Which professional premises should you choose for your company?

Evaluate the occupancy rate

Teleworking, which was already developing before the Coronavirus health crisis, is now becoming widespread in all companies. Employees are increasingly mobile, and assigned workstations are more often unoccupied.
Thus, rather than basing your decision on the actual number of employees, we advise you to define the occupancy rate of the premises. By increasing the usage time and the density of workstations, you will rationalize your needs in terms of surface area. It will then be appropriate to opt for a modular layout specially adapted to mobile employees (flex office layout, plug & play).

Estimate the surface area

We are too often tempted to calculate the required office surface area based on the number of employees (10/15 sq. m. per user). This is a mistake. New ways of working and employee mobility imply a different work organization. Workspaces are organized more according to activity (creativity, collaboration, concentration, confidentiality, meetings, etc.) rather than the conventional layout.

In addition to workspaces, you must take into account social areas and spaces dedicated to employee well-being. They foster team spirit, productivity, and employee buy-in for the relocation project.
Finally, depending on the type of space and the specific needs of the company, the footprint of functional spaces should not be neglected: reception, circulation, restrooms, technical rooms, printing zones, archives, storage, showroom, sales area, etc.
On the other hand, do not forget to anticipate your company’s development in the medium term. Look to the future and integrate your recruitment strategy into your thinking to imagine the space you will need in the years to come.

It is essential that your future new talents are welcomed under the best possible working conditions.

Target the right location

The geographical location of your company is a key factor from both a sociological and economic perspective. It will directly impact the lives of employees and your business relationships with your clients and suppliers.
Accessibility (public transport, parking) is obviously a central point of this reflection. You should try to limit the increase in employee commute time as much as possible. Keep in mind that this argument will affect talent retention and recruitment. Proximity to shops, restaurants, green spaces, and gyms will also be good assets for satisfying your employees.
Another aspect to consider is the address. Indeed, the one you choose should reflect the image your company wishes to project.
Price will undoubtedly be the determining factor in finalizing your choice.

Set your budget

Price is a major factor for the company. It is therefore essential to properly evaluate your budget. Opting for premises that are too expensive risks weakening your cash flow. It is also not feasible to opt for the cheapest premises at the risk of destroying the positive momentum of change.
Do not underestimate the costs incurred by the move. Indeed, the budget allocated to construction and fit-out is often poorly estimated. Keep in mind that this move is an opportunity to implement a new work organization that will optimize your company’s performance and productivity for years to come. You won’t move every year, so now is the ideal time to invest!

Determine the services you will need

Many office buildings offer their tenants exclusive services. Thus, before you start your visits, establish a prioritized list of the equipment and services your company will need: accessibility (parking, bike storage, etc.), corporate cafeterias, outdoor spaces, gym, security, access management, 24/7 reception, environmental certification, energy performance.

Familiarize yourself with real estate jargon

To avoid unpleasant surprises, familiarize yourself with real estate jargon and distinguish clearly between usable area and rentable area. The usable area is what you need to physically place all the teams.
The rentable area includes, in addition to the usable area, the surface of the building’s common areas (lobby, common rooms, restrooms if shared between several tenants) calculated proportionally among the tenants.
Your rent, service charges, and taxes will thus be calculated based on the rentable area.

Involve your employees

The key to managed change management is communication. You can already initiate dialogue and involve your employees in this ambitious project, which brings progress.

Rather than presenting them with a fait accompli, present the company’s ambitions in this relocation decision. It is highly likely that they will be a source of suggestions and contribute to the improvement of the project.

Define the main lines of your fit-out strategy

As we have just seen, the surface area and the layout of the premises you look for depend on the office fit-out choices you have made. Therefore, do not wait until you have signed your lease to think about the layout of your new offices.
What problems are you trying to solve compared to your old setup? What improvements do you expect?
Start thinking now and define your strategy.

Surround yourself with professionals

All these questions can overwhelm you with inquiries, and it is therefore understandable that you might feel a bit lost. This is the time to surround yourself with professionals who know these issues perfectly and will be able to support you and help you make the right choices.

Call upon the office fit-out specialist of your choice now. Involved from the birth of the project, they will help you formalize precise and exhaustive specifications and advise you in order to find the premises best suited to your organization. Real estate advisors will, for their part, be valuable allies in offering you products that meet the specificities of your specifications.

We are at your full disposal to discuss your project now: contact@lesbatisseurs.paris