Office Viewing Checklist: What Businesses Should Check Before Signing a Lease

Viewing an office is not just about whether the space looks nice. Businesses should check the layout, accessibility, building systems, air-conditioning, internet readiness, reinstatement condition and total occupancy cost before making a decision.

This guide provides a practical office viewing checklist for Singapore companies before signing a commercial lease.

Look beyond the floor area. A 2,000 sqft unit with an efficient layout may be more useful than a larger office with awkward corners, excessive corridors or poor column placement. Check whether the space can fit your team, meeting rooms, pantry, storage and future headcount.

A fitted office can save renovation time and cost, but only if the existing layout suits your business. Check the condition of flooring, ceiling, lighting, partitions, meeting rooms, pantry, cabling and furniture before assuming the fit-out is usable.

Air-conditioning is one of the most overlooked items during an office viewing. Businesses should check whether aircon is central or split-unit, the standard operating hours, after-hours charges and whether the cooling is sufficient for the unit layout.

Lift access can affect staff and client experience, especially in busy office towers. Check lift waiting time, security gantry access, visitor registration, loading arrangements and whether the unit is conveniently located from the lift lobby.

Confirm whether the office has sufficient power points, data points, server room provision, fibre readiness and space for IT equipment. These details can affect setup time and renovation cost.