A twenty-minute tour is your chance to find out what living with an office will actually be like. Bring this list, ask everything, and get the answers that matter in writing on the quote.
The office itself
- Is this the exact office I would get, or one like it?
- How many people does it fit comfortably?
- Is it a window or interior office, and which way does it face?
- What furniture comes with it, and can I bring my own?
- How private is it for phone calls? Try a call from inside with the door closed.
The rest of the center
- Which conference rooms can I use, how many seats do they have, and how are they booked?
- How many conference-room hours come with the office each month?
- Where are the kitchen, printers and scanners?
- Who else works in the center, roughly?
Price and terms
- What is the monthly rate for this office, and exactly what does it include?
- What costs extra (phone answering, extra meeting-room time, anything else)?
- What is the minimum term, and what is the notice period to leave?
- Do longer terms come with free months?
- Is there a security deposit, and how much?
- Can I move to a bigger office later, and what happens to my agreement if I do?
At Icon Centers, the default is month to month with one month's notice; one- and two-year agreements earn free months; a deposit may apply and is spelled out on your quote.
Access, guests and parking
- What are the center's hours, and can I get in outside them?
- How do my clients arrive? Is there a staffed desk, a lobby check-in, or instructions I send them?
- Where do visitors park, and what does it cost? Who sets the rate?
- Is the building accessible for visitors with disabilities?
Be wary of anyone who promises a receptionist will always be there to greet your guests. Some professional buildings and centers are staffed only part of the time; what matters is that you and your guests know exactly how arrival works.
Mail and your address
- Can my company receive mail and packages here, and when?
- Who handles the mail, and who can collect it?
- Can I use the address to register my business or open a bank account?
Moving in
- How soon could I move in?
- How do I get keys and Wi-Fi details?
- How is the agreement signed? (At Icon Centers, we can email it for you to sign at your desk.)
Warning signs
- A price "from" that never turns into an exact number for the office you saw.
- No clear answer on what the monthly rate includes.
- A deposit or notice period that is not written on the quote.
- Promises about building services, such as parking or after-hours access, that the operator does not actually control.
- Pressure to sign the same day without a written agreement to read.
What an Icon Centers tour covers
Tours take about twenty minutes and are by appointment, Monday to Friday. We show you the offices that are open, the conference room and the rest of the suite, and give you exact pricing on the spot. You do not need to bring anything. If you decide on the day, we can send the agreement by email to sign at your desk.
After the tour
Compare quotes on the total for a year, not the monthly headline, and include parking and the meeting-room time you will really use. If you are still deciding between a private office and other options, read executive suite vs coworking vs a traditional lease.