5 Things to Look for in a New Office Space
When your company first moved into its office, the space was likely a good fit at the time. But as companies evolve over time, their offices might not be a good fit forever and the time comes for them to look into finding a new space.
The idea of moving into a new office and having it renovated to suit your needs is extremely exciting, but first you need to find the right place. Not sure where to begin with your search for a new office? Here are five key things to help you narrow down your options.
Price
First and foremost, the biggest thing to think about is how much you can reasonably afford to spend on a new space without giving up important things your company wants or needs. You don’t want to choose a location with rent that is so high that you can’t afford to stay for very long — especially if you plan to renovate the space before moving in. But on the other hand, you also don’t want to choose a location that is inexpensive, but lacks features that your company needs.
Don’t forget to find out if there are any additional expenses to account for in addition to rent. For example, some locations might charge fees such as parking or maintenance.
Location
We’ve all heard the old adage that location is everything when it comes to real estate. This is true whether you’re in the market for a new house or a new office. The accessibility of a location is an extremely important thing to keep in mind. Does it have adequate parking? If you have employees who rely on public transportation, is it close to transit stops?
Also think about what else would be near your location. Are there any clients you need to stay close to? Would any of your employees suddenly end up with a substantially longer commute? What other businesses in general would you be close to? Being located near businesses like restaurants and stores can help make your business more attractive to new employees since many people like working close to those types of businesses.
Future Growth
Moving into a new office is a very significant decision. Not only is there the expense of moving and renovating a space to consider, there’s the general stress that comes with moving and the disruption to your company. With all the work that goes into moving offices, the last thing you want is to quickly outgrow your space and need to move again sooner than expected.
Before signing the lease for a new space, make sure it will support your current and future needs. How much growth do you expect your company to go through in the next few years? Are you expecting your team size to stay about the same or will you need a space that will give you room to grow?
Business Needs
When companies choose to move offices, it’s usually motivated by at least one specific reason. What are those reasons for you? Sometimes companies simply outgrow a space, but other times, it can be because their old space doesn’t let them work as effectively as they need to. For example, let’s say a tech company is currently in an office that has some WiFi dead zones. Not only does this make it harder for people to work, it also likely means they’re paying for space that isn’t being used to its full advantage. In their case, making sure a new office allows everyone to stay connected would very likely be a very high priority.
Company Culture
Company culture might not rank as highly as things like location and budget on your list of priorities, but it still is an important aspect to think about because a company’s office is a reflection of their culture. Would your new location send the right message about who you are as a company?
If you need to renovate a new office before moving in or renovating in place, Premier Construction & Design has experience designing spaces for Michigan businesses in a wide range of industries. Check out our portfolio and case studies to see examples of some projects we’ve worked on. Contact us today to tell us more about your project.
