common-area guest Wi-Fi
- 24/7 keycard access
- Elevator access to the second floor
Estimated Difference
+$3.74/SF
824 Elmwood costs less
Monthly Difference
+$347
Annual Difference
+$4,159
For 1,112 SF, Year 1 · approximately $4,159 less per year at 824 Elmwood
Results update instantly as you change any input. Estimates are based on 824 Elmwood 2025 operating costs and are editable.
Calculator results are estimates for comparison purposes. When a competing cost is unknown, editable estimates based on 824 Elmwood operating-cost data may be used. For leases with a base-year operating-expense provision, the calculator projects increases above the base year using the selected lease year and a default 3% annual operating-expense inflation rate. The 3% rate is an estimate, not a guaranteed increase, and can be changed. Use actual figures from the competing lease or proposal whenever available.
Estimates are for comparison purposes. Base-year operating-expense increases are projected using the selected lease year and an editable 3% annual inflation assumption. Replace estimates with actual lease figures whenever available.
Why 824 Elmwood Uses Full-Service Rent
824 Elmwood does NOT use a modified-gross lease structure. The current $21.50/SF rental rate at 824 Elmwood is full service, with utilities, janitorial service and many building operating costs included in the quoted rent. This full-service office lease structure makes the quoted rate easier to compare.
With a modified-gross office lease, the advertised rental rate may include some expenses but can still require the tenant to pay certain operating costs or increases above a base operating-expense year, depending on the specific lease terms. That means two offices with similar advertised rental rates can have very different actual occupancy costs. At 824 Elmwood, there are no separate CAM charges and no base-year operating-expense increases under the current full-service leasing structure.
| Lease Structure | What the Tenant Should Understand |
|---|---|
| 824 Elmwood — Full Service | One quoted rental rate with utilities and janitorial included, no separate CAM charge and no base-year operating-expense increase. |
| Modified Gross | The advertised rent may include some operating costs, but the tenant may also be responsible for certain expenses or increases above a base year, depending on the lease. |
The best way to compare office space is to compare total occupancy cost, not advertised rent alone.
How Are the Estimates Calculated?
When a competing expense is unknown, the calculator uses an editable estimate based on 824 Elmwood’s operating-cost analysis (not universal East Jefferson charges):
- Other building operating costs: approximately $1.66/SF
- Utilities: approximately $1.40/SF
- Janitorial: approximately $1.45/SF
- Landscaping: approximately $0.47/SF
- After-hours HVAC: approximately $0.76/SF (kept separate, not inflated)
Base operating expenses (CAM + utilities + janitorial + landscaping) default to $4.98/SF. The base-year increase for the selected lease year is calculated as base × ((1 + inflation)(year − 1) − 1) — only the increase above the base is added, never the full inflated amount again. Year 1 has no increase. The inflation rate is applied only to base operating expenses, never to advertised rent, after-hours HVAC, parking or conference-room space.
Current Projection (updates automatically)
Illustrative example at the default $4.98/SF base and 3.0% inflation: Year 1 +$0.00, Year 2 +$0.15, Year 3 +$0.30, Year 4 +$0.46, Year 5 +$0.63 per SF. Changing the inflation rate to 2%, 4% or any other number updates the increase and the True Office Cost instantly.
These are estimating assumptions only. Replace them with figures from the competing property whenever available.
What $21.50/SF Includes at 824 Elmwood
- Utilities
- Janitorial
- No separate CAM charge
- No base-year operating-expense increases
- After-hours HVAC without additional charge
- Free abundant surface parking
- Free shared 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room
- Free common-area guest Wi-Fi
- 24/7 keycard access
- Elevator access to the second floor
These services and amenities are bundled into the full-service rental structure. Do not add separate operating-cost estimates to the $21.50/SF rate — they are already included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can a lower advertised office rent cost more?+
Advertised rent is only the stated rental rate. A lower rate can become higher once you add CAM or operating expenses, utilities, janitorial, landscaping, after-hours HVAC, paid parking, base-year operating-expense increases and any additional leased conference-room space. The True Office Cost Calculator adds only the costs you identify for the lease year you choose and compares the total with 824 Elmwood’s $21.50/SF full-service rate.
What is the difference between full-service and modified-gross office rent?+
Full-service rent generally includes many building operating costs within the quoted rental rate. A modified-gross lease may include some operating costs but can also require the tenant to pay certain expenses or increases above a base year. The exact terms vary by lease, so prospective tenants should compare total occupancy cost rather than advertised rent alone.
What is a base-year operating-expense increase?+
Many leases set a “base year” for operating expenses. The landlord pays expenses up to the base-year amount in year 1; in later years the tenant pays the increase above that base. The calculator adds only the increase above the base amount — never the full inflated amount again. Year 1 has no increase. Year 2 adds base × inflation. Year 3 compounds twice, and so on. Select “Yes” if the competing lease has this provision, “No” if it does not, or “Not Sure” to assume a provision using the default 3% rate (labeled Estimated).
Why does the calculator use a 3% operating-expense inflation rate?+
The 3% rate is an editable estimating assumption used to illustrate how a base-year operating-expense provision can affect the cost of a modified-gross lease over time. It is not a prediction of any specific building’s actual expenses. Enter the actual expense history or lease assumptions when available.
Can I change the calculator assumptions?+
Yes. Every default is editable — advertised rent, suite size, lease year, inflation rate, base-year increase, and each operating-cost estimate. Replace any estimated figure with the actual amount from the competing lease. User-entered actual values replace the estimates automatically, and the result updates instantly with no button to press.
What happens when I select “Not Sure”?+
The calculator inserts an editable estimate based on 824 Elmwood’s 2025 operating-cost analysis: $1.66/SF for other building operating costs, $1.40/SF for utilities, $1.45/SF for janitorial, $0.47/SF for landscaping and $0.76/SF for after-hours HVAC. These are estimates based on 824 Elmwood, not universal East Jefferson charges. Each is clearly labeled and can be replaced with the competing property’s actual figure. For the base-year increase, “Not Sure” assumes a provision and uses the default 3%, labeled Estimated. For paid parking, “Not Sure” adds $0 and reminds you to verify the competing lease.
Can I replace the estimates with actual figures?+
Yes. Select “Extra” on any operating-cost row and enter the competing property’s actual $/SF/year amount, or type over any “Not Sure” estimate. Mark a cost “Included” when it is already bundled in the advertised rent or in CAM, so it is not counted twice. The result recalculates instantly.
What does $21.50/SF include at 824 Elmwood?+
Utilities, janitorial, no separate CAM charge, no base-year operating-expense increases, after-hours HVAC at no additional charge, free abundant surface parking, free shared use of a 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room, free common-area guest Wi-Fi, 24/7 keycard access and elevator access to the second floor.
Does 824 Elmwood charge separate CAM or base-year increases?+
No. 824 Elmwood’s $21.50/SF full-service lease does not include a separate CAM charge and has no base-year operating-expense increases. Common building operating costs are bundled into the stated rental rate.
Is parking free at 824 Elmwood?+
Yes. 824 Elmwood provides approximately 250 free surface parking spaces around all four sides of the building, with three building entrances — approximately 6.3 spaces per 1,000 SF.
Does 824 Elmwood provide conference space?+
Yes. 824 Elmwood tenants have free shared access to a 600+ SF AV-equipped conference room for meetings and presentations, with no additional leased square footage required. Not every tenant needs private meeting space — the conference-room option in the calculator is there only if your company would otherwise need to lease it.
What is the best way to compare office rental rates?+
Enter each property’s advertised rent for the lease year you want to evaluate, then add every cost the lease charges separately — CAM, utilities, janitorial, landscaping, after-hours HVAC, parking, base-year operating-expense increases and any additional meeting space. Compare the total $/SF for that lease year, not just the advertised rate. The calculator evaluates any single lease year you choose; it does not sum multiple years together.