An office tour is designed to show you the best of a building: the lobby, the view, the nicest suite. The questions below show you what it is like to work there on an ordinary Tuesday.
1. Who do I call when something breaks?
Ask for a name and a phone number, not a portal. Then ask how long a typical repair takes. A landlord who manages from a distance will point you to a ticket system. An operator will tell you who picks up.
2. Who has a key to my suite?
You should know exactly who can enter your office, when and why. Ask about cleaning schedules, maintenance access and how the building is secured after hours.
3. What happens at 5 p.m.?
Some buildings lock the front door, turn down the heat and switch off the internet at the end of the business day. If you work early, late or on weekends, ask how access, climate and connectivity work outside normal hours.
4. What exactly is included in the rent?
Get the list in writing: utilities, internet, cleaning, furniture in shared spaces, meeting rooms, kitchen and parking. What is left off the list becomes a bill.
5. Where do I meet a client?
Ask to see the meeting room, and ask how it is booked. If there is no room, ask where other tenants take clients. The answer tells you a lot about how the building thinks about your business.
6. What happens at renewal?
Ask how renewals are handled and who makes the decision. Ask how rent has changed for current tenants. A landlord who has to check with an owner in another city will give you a different answer than one who owns the building.
Bring the list
Take these six questions on every tour and write the answers down. When you compare buildings afterward, the answers will matter more than the lobby.
We are happy to answer all six on a tour of Executive Plaza or Harrell House.
