Confirm the intended use and existing information.
Start with the address, the proposed use and the operational requirements. Ask for an existing floor plan, available services drawings, the fitout guide and the landlord’s approval process. Confirm the relevant planning and certification pathway with the appropriate advisers before relying on the intended use.
Walk the tenancy with a brief that describes how people, stock, deliveries and waste will move. Look at entry levels, doorways, back-of-house access and the route for large items of equipment.
Check which services the site can support.
A bare shell may appear ready to fit out, yet the supply points, capacity or routes may limit your proposal. Identify power, ventilation, drainage and equipment requirements early. For hospitality, agree who investigates any exhaust, plumbing and building services constraints. Obtain specialist confirmation where needed.
Record what the landlord provides and where each tenancy trade takes over. Ask for written clarification of proposed landlord works, the handover condition and whether operating systems or services will be available for commissioning.
Build the programme backwards from opening.
List the decisions, approvals and deliveries that must happen before work can begin. Set dates for tenancy access, site measures, long-lead equipment, inspections, commissioning and operator setup. Consider how each dependency affects the lease start and opening target.
A preconstruction review can turn the walkthrough into a list of assumptions, questions and priorities. That gives you a clearer basis for deciding whether the tenancy suits the business.