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Industrial Land in Demand

Featured Case Study | Complex move made easy for Integ

When technology and communications company Integ Communications was formed in July 2002 following a management buyout, the new management had just five months to find new premises and move in.

But this was no simple pack-up-over-weekend job. The organisation had three offices – a stores facility in Liverpool; an order-fulfilment, repair centre and call centre over two buildings in Alexandria; and a sales and services division in North Sydney. And the company wanted to consolidate all three offices into one.

That alone was a big task but, as Integ Communications CEO Ian Poole explains, “We had some other stringent criteria”.

Finding the right location
“We wanted the new office to be close to transport, within an easy cab ride of the city and we needed car parking for 20 cars. We also wanted 80% office space and 20% warehouse area.”

Ian says he had the choice of hiring a big commercial real estate company, but instead turned to the expertise and personal service of MJM Property Group’s Michael Mannix.

Choosing an agent
“We could have gone to one of the major companies,” Ian says, “but they would have tried to sell us what they’ve got on their books. That wasn’t the approach we were after.

“Michael wasn’t just selling us a lease on a property he had listed on his books. Right from the start, he was interested in providing the right solution for our business – as we do for our clients.”

Michael set to work to undertake a full market research study on potential new premises.

“He took the time to get to know all the directors of the company and all their individual preferences when it came to the new office,” Ian explains. “And he took all our preferences into consideration.”

Trendy warehouse environment
Following Michael’s research, consultation and market report, Integ settled on a property, 39 Herbert Street St Leonards, that met almost all its original criteria.
“We had to compromise on the office versus warehouse equation,” Ian says.

“We have more warehouse space than we were looking for, and less office space. But it’s actually worked out well – some of our office staff are now enjoying trendy converted warehouse accommodation!”

Once the suitable property was found, Michael then set to work co-ordinating building inspections, negotiating the lease and offering advice on a range issues including space planning and town planning.

“Once the final decision was made, Michael then even advised us on hiring the appropriate people to conduct our office fit-out,” Ian says. “This was above and beyond the service we would have expected from a real estate agent.”

Freeing up the executive team
Ian says that Michael’s broad advice and end-to-end-consulting experience meant that he and the other directors of his company were left free to run their business, even while the normally disruptive process of finding a new property was in full swing.

“The important thing to remember with a move as complex as ours is that with the senior people involved you can risk taking your eye off the business. But Michael was able to co-ordinate all that, so we had virtually no business discontinuity.”

This was a challenge indeed, and not just because of the complexity involved in moving several offices, each with different functions and staff, into one location.

“Being a technology company, moving for us also meant re-wiring and re-installing many complex systems,” Ian explains. “Luckily, with Michael on the job we were able to concentrate on that and leave the property issues to the expert.”

Ian says the whole process was conducted with a minimum of interruption to his business, and it came in on time and on-budget.

“It was a big project, but with Michael we felt he understood all aspects of the job, and that’s rare. It certainly didn’t feel like you were dealing with a real estate agent.”

Integ's intelligence
Don't let agents limit themselves to offering you what's currently on their books - challenge them to do some searching on your behalf, that's what you're paying for.

When choosing a location, survey staff to establish what percentage of staff travel by public transport versus private car. Locations are usually a trade-off between access to public transport or cheap car parking.

Consider converting some warehouse space to office space - it can provide a modern, stylish environment with the right fit-out

Choosing the right fit-out can sometimes be an after-thought, but involving your fit-out people in reviewing a final property shortlist can highlight hidden strengths and weaknesses you might not spot yourself.