Commercial Property: Buy or Rent?

• Will the building help or hinder your growth? Take a look at how fast your company has grown and try to predict how much space you will require in the future. You do not want to be limited to the small storefront you’re in now if you’re growing fast. On the other hand, if your building has adjacent spaces filled with other tenants, you might be able to gradually grow in place by taking over neighboring leases.
  
  
• Can you pay the mortgage? Calculate whether your monthly costs would rise if you took on a mortgage. Is it much higher than the rent you were paying? If your business can't afford an increased expense, it could create cash-flow problems.
  
  
• Can you pay the down payment? Commercial building purchases may require large down payments, usually around 20%. If this payment puts your business into a cash crunch, it might be a better idea to hold off on property ownership.
  
  
• How much control do you need? You may eventually need to drastically alter your space as your company grows and discovers its own identity. You may want to, for instance, paint all the walls blue, knock down walls, or install heavy machinery that would be difficult or expensive to remove. Most landlords will not allow these sorts of alterations, especially if they are prohibited in your lease agreement. Purchasing a building will give you far more control over your own business and remove obstacles that would prevent its growth.
  
  
• Will write-offs be possible? If your business is profitable, property ownership can lessen your tax burden. You may be able to write off a portion of the building's cost each year in the form of depreciation. Another possibility is to buy the building personally and then rent it to your company, an ownership structure that has some tax advantages.
  
  
• Is a good building available? Research the market to see whether it’s a better idea to buy your existing building or find a more desirable location nearby. Keep in mind that moving and altering a new location will add to your business's costs and require advertising to let customers know where you've gone. An experienced commercial real estate agent should be able to help you with this research. 
  
  
• Are you cut out to be a landlord? Maybe you’re fed up with dealing with a landlord, but are you ready to become one? If your building has other tenants, you’ll need to deal with all sorts of problems that arise and make difficult decisions ranging from building improvements to rent increases. Do you have the time to accommodate these additional responsibilities? Do you have the managerial skills that are necessary? If not, and you still want the property, consider hiring a good property manager.
  
  
• What is its potential as an investment? Distance yourself from your business for a moment and remember that property ownership is itself an investment. You might need to sell the building in the future, which can make you money even if the business goes broke. You may, for instance, want to purchase a building that you know won’t attract that many customers, if you think the building’s value will increase enough to make up for the lack of sales.  Is the building in a thriving commercial district that’s popoular and full of tenants, or is it mostly empty? Investigate the price trends. Will you be in the location long enough for it to increase in value?

Commercial Property Condition Assessments and Inspections

All of our property condition inspections use the baseline property condition assessment process as outlined in the ASTM E-2018 Standards and InterNACHI International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties. You can specify deviations to meet your  specific needs and building type. These deviations would be mutually agreed upon and clearly stated in the inspection agreement and final report.

Inspections are generally more invasive than the PCA Property Condition Assessment Inspection outlined in the ASTM E-2018 Standards and InterNACHI International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties

The end result provides you with detailed picture of the age and condition of the major building components and how maintenance has effected its life span.

The final report will list deficiencies, repair recommendations, and a detailed report with representative photos when appropriate. Reports are computer generated and generally available 1-2 days after completion of the inspection. Al our reports are available online to client. This is convenient when more than one party in different locations need to view reports.