17/04/2026
Now vs. Later
Do you want to see yourself going through this? Starting your search early gives you more choices, better deals, and time to plan. Waiting until the last minute might leave you scrambling, paying more, or settling for less.
This is a story about "now" and "later."
Many times, tenants want to wait for the best moment to get the best price, the best space, and the most favourable terms. However, all of these require planning, and it takes time to work on them. Having served more than 250 companies in the CBD, I’ve noticed a very interesting trend: the early bird catches the worm. Let me share with you the experience of relocating an MNC that started early, compared to another company that waited until the very last minute.
There was a company looking for a fitted, sea view office with lobby frontage.
We couldn’t find something they liked right away. Their requirements were highly sought after by many tenants, and due to space limitations, they ended up in a price competition on the LOI (Letter of Intent) they submitted. Time was running out, and if they didn’t make a decision, they would have had to pay holdover rent for their current space. Plus, with the festive season approaching, there would be no workers available, causing further delays in reinstatement work.
Now, compare this to another tenant whose lease was expiring in May the following year. They started talking to me in February of this year. Wow, many of us might think that’s such a long runway—who needs more than a year to find a space? But in my experience, the process takes time, and rather than waiting for the perfect moment, why not plan ahead and be ready for the best moment to come? And you know what? This planning helped them secure an amazing deal on 15,000 square feet of space below the market rate. Why? There was a moment when the landlord had to let go of the space and asked me who had been viewing it and who was closest to their offer. You see! It’s like the Chinese saying: the right time, the right place, and the right tenant. But it didn’t happen by chance—it was because we started the search early. This gave us ample time to plan, fit out the premises, and establish a connection with the building management. Do you know how much they would have lost if they had waited until the last minute?
- The tenant's boss was traveling frequently, making him hard to reach.
- The team was clearing leave at the end of the year.
- The landlord, who was overseas, had to deal with natural disasters, causing delays in communication.
- The tenant could continue their trade shows and business travel plans without interruption.
- When the tenant took over the premises, they were able to start work immediately.
- They completed the fit-out early and moved in ahead of schedule.
- They avoided any holdover period on their current lease.
- The team’s morale and happiness increased.
Which tenant would you want to be?