Use the same questions on every tour. Record the answer, who supplied it, and what document would confirm it. Keep unresolved items visible until they are answered.
Before you arrive
- Bring your requirement brief, basic equipment list, and a rough layout.
- Request the current floor plan, site plan, rent basis, and expense estimate.
- Confirm who is attending and whether utilities and building systems can be inspected.
Outside the premises
- Check approaches, street visibility, entrances, parking, and loading.
- Walk the route a visitor would take from parking to the entrance.
- Record sign locations, delivery routes, waste areas, and shared access.
- Observe surrounding uses during your intended operating hours.
Inside the premises
- Compare the plan with the space and note any differences.
- Record utility service, restrooms, major systems, and visible condition.
- Ask what stays, what is removed, and what the landlord will deliver.
- Identify work your contractor or design professional needs to assess.
After the tour
Write down deal breakers while the visit is fresh. Ask for written answers on use approvals, delivery, repairs, expenses, and timing. Send the same questions for each finalist so the comparison remains consistent. Photos and a quick walk-through do not replace professional inspections.