See how finding office space changes when there's no middleman. Every step, side by side.
Same goal. Two very different paths — and a £6,000 difference on a £60K deal.
| Step | Traditional Broker | Seek — Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Find spaces | 2–3 weeks of back-and-forth via account manager — shortlists by email, viewings scheduled through broker | 3-minute quiz → matched spaces within hours, directly from operators |
| See pricing | Quoted "on request" — pricing often inflated to accommodate broker commission | Live, transparent pricing on every listing. Visible without signing up. |
| Speak to operator | Through the broker — they own the relationship and control information flow | Direct. Your enquiry lands in the operator's inbox. No intermediary. |
| Site visits | Coordinated through the broker — adds 3–5 days per round of scheduling | Booked direct with the operator. Same-day in most cases. |
| Negotiation | Broker negotiates on commission — their incentive is a larger, longer deal | You negotiate directly. The operator's incentive is your long-term tenancy. |
| Fee on £60K deal | ~£6,000 | £0 |
| Total time | 6–8 weeks typical from brief to signed lease | 1–2 weeks typical. Operators respond fast when there's no broker layer. |
| Who works for you | Broker — but paid by the landlord on commission. Structural conflict of interest. | You. Operators pay Seek a flat subscription. Nothing from your deal. |
You've probably heard that using a broker is "free to tenants". It's not. Here's what's actually happening:
The broker fee isn't a line item on your invoice. It's baked into the rent you pay. The operator needs to recover that 10% somehow — and they do, over the term of your lease. On a 3-year £60K/year deal, you're effectively carrying £18,000 of embedded broker cost.
Seek operators pay a flat subscription. There's no commission to recover, so there's no invisible cost in your rent. The pricing is what it is.
These are facts from Seek's closed deals. No fabricated quotes — just outcomes.
Direct enquiry to operator. No intermediary. Deal agreed within days of first contact.
Cross-border search. Operator responded directly to enquiry — no broker coordination needed across geographies.
Larger team placed direct. Operator relationship owned from day one — no renewal going through a broker's system.
Direct isn't a marketing word. It means something specific at every stage of the search.
Your enquiry goes to the person who runs the building — not an inbox managed by a broker. They respond, you respond. No telephone game.
You book viewings with the operator. No broker scheduling layer adding 3–5 days to every decision. You go when you're ready.
Pricing on listings is live and transparent. No "quoted on request" — no number that's been inflated to make room for a 10% commission recovery.
You negotiate with the operator who will be your landlord. No broker who earns more from a longer deal or a bigger rent. The incentives are aligned with yours.
Tell us your team size, location, and move-in window. We match you with operators whose spaces fit. No broker, no fees.
Find my office — no broker →Already done the maths? Calculate your broker fee savings →
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