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Why the right-sized warehouse can still be the wrong one

It passed every test on the floor plan. Then the first delivery truck couldn't reach the roller door. 4 access checks to make before you buy or lease a warehouse in Truganina.

Size gets you through the door. Access decides whether you can do business from it. Before you commit to any warehouse in Truganina, walk back outside and check four things: can your truck get through the entrance, can it reach your unit and unload, where will it stop, and will it block another business while it's there? If you can't answer all four with confidence, you're not ready to sign.

A floor plan tells you the size. It doesn't tell you whether the property works for your day.

Why access matters more than floor space

In estates and strata complexes across Truganina, Derrimut and Laverton, units of a similar size can have very different access. One has a straight run from the gate to the roller door. Another sits at the end of a tight shared driveway, where a rigid truck has to reverse in around parked cars.

If your business depends on deliveries, access isn't a detail. It decides whether the warehouse works at all.

Watch: the 60-second access check

The 4-point access check

1
Can your truck get through the entrance?Look at the estate entrance and any gates, not just the unit. Check the gate width, whether it stays open during business hours, whether your truck can turn in from the street in one movement, and any height limits such as boom gates or awnings.
2
Can it reach your unit and unload?Follow the path your truck would take from the gate to your roller door. Check the shared driveway width, whether cars park along it, the space in front of your door to line up straight, and the door's height and width against what you load.
3
Where will it stop?A truck needs somewhere to sit while it's loaded or unloaded. Is there a loading area in front of the unit, will it stand on a common driveway, and are there estate rules on loading times?
4
Will it block another business?In a shared complex, a truck at your door can block your neighbours. That leads to complaints, owners' corporation issues and, over time, a real problem for your business. Ask how other occupants handle deliveries, and look at how the estate is used on a weekday.

Bring your vehicle, or its dimensions

The best test is simple: inspect with the vehicle you actually use. If you can't, bring its length, width and height, and the turning space it needs. Your driver will know these better than anyone.

Delivery vehicles range from small vans to large rigid trucks and semi-trailers, and a unit that suits one may not suit another. Check for the largest vehicle that will visit, not the one you drive yourself.

Access is half the outside check. The other half is location: how far your customers, suppliers and team are from the unit. See what a warehouse inspection won't show you about location.

Questions to ask at the inspection

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Largest vehicleWhat is the largest vehicle that regularly accesses the estate?
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Estate rulesAre there owners' corporation rules on loading times or truck parking?
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Shared drivewayIs the driveway shared, and with how many units?
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Site planCan I see the site plan showing driveways and turning areas?
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Past problemsHas any current occupant had access problems?

Common questions

1
What should I check outside when inspecting a warehouse?Check that your delivery vehicle can get through the entrance, reach your roller door, stop and unload without blocking other businesses. Also check height limits, driveway width and the loading space in front of the unit.
2
How do I know if a truck can access a warehouse?The most reliable way is to drive your actual vehicle in at the inspection. If that isn't possible, compare your vehicle's length, height and turning needs with the gate width, driveway width, roller door size and loading area.
3
Does a container-height roller door mean any truck can unload?No. The door may be tall enough, but the truck still needs a clear path and enough space to line up with it. Always check the approach and loading area as well as the door.

Looking for a warehouse in Melbourne's west?

We only sell and lease industrial property, so we check access on every unit we list. See the warehouses available now in Truganina and Melbourne's west, or tell us what your business needs to do inside and outside the building and we'll shortlist the units that actually work for your vehicles.

Manny Singh
Manny Singh
Director (OIEC), Fairmont Property Group

Fairmont only sells and leases industrial property across Melbourne's western corridor and Geelong. That focus is deliberate. It means we know the buyers who are active right now and what they are prepared to pay.

Free Market Report

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