The Right Commercial Real Estate for You
What to consider when you're looking for commercial space.
You probably don’t have unlimited time available to choose a business space, so you need to make the search process as efficient as possible. This means you’ll want to focus on the space that meets your highest priorities. Don’t waste time on places that are overpriced, too small, or in second-rate locations. Follow these tips on how to ask the right questions and look in the right places for any space you’re seriously considering.
1. Come prepared. Make an appointment with the landlord’s broker and come equipped with a street map, notebook, pen or pencil (or your laptop or handheld computer), pocket calculator, tape measure (to make sure your square footage computations match those of the landlord and to check if your furniture or equipment will fit), graph paper, and a digital camera.
2. Evaluate the outward appearance. Look carefully at the impression the building will make on your customers and clients. If it looks shabby to you, it will look shabby to others, though appearances don't count in some businesses. For example, customers won’t expect a salvage yard to be spic and span -- they’ll be delighted if the yard has what they want, no matter what pile it’s found under.
3. Check for defects. Watch for obvious problems such as loose steps, torn carpet, missing floor tiles, or light fixtures that don’t work. Defects that you can easily remove, fix, or cover are less important than those that are expensive to repair or over which you have no control, such as a poor roof.
4. Evaluate security. Think about how secure the space is in view of the crime history of the neighborhood and the likelihood that your business will be a target. Make sure the doors and locks are in good shape and sturdy enough to deter would-be intruders. Visit a potential site at different times of the day and evening. Is there adequate street and other lighting? Are there any other business establishments open in the evening? Is it going to be safe in the evening if you or your employees are working late?
|
