Lease the operation, not just the square feet.

Confirm the business activity, licensing jurisdiction, building rules and authority approvals before comparing views or asking rent.

Test metro, roads, parking, taxis, deliveries, lifts, security, reception and accessibility at the hours the business will actually operate.

A quoted area does not reveal efficiency. Test workstations, meeting rooms, circulation, storage, server and utility needs against the exact plan.

Establish what belongs to whom, what can remain, what needs approval, what has useful life and what must be reinstated at exit.

Combine rent, rent-free period, deposit, fee, service charges, cooling, utilities, parking, fit-out, furniture, technology, insurance and reinstatement.

Use, access, maintenance, signage, assignment, subletting, default, renewal, break and reinstatement clauses can shape the business more than a small rent difference.

Test lifts, air-conditioning hours, power, connectivity, loading, common areas, security and management response. The unit cannot out-operate its building.

Handover, fit-out approvals, rent commencement, grace, opening date and renewal notice need one executable timeline.

Record the space, systems, fixtures, meters, keys, access cards and defects at handover. Commercial reinstatement disputes begin where condition evidence ends.

Assignment, subletting, early termination, reinstatement and deposit recovery should be understood before the first fit-out invoice is approved.