Location, location, location! It’s so important that we had to say it three times. If you’re looking for a commercial rental, you’re automatically tasked with finding the right home for your small business, and that’s no small task.
At Bluewater Properties, we enjoy this challenge — because there’s always a solution! Location is one of the most crucial components to consider for your rental. Here are a few reasons why:
- Budget. The start of this conversation usually revolves around budget. What can your business afford? It can be tempting to type your budget parameters into an online search engine and try to comb through rental listings in your area of interest. This approach can be discouraging because there is always more than meets the eye! Look at determining budget as the first step. You may have your heart set on a specific neighborhood or town, but your budget may require you to revise. Don’t look at this as a deal-breaker. There are ways to get creative, there are compromises that can be made, and there is a great location to be found within your budget.
- Proximity to customer base. You know the demographic of your business. Research the neighborhoods in your desired location to discover more about the current businesses that exist there, as well as the age of the people who tend to live there. Ask yourself: “Would my small business be a good fit here?” It doesn’t hurt to visit the neighborhood in person, either. In fact, we recommend it! Take a walk around, get a feel for its atmosphere, and get a better understanding of what you could expect as a renter.
- Walkability and drivability. What surrounds the rentals that you are interested in? Are there sidewalks? Is there a parking lot, or at least parking options? Maybe you’re looking for a more secluded area to rent — are those rentals far enough away from the hustle and bustle? It’s important to know how your customers will have access to your rental space and what sort of amenities (like parking spots and paved sidewalks) will be available, if that matters to you.
- Visibility. This idea harkens back to our previous point: how visible will your small business be? For example, if you have a clothing store, a storefront on main street would provide you with better visibility than a space that’s tucked away in an industrial area of town. Visibility could also be as simple as providing suitable space for proper signage. You want your customers to clearly see where you are located as they approach. You don’t want to end up with a space that makes this difficult to achieve!
Let’s find a location that works for your goals. Talk to Bluewater Properties today!
