Viewing an office: 15 questions to ask before you sign

An office viewing lasts 30 to 45 minutes. Done well, it reveals everything the listing leaves out; done badly, it boils down to "it's bright, it's nice". Here are the 15 questions we ask (or get our clients to ask) on every viewing, starting with the 3 that change decisions.

The 3 questions that change everything

1. "What is your hiring forecast for the year ahead?"

A question to ask yourself before anything else: the perfect space for your current headcount can become a trap in 8 months. Ask the operator how the space can absorb growth (extra desks, expansion, an adjacent floor).

2. "How much do we really use meeting rooms?"

Not the number of rooms advertised: YOUR actual usage (hours per week, meeting sizes, video calls). Then compare it with what is included in the deal and the cost of extra hours: it's one of the lines that most often blows budgets.

3. "Are we open to other locations?"

Companies almost always search where they already are. Our advice, drawn from hundreds of searches: keep an open mind. Other neighbourhoods are sometimes more pleasant for teams, more central for recruiting or simply cheaper. The ideal opportunity is almost never exactly where you started looking.

12 questions to ask on site

• 1. What exactly does the monthly fee cover, line by line? (cleaning, internet, coffee, mail, reception)
• 2. What costs are not included? (parking, lockers, printing, meeting rooms beyond your credit)
• 3. What is the actual private floor area per desk?
• 4. What commitment period, what notice period, what exit terms?
• 5. Is the price negotiable depending on the term? (the gap between list price and signed price averages 15%: see our negotiation levers)
• 6. How does expanding or reducing your space work during the contract?
• 7. How good is the soundproofing between offices? (test it: talk, listen)
• 8. Air conditioning, heating, natural light: who controls what?
• 9. What are the access hours, what security is in place, how are visitors received?
• 10. Can we customise the space? (signage, paint, layout)
• 11. Who are the other occupiers in the building? (confidentiality, atmosphere, noise)
• 12. What do current occupiers say? (catch one in the lift and ask)

The classic trap: falling for a space on first sight

A beautiful space sells itself during the viewing. The disappointments come later: acoustics, meeting rooms that are always booked, add-ons that pile up. Hence the value of a written requirements brief before the viewings: falling in love is still allowed, but it gets checked.

Only view what's worth your time

Let us find your office: a targeted shortlist, organised viewings, negotiation included. Or browse the available listings.