Looking for a private office? Start with the problems you need it to solve. This private office checklist will help you compare spaces based on your workday, from getting through the door to finishing a project without managing distractions around you.
Perhaps home offers too little privacy for client calls. Maybe you need a consistent place to focus or a professional setting where you can meet people.
At Brick & Mortar, we believe your workspace should help you take back control of your day. Here is what to look for before choosing one.
Start With Location And Parking
A nearby office gives you a home court advantage: a professional place to work that fits into the neighborhood where your day already happens.
Map the trip at the time you expect to travel. Then check parking costs, time limits, and the walk to the entrance. If clients will visit, consider their arrival too. Clear directions and convenient access help a meeting begin smoothly.
Brick & Mortar has locations in Park Ridge, Deerfield, Glen Ellyn, Libertyville, and Arlington Heights. Compare the location that suits your routine, including nearby transportation and places to take a lunch break.
Confirm Hours And Building Access
Your private office checklist should cover when you can actually use the space.
Ask whether your plan includes evenings, weekends, or 24/7 access. Confirm how entry works and what guests need to do when they arrive. Building access and staff availability are separate questions, so find out how readily support is available and what channels are available to reach it.
For example, an early call with a client in another time zone needs more than a convenient daytime address. Your access must support the hours you work.
Understand Membership Flexibility And Growth Options
Before choosing an office, clarify the agreement length, renewal process, and notice required to change or end it. Also ask about deposits, setup charges, furnishing costs, cancellation fees, or any other costly conditions attached to the advertised price for the space itself.
Next, discuss what happens if your needs change. Could you add a team member for access, shift into a smaller space, upgrade to a larger office, support distributed colleagues in other areas, or expand your presence into another location? Confirm the process and current options rather than assuming expansion will be automatic and perfectly supported.
If you already have someone you trust and complementary schedules, our guide to sharing a private office explores another arrangement. You bring the person and coordinate the schedule; Brick & Mortar provides the space.
Get A Clear List Of What Is Included
Compare the total cost of the working setup you need.
Request a written breakdown covering furniture, internet, utilities, cleaning, printing, and access to shared amenities. Ask which services have usage limits or additional charges. Then check what you would still need to purchase yourself.
Brick & Mortar’s private offices are fully furnished and include access to shared professional amenities, with flexible commitment terms. During a tour, review the details for the specific office and arrangement you are considering.
The goal is to know what your monthly payment provides before you make the decision.
Check Meeting Room Access Before You Need It
Your office may be ideal for individual work but too small for a presentation or team discussion. Meeting room access lets you choose a suitable setting for those occasions.
Ask whether meeting hours are included, how credits work, and what additional bookings cost. Also check room sizes, booking availability, guest access, and cancellation terms.
Brick & Mortar offers professional meeting spaces for client conversations and team sessions. Our article on preparing the setting for an important meeting explains why the room deserves attention before the conversation begins.
Test The Internet Against Your Actual Work
Internet belongs on every private office checklist, especially when your day depends on video calls or large file transfers. But all internet is certainly not created equal.
Ask about upload and download performance, wired connection options, and how connection problems are handled. If possible, test the connection from the office you are considering during a typical working period.
Bring your laptop and try the tools you use. A brief video call or file upload can give you more useful information than a general promise of fast Wi-Fi.
Sit At The Desk And Try The Furniture
A furnished office should support the setup you actually need. Sit in the chair, adjust it, and check whether the desk has room for your monitor, keyboard, and working materials.
The OSHA computer workstation checklist provides useful guidance on chair support, monitor positioning, and workspace adjustability. Use it to assess the setup while you are there.
Also notice lighting, screen glare, outlets, and storage. Ask what you can rearrange or bring from your existing setup. A comfortable fit is easier to judge in person than from photographs.
Ask How The Mailbox Works
If you need a business address, confirm whether mailbox service is included in your office arrangement or purchased separately.
Find out how mail and packages are received, how you are notified, and when you can collect them. If forwarding matters, ask about availability and charges. Clarify address use before updating your business materials.
Our guide to moving beyond your home address for business explains why this detail can matter for professionals working from home.
Explore Phone Booths And Shared Areas
Look beyond the office door. Phone booths may give you another option for a short call, while shared areas provide somewhere to enjoy your lunch, take a brain break, or have an informal conversation. If the space offers outdoor access, consider whether you’ll have opportunities to step outside, get some fresh air, and catch a little sunlight throughout the day.
Ask whether booths require booking, have time limits, or involve extra charges. Check whether they are regularly available when you expect to use them.
Meanwhile, notice where people gather and how sound carries toward your office. Shared amenities should support your day without making it harder to concentrate.
Finish Your Private Office Checklist With A Real Workday Test
Use your private office checklist during a tour at the hours you expect to work. Close the door and listen. Consider whether you could prepare a proposal, handle your usual calls, or concentrate on a deadline in that room.
Explain what currently interrupts your workday and ask how the space would address it. If you need uninterrupted calls, prioritize privacy. If you regularly host clients, prioritize their experience alongside your own.
Brick & Mortar helps professionals work close to home with private offices, focused workspace, and meeting rooms. Choose the setting that gives your important work the attention it needs.
Book a private office tour, explore our workspace options, or reserve a meeting room.
