November 2018 :: Case Studies
What are the top 4 things occupiers are looking for in a building today?
Presentation
Even after 17 years it still surprises me how much impact the presentation of a property has on the client. A well-presented, freshly painted and immaculately clean building, along with a well maintained garden always ensures a positive inspection. The occupiers inspecting are almost always time poor, are often from interstate or overseas and a fresh, appealing property stands out for them. We see a trend of occupiers gravitating towards a new facility, often only because it is well presented. Older properties can, with care, be presented equally as well. It is in the detail that creates a sense of quality and value.
Location
Industrial property is almost always about location. Proximity to freeways, the CBD, ports and airports are critical considerations. With traffic congestion choking our city, good road access to the property is one of the most important aspects for property selection. Businesses need to be easily accessible, to be efficient.
Site Access
Like location this is all about efficiency. We are all trying to maximise out return and sometimes it is tempting to go for the maximum site coverage allowable, but compromising on access can be very detrimental to finding an occupier. Invariably occupiers are comparing properties and often the final selection ends up being the one with the best access and site workability.
Height
There are endless reasons why the height of a building plays such a large part in the decision making process for occupiers. The first and most common reason is just the shear value of storage. An extra metre high can often mean an extra pallet space over the entire floor and this could mean a 20-30% increase in volume. Other reasons are, machinery height requirements, vehicle tipping height requirements, ability to fit cranes, thermal differences and the ability to fit mezzanines or a second storey office extension.
