Have you already book an office tour and you hope that you’ll finally find an office that will meet your expectations? If so, you probably feel very enthusiastic about it. After all, having your own office space is an essential step in your business. However, your enthusiasm can make you forget to ask important questions. Fortunately, with this article, you will learn five crucial questions to ask during an office tour.
1. What is the total rent cost for your office?
During a tour, the landlord will probably present office space you are interested in and the whole business centre as well. So, it is likely that in terms of rent, you will often hear “It’s only that much per month”. If you hear a price that pleases you, your enthusiasm will only increase, and you will be more inclined to say yes. However, you should calm down and ask clearly which services, utilities and other costs are included in the rent and which are not. That fine rental price can be a lot higher if there are some extra services covered. Be sure to put everything on paper.
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2. View the office that you actually want to rent
A business centre often has several office spaces available. During a tour, a landlord can show you similar but different offices instead of this one that you actually want to rent. For example, because the current tenant is still working there. Always make sure to view precisely the office that you wish to occupy after signing the contract. No matter how similar they are, the difference can matter to you.
3. Ask about the number of people interested in the same office that you want to rent
Remember, that you don’t have to make a rash decision about your office. You may ask about the number of parties interested in the same office space that you aspire. Also, ask directly if there is the option to choose another office if somebody takes the one that you wanted. That way you won’t feel so much pressure to make a decision right away, and you can go through everything objectively and adequately.
The landlord can also use some persuasive sales techniques to increase your pressure and let you decide faster whether you want to take the office space or not. That is why you shouldn’t decide too quickly unless you are 100% sure that the office meets your expectations. Take your time to get a good look at different possibilities, negotiate the price, and if everything seems fine to you, then make a final decision!
A tip: ask about how long the office you are touring has been empty. This way you will immediately know if it is a wanted office or not.
4. Ask about a cancellation period
If you rent an office, it seems natural that you want to know the length of your contract. Also, it’s essential to know how long a cancellation period takes. Think about this before even planning your office tour because on the actual tour you must know your possible options and ask relevant questions.
5. Measure the office yourself
If you go to an office tour, always take a tape measure with you. That way you can measure the office space precisely yourself. Don’t rely on the square meters and dimensions that the landlord tells you. By doing this, you will also know whether your current office furniture fits in the office room presented to you during the tour. 50 m2 in one place can drastically differ from 50 m2 in another place.
Conclusion
Finding your perfect office space can be a challenging task. However, if you take these five questions into account, the tour should run flawlessly. Do you still have questions or are you not entirely sure about how to best approach a tour? Try to contact a real estate consultant. Don’t just sit down with questions about your new office!
