How to brief an office search so it actually converges

Most office searches take longer than they need to, and the reason is almost always the brief.

Five fields that matter

Headcount, today and in eighteen months. Two numbers, not a range. The gap between them determines whether you want coworking or a managed floor.

A commute constraint, not a location preference. "Within forty minutes of Jayanagar for most of the team" is a usable constraint. "Somewhere central" is not.

A monthly number you will actually approve. Not a stretch figure. The number that gets signed without a second meeting.

Move-in date, and what happens if it slips. If your current agreement ends on a fixed date, say so at the start — it changes which options are worth visiting.

The one thing you will not compromise on. Everyone has one. Naming it early saves three site visits.

What to leave out

Amenity wish lists. Every serious centre has internet, power backup and meeting rooms. Listing them does not narrow anything and it crowds out the constraints that do.

Then let the search do its job

A well-constrained brief usually produces four to six genuinely viable options. That is the right number to visit. More than eight means the brief was too loose.