Locating a new office space can take some time, as it’s important to be methodical. Many offices won’t match the needs of your business, and that’s okay. However, once you do find a space that fits, you will need to conduct an office condition report.
This report will ensure that you are properly informed of the condition of your new office space so that you can make the right decision with all the information available. Working with Niche Advisory and Condition Reports Online is the best way to put yourself in a strong position.
This is why an office condition report for your new office space is of the utmost importance.
The right price
You simply must know what you are paying for when you do sign a new commercial lease in Sydney. Too many tenants enter into an agreement without fully understanding the condition of their new space and what may be required to fit out the space or make associated repairs.
A professional condition report is absolutely essential when it comes to working out how much to pay for your new office space. You’ll be able to make the most informed decision and ensure that your business is not paying through the roof. Make sure you’re paying the right price for your new Sydney office space.
Health and safety
A new space may contain risks and hazards that can put the wellbeing of you and your people at risk. That might include safety hazards such as:
- Upturned carpet, which can be a tripping hazard
- A faulty power point, which can be an electrocution hazard
- Mould and mildew in wet areas, which is a health hazard
- Loose fittings and fixtures.
If you are aware of these risk factors, you can ensure that the landlord fixes them before you do move into the office space. On the other hand, if you don’t do your due diligence, you may well have problems down the track.
Every employee deserves a safe and healthy workplace, and you deserve to be aware of any hazards that may be present in your office.
Get your bond back
Getting your bond back can be tough when a difficult landlord tries to claim damages that you or your people didn’t cause. Unfortunately, some tenants find themselves in a stick situation, where they can’t actually prove that the damage was already there… even though it was!
This is where a condition report is critical. You can document any existing damage in the space, so that when it comes to retrieving your bond, you’ll be able to prove that the torn carpet, scratches on the walls or floors or leaking plumbing wasn’t your doing.
Makegood obligations
The makegood obligation is one of the most important parts of a commercial lease… but is regularly neglected. This obligation means returning the office space to its ‘original condition’, and the clause does vary from contract to contract. Some landlords may require the space to be returned to a shell, and entirely stripped out. Others may want a cash settlement in place of a strip-out.
However, problems do arise when the makegood obligation isn’t clear cut, or the tenant simply did not read the clause in full. It’s at this point that a landlord can hold a tenant over a barrel. A condition report will help to document precisely what ‘original condition’ looks like and therefore, may well save the tenant money.
Evidence in the case of a dispute
Disputes are, unfortunately, a common feature of both residential and commercial lease agreements. These disputes can regularly arise over damage, which may or may not have been caused by your employees.
Evidence is important when it comes to dispute resolution. It will provide clear cut proof of whether or not the damage was caused by your people, or if it was already there. A professional office condition report for your new Sydney office lease will provide accurate evidence in the case of a dispute.
A condition report can provide the following:
- Detailed photographs of various parts of your office
- Written condition reports and records of any damage
- Drone footage
- Video walkthroughs
- Inspections by certified building inspectors.
A condition report must be done by certified professionals
A condition report is pointless if it isn’t done by a certified, expert condition report provider. Anyone but the experts will likely miss crucial information, which can then put you and your people at risk, both in terms of safety and financially.
If you skimp on a condition report, it’s likely that whoever you have hired won’t truly know their business. Therefore, you won’t be getting a proper insight into the condition of your new property… which simply isn’t good enough.
At Niche Advisory, we work with a range of commercial businesses to locate new commercial spaces, and negotiate hard on their behalf. We always deliver a great result on new commercial leases… and we can also provide exceptional, thorough condition reports.
To discuss your new commercial lease and condition report, get in touch with us today.
