In the age of flexible work environments and remote employees, choosing the right office space might not feel like a make-or-break move any more.
As a result, many businesses may be tempted to prioritise tangible factors like budget and square metreage over less cut-and-dried elements like convenience and brand synergy.
This can be an expensive mistake, says Craig Mott, Western Cape regional sales manager for the Rawson Property Group.
“Today, more than ever, the right workplace can play a critical role in things like staff retention, client acquisition, productivity and profitability. It’s not a decision that should be taken lightly or made purely on budgetary grounds, although finances obviously play an important role.”
While the best office space will vary dramatically depending on your business, these are the elements Mott says all companies looking for a new workspace should consider.
* Location: With roads becoming more congested and employees highly conscious of their commute times, a convenient location for your staff is always a good start. However, Mott says this convenience needs to be balanced with things like client accessibility and brand synergy.
“If your business is very corporate, a decentralised office deep in the suburbs may not be the best fit. Likewise, if you’re highly client-facing, and a lot of those clients are working in a particular area, it makes sense to base your office nearby to increase visibility and make it easier to connect.
“It’s also important not to discount the benefits of being close to shops, cafes and potential after-work social spots.”
* Space: Finding the right space means much more than just making sure there’s room for all your desks and equipment. Mott says meeting space, recreation areas, cafe or kitchen space and bathrooms are equally important.
“There’s a growing body of evidence that shows a well-balanced workspace - one that includes areas for work, rest and collaboration - can have a positive effect on productivity. Old-school offices with claustrophobic cubicles, on the other hand, are a recipe for an unhappy workforce.”
* Growth potential: Businesses with plans to grow in years to come should also consider the potential for future expansion within their chosen space.
“The last thing you want is to fit out a brand-new office space only to outgrow it in a year or two. If you’re predicting future growth, it makes sense to look for a building that can accommodate that expansion.”
* Layout: Moving offices is an expensive and disruptive operation. To minimise the impact of this, Mott strongly recommends looking for a space that doesn’t need too extensive an alteration.
If you are renting, your lease will often allow an amount for tenant installation - this is an amount that the landlord is willing to pay for alterations and is often calculated at an amount per square metre.
“It would be naive to assume you’ll find the perfect office already fitted out to your requirements off the bat, but some spaces will be closer to what you need than others. Major structural renovations are time-consuming and costly. Rather look for a blank slate that can be customised with relatively inexpensive drywall, or a spot that can otherwise be reconfigured with minimal disruption.”
* Amenities: Don’t forget to look at more than just the walls when choosing an office space. Natural and artificial lighting, air conditioning and connectivity are also important.
Some questions one should also ask are: Do you need a lot of windows or will too much sunlight cause glare on staff computers?
Are you happy with a centralised air con system for the whole building or do you need the flexibility to customise the temperatures in your own space? Is there plumbing for a private kitchen and bathroom or will you share these facilities with other tenants?
Is the building fibre-compatible, or will you need to arrange your own high-speed connection?
* Cost: Cost will also be an essential component but Mott says businesses should never discount the potential to negotiate.
“You’re unlikely to negotiate a discount significant enough to drop your rental into a whole new affordability category but a lot of landlords are more flexible on terms and incentives than they may let on.
“It’s always good to educate yourself on the local commercial rental market and be ready to haggle a little to get a good deal.”