Beware 'too good to be true' when looking for serviced office deals
Monday, 01 August 2011
Unfortunately the practice of hidden charges – who doesn't know the old adage "always read the small print" by heart – remains relatively common in parts of the serviced office industry.
I can't begin to count the number of clients we've given a 'home' to at our various office business centres over the years because they've been stung by a sharp offer elsewhere. An offer that seems too good to be true generally is, and for good reason. The trouble is, we all like to think we're getting a bargain and, with many services - managed offices suites and meeting rooms included, it can be difficult to compare like with like. For example, some companies like to quote meeting room rates at 'delegate rates'. Others, like us, tend to charge by the room and by the hour. Nevertheless, we are happy to provide a delegate rate if it makes it easier for a new client to compare prices or simply to budget better.
The UK is not out of recession yet, although a sluggish recovery appears to be underway. The lesson for us all, no matter what we are buying, is yes, do shop around but also ask bold questions up front about transparent pricing. The question "What am I actually going to pay per month?" should elicit a clean, clear response – and a figure – not a lot of mumbling about "well it all depends...." If that's the answer you get, there's your warning sign. At Harvard Managed Offices we make a point of offering long-term sustainable pricing that's also transparent. It makes life simple for us and it also makes life a great deal simpler and more affordable for our clients.
Philip Parris,
Chairman, Harvard Managed Offices
01 August 2011
