How I Evaluate a Commercial Property
Seven areas that connect your goals with the building and the numbers.
“A useful property review starts with your goals. I use these seven areas to organize the questions about fit, costs, income, and future use.”
1. Location and access. How will employees, customers, deliveries, and service vehicles reach and use the site?
2. Physical condition. What do the roof, paving, drainage, and structure need us to investigate? Identify relevant records and specialist inspections.
3. Leases and income. What do the leases say about rent, expenses, options, and responsibilities? Compare the documents with the advertised financials.
4. Building systems. What is known about equipment condition, controls, and electrical service? What needs confirmation for the intended use?
5. Permitted use. Identify zoning, access, parking, and storage questions to review with the relevant authorities and specialists.
6. Operating costs. Review available expense records and identify assumptions about future taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance.
7. Future plans. How could the property support growth or a change of use? What approvals, costs, or constraints would affect that plan?
We can use these areas to structure a conversation about your property and the next questions to resolve.
