Looking for commercial warehouse space for lease in Brisbane? There’s plenty to consider before taking the leap, and we’re here to help guide you through the process. It’s not only the obvious things like size, price and location to worry about. There’s also plenty of considerations about how a commercial property will suit your unique needs. You also need to understand whether your business is ready for a move.
Northshore Group has put together this comprehensive guide on commercial property Brisbane. Read on for all you need to know!
Understand the Types of Commercial Property in Brisbane
Not all commercial warehouse space is created equal. Like everything, all commercial property has variables. Specifically, there’s three main types of warehouses and they serve different business needs.
Simple Shed
The smallest of the lot, simple shed warehouses are going to suit less complicated operations. These commercial properties are more commonly used as work spaces for mechanics or repair companies, maybe even small-scale manufacturing operations.
A simple shed will usually be one or two story, with a bit of office space. However, you usually won’t be provided with much storage space.
Warehouse
Warehouses will give you a much larger floor area than a simple shed, and are often used by larger manufacturers. Think furniture manufacturers, for example. They usually come equipped with plenty of storage space and generous work areas. The wide. Open spaces make these commercial properties sought after by a range of businesses, as there’s not much you can’t do in a warehouse.
Although you’ll have plenty of room to store goods, and you can get things in and out, you’ll have to look further up in scale for things like loading docks to make goods transport a priority.
Logistics Building
You’ll definitely get loading docks with a logistics building. The emphasis here is on moving products in and out. In that sense, you may not necessarily find a lot of work space in a logistics building because the focus is on storage and distribution. Couriers, postal services and retail distribution centres are likely to need a logistics building, particularly if delivery of goods is the main part of your business.
Understand Your Needs – Short and Long Term
When looking at commercial leasing options, you really need to understand where your business is at. What you need right now is a major consideration, but future plans need to be considered also. While nobody has a crystal ball, most businesses will have plans in place for where they want to be in five or ten years. Most commercial leases are 5 years long, so you need to make sure any warehouse for lease really suits your long-term plans.
What Does Your Future Hold?
When weighing up your options, consider the following needs for now and over the next few years:
- Size required
- Location
- Your business operations – are they staying the same?
- Required staff numbers – parking, work area, amenities
All these considerations will inform whether a commercial property is going to fulfil your needs now, and in a few years’ time as your business grows.
Do You Need Office Space?
You may not need much office space now if you’re a relatively small operation, but will things stay that way? Most smaller commercial properties will only have limited office space. That’s fine for now if you only have one person using it at any given time, but what if you were to employ two full-time office staff in the near future?
You may be able to make adjustments to extend your office space if the need arises, however you need to check the fit-out guides on your commercial property lease carefully. You may even need council approval for such changes, so do your research before signing on.
Is the Location Convenient?
Location is often considered the most important consideration when it comes to commercial property leasing. With good reason. One focus here is on customers, and the other is on your daily business operations.
If you need customers to come to you, location is always going to be important. You don’t want to be too far from major population centres, and you want ample parking.
If you have no retail or service aspect to your business, customers won’t come into your thinking. But what about transport costs? Maybe you do a lot of deliveries. Being too far from your destinations is going to increase transport costs, and probably reduce efficiency if delivery drivers are making frequent trips to and from the warehouse.
Depending on the size of your operation, staff may also play a part here. Can you attract top-end talent if they have to travel too far to reach you?
Is the Price Sustainable?
Nobody wants to take a gloomy look at their business’s future. But when dealing with expensive commercial leases it pays to be realistic. It can be a double edged-sword. You can’t really afford a more expensive commercial property, but you also can’t expand without it.
Or on the flip-side, your business is doing so well that you can absolutely afford a better property now. But what if there’s a downturn, or you lost a major client? Would a new premises still be viable?
Ensure all Appropriate Checks are Done
There’s a few basic checks that people often take for granted when looking at commercial property. Unfortunately, without checking these things, you could run into trouble later. Here’s a few i’s to dot and t’s to cross before signing on the dotted line.
- Site Check Measure: This ensures the size shown on the floor plan is actually available for your use.
- Base Building Condition Survey: Essentially an audit of all key functions like amenities, doors, air conditioning. This check confirms everything is in working order.
- Base Building Service Audit: Much like the building condition, this delves a little deeper into things like plumbing and electrical.
- HAZMAT Report: A standard hazardous materials check.
What are Your Additional Costs?
Its not only the obvious monthly lease costs to take into consideration. You’ll also need to be aware of additional costs associated with moving to a new commercial property. If you’re moving from an old warehouse, you’ll obviously have the expenses of removal, but what about costs for the new property?
Many commercial properties require some level of fit-out to make things perfect for your operations. The costs can vary because some landlords will cover these costs, and others won’t. It’s a case-by-case basis, so make sure you’re not in for a nasty surprise before you even move in.
Understand Your Commercial Lease
Like any important negotiations, we recommend seeking legal advice before signing a commercial lease. It’s not just to protect yourself, it’s also about understanding all of your rights and obligations. Legal documents can be confusing, so having someone to help you through them is a must. A legal representative may also be able to assist with local council approvals or regulations you need to be mindful of when setting up a new commercial property.
See Us for Your Commercial Property Brisbane Needs
Think you’re ready to find your new commercial property? Get the right advice for your commercial lease, and contact us here at Northshore Group Brisbane. We can find the perfect warehouse for your individual needs, so get in touch today!
