Is your home inspection business booming? Are you ready to move from the kitchen table or den into a full-fledged office away from home? Great! But where can you find a lease that not too big, not too small, and suits your needs without breaking the bank? Here are a few tips for finding commercial space that’s just right.
Contact a Real Estate Agent Who Specializes in Commercial Properties
Probably the best first call is to a real estate agent, but not just any agent. Find one who specializes in commercial properties. They know what the market is like, where the best deals can be found and which properties might be coming available soon.
The caveat is that renting through an agent is sometimes a hassle. You might face competition for a good location. The property owner or manager might require an exhaustive qualification process with a significant lease deposit. And you might spend more time with an agent than you would cold calling property owners or managers.
Avoid Locations with More Retail Shops Than Offices
Some businesses need a busy street. A coffee shop in a weird location might not get much business. But home inspectors don’t rely on walk-up foot traffic or people driving by to drive in more customers. A retail area might look impressive, but you’ll pay a lot more for the privilege.
Instead, stick to commercial areas. They might not look as fancy as a retail strip mall. But you might get a lot more for your rental money if you skip busy streets and aim for an office park or building.
Drive Through Less Trafficked Parts of Town
Nearly every town has an area with buildings that either sit vacant for years or have a string of transient shops that filter through. Since location isn’t as important for a home inspection business, distressed office rentals might have exactly what you’re looking for.
Take a drive through underdeveloped areas and parts of town that might be a little outdated. Some vacancies have contact information in the window. Take along your phone or tablet to snap pictures of the building and the lease sign to save time on writing everything down.
A re-zoned house can give you plenty of office space to grow.
Check with the City About Re-Zoned Locations
Over time, some residential areas gradually go through a re-zoning process. Structures that once were homes turn into commercially zoned properties. Smaller houses are perfect for a small office, and they may have off-street parking, as well.
With a re-zoned house, you have amenities built in. There’s a bathroom, kitchen and at least an old bedroom or two ready for you to convert into offices and storage. And they have a quaint look that’s different from the average office building.
Think Outside the Proverbial Box
Don’t discount the possibility of taking office space in an unusual place. Some businesses rent out individual offices if they’re large on space and short on staff. You might have common privileges such as kitchen use and cleaning, as well.
You might find an old warehouse with space to rent or even a vacant mechanic’s garage. Another idea is to look in your own backyard. If you have a workshop or a large garage, could you convert it into a workspace for your home inspection business? If so, you’ll have a built-in office that’s rent-free.
One of the greatest benefits of the home inspection industry is the ability to grow as large as your motivation will take you. Maybe you prefer to take on only a few clients. Some home inspectors keep a full-time job and perform home inspections on the side. If you’ve got big dreams, you could build a company that one day needs employees. Or maybe you fit somewhere in-between.
Whatever your goals, an office away from home gives you room to think and work, and it lets you reclaim the kitchen table. With some perseverance, you’ll find an office that fits your budget and the way you like to work.
Your home inspection app should also work in your favor. If you’ve outgrown the software you’ve got or you want something that’s more streamlined and efficient, download our home inspection app for Android. If you use Apple products, find us at the App Store.