Warehouse square footage is only one part of the requirement. Start with the movement of goods, the equipment used, the people on site, and the approvals your operation needs. Two buildings of the same size can have very different practical capacities.
Describe the operation first
List products, storage methods, equipment, operating hours, deliveries, and expected vehicle movements. Explain any manufacturing, food handling, hazardous materials, outdoor storage, or customer visits. Ask the city and relevant agencies about your specific use before treating a building as a viable option.
Measure the features you will use
- Loading: door dimensions, dock configuration, truck turning, and shared access.
- Clear height: usable height below the lowest obstruction, coordinated with planned racks and fire protection.
- Power: available service, phase, panel capacity, and the cost and timing of upgrades.
- Floor and roof: condition, equipment loads, leaks, and responsibility for repairs.
- Parking and yard: exclusive rights, permitted storage, fencing, and overnight vehicle rules.
Separate the building from the fit-out
Price racking, fire-sprinkler modifications, electrical distribution, office improvements, equipment installation, and utility deposits separately from rent. Ask who maintains major systems and whether any obligations continue at the end of the lease, such as removing equipment or restoring penetrations.
Use a repeatable tour checklist
Bring your operations lead and record measurements in the same format at every property. Photograph loading approaches and utility equipment with permission. For a serious candidate, have the right contractor or engineer verify the assumptions behind the space plan and opening budget.
Use our tour checklist and download a space brief for your local industrial broker. Regional retail statistics should not be used to price a warehouse lease.