Compare candidate premises against one operating brief
- Topic
- Relocation decisions
- Reading time
- 3 minutes
- Last reviewed
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Use the same requirements for every candidate premises. A cheaper unit can look better simply because its comparison leaves out an awkward part of the business. Take one agreed operating brief to each assessment and show where the evidence is incomplete.
Begin with requirements that could prevent the proposed operation from working. Then compare preferences and costs. Do not allow an attractive reception area or lower rent to outweigh an unresolved essential requirement inside a single average score.
Two fictional units, one consistent brief
Suppose the business needs a defined production arrangement, inspection, customer collections and suitable services. An initial comparison might look like this:
| Requirement | Unit A | Unit B |
|---|---|---|
| Headline annual rent | Lower quoted figure | Higher quoted figure |
| Whole-operation space | Initial drawing only | Initial drawing only |
| Essential site service | Upgrade said to be possible; no assessed scope or date | Existing provision still needs suitability assessment |
| Customer collection arrangement | Shared area; terms unresolved | Proposed area; terms unresolved |
| Overall position | Essential questions outstanding | Essential questions outstanding |
Neither unit has passed the brief. The table is useful because it prevents “upgrade possible” from becoming “ready” in the cost comparison. Unit B also needs assessment of its existing service provision.
Ask the engineering and property advisers to confirm service requirements. Ask the layout team to reconcile the area budget with the actual building. Record their evidence beside the candidate, including any limitations.
Label the source of each claim
Sales particulars, an agent's discussion and a competent assessment have different purposes. Keep the original material, its date and the person who can explain it. Ask the appropriate adviser what confirmation is needed before relying on a statement.
Property obligations need the actual documents. GOV.UK's guidance for business tenants points to the lease for responsibilities. The adviser should explain the proposed terms and the jurisdiction-specific position, including permissions relevant to the intended activity.
Use plain statuses: confirmed for the stated scope, awaiting assessment, or unable to meet the requirement under the current proposal. Avoid scoring an unknown as halfway acceptable just to complete the table.
Decide which gap is worth investigating
Some gaps can be assessed cheaply before commitment. Others may require substantial work or reveal that the property is unsuitable. Ask what decision the next piece of evidence will enable and who should obtain it.
Include adapting the current site among the options if it could solve the original problem.
If neither candidate supports the future operating brief, reconsider the candidates or revisit the business decision explicitly. Do not quietly drop a service requirement so a preferred unit fits the spreadsheet.
Keep the approved comparison when the owner decides. It should show why the chosen premises support the intended operation and which conditions remain attached to that decision.
Once that operating arrangement is settled, UK Auction Group can receive an enquiry about equipment left surplus by the move. Identify which decisions are final so an alternative property option does not accidentally become a conflicting sale instruction.
More planning guides are available through Relocation decisions.
Sources
This guide is general information and education only. Legal, tax, employment and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser who knows your situation. Read the disclaimer.