Relocation of premises happens relatively rarely during a business's lifespan and if handled badly, the negative effects on the company and its staff can be long lasting and have considerable impact. Because a relocation is such an unusual but important event, surely it is better to put it in the hands of someone who does this regularly as part of their job, rather than trusting it to a member of staff whose inexperience could have potentially disastrous consequences? Commercial estate agents have the skills, resources and experience to ensure that your company's relocation runs as smoothly as possible.
A commercial estate agent in London can have access to potential properties before they have even been released to the marketplace. Combined with their understanding of the area's property prices and local economy – as well as an understanding of what your company wants to achieve from relocating they can begin to search for a property that meets your criteria and budget.
The budget is, of course, a vital consideration in any relocation and a commercial estate agent in London will be able to determine just how much should be set aside for each stage of the move, from planning to the physical cost of the move itself. They can even allocate a relocation manager; a specialist who can work on the company's behalf and ensure that the whole process from an office being found to moving in goes smoothly, ensuring that the company can work to its usual standards, all the way through the process.
A commercial estate agent in London will also have some knowledge of the capital, both locally and in terms of the area as a whole. Local knowledge can prove extremely advantageous when it comes to sourcing properties that might otherwise go unnoticed or are in areas that are about to undergo 'facelifts', all of which can be of benefit to the client, when it comes to the negotiating stage. Knowledge of the city's economy and property market structure can also help to identify blossoming 'hot spots' that might take the client in an unexpected, but favourable, direction.
As well as being able to negotiate the complex legal aspects of contracts, a good commercial estate agent in London should be independent. This way, they are not tied to certain landlords and can seek properties as they see fit and they also can negotiate with their clients in mind, rather than simply agreeing to the price that is offered. Local knowledge will also be useful when it comes to deciding which locations are suitable where amenities and facilities are concerned; if it is known that the tube station local to a potential office will be closed for six months, this may have a bearing on its appropriateness as a prospective site. In addition, local knowledge can help when it comes to the move itself; the agent can source local firms to implement the move, which may cost considerably less than companies sourced from elsewhere.
It can be tempting to save money and put the responsibility in the hands of a member of staff but, in the long term, inexperience can cost the company a lot more than working with a commercial estate agent would.
Shivani Gurtu-Louth - Operations Manager of Devono Property Limited (http://www.devono.com). Devono are the only commercial property agents in London to exclusively represent tenants looking for office space and commercial property in London to rent.
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