How important is building facade when renting space?

[Nicole]

A question for those of you who rent a bodywork space: How important do you think the outward appearance of the building you rent in is to your clients?

I have an opportunity to rent a space part time in a studio with another bodyworker and an acupuncturist. The problem is, the building looks pretty bad on the outside. It's an old brick building and you can tell it was once a nice place, but it's really run down now and there is grafitti on the sign outside.

I don't personally have a big issue with this, but I am wondering how clients may react. IMO it isn't a very therapeutic and soothing start to a massage session to come to a building that looks straight out of a horror movie.

So, any thoughts? I know the focus should be on the abstract space I create for my clients during a session, but I think there is something to be said for the appearance/vibe of the tangible space as well.

 

[mireliz]

How important is building facade when renting space?

The problem is, the building looks pretty bad on the outside. It's an old brick building and you can tell it was once a nice place, but it's really run down now and there is grafitti on the sign outside.

...a building that looks straight out of a horror movie.

...I think there is something to be said for the appearance/vibe of the tangible space as well.

I agree... clients need to feel like they are in a safe evironment. If your office seems to be in a "bad neighborhood"... I do believe that will affect your clients and how your business is perceived.
Is there any way that the other bodyworker, acupuncturist and yourself could make an agreement with the owner of the property that you all could paint it if he supplies the paint? This would, after all, spruce up his property at what might be very little cost to himself.

 

[smills0205]

I would guess painting would not be an option. I don't think the building owner would let a bunch of non professionals paint the brick exterior of what is considered to be a "historic" building.

 

[Val]

I was worried about the exact same issue a little over a year ago. I made my space nice. I lost no clients because of moving. One person said "Oh my gosh, this office doesn't even look like it belongs in the building." Another said "people come to you because of your massage." (This from the person who exclaimed how nice my previous space was.)
This is only my experience. I can't say for sure how important it is. Hopefully you'll get more related responses and can weigh the evidence.

I'd also; again, like to thank the people who encouraged me to go ahead and move. ("Again" because I think my last post saying thank you was deleted; was in Admin. section)

 

[Kaio j]

My first office was in a rented space at the back of a building housing an exercise salon [that's what the owner called it] and herbal shop in the front 1/2. My clients could reach my office space through the front of the building while it was open [9A-4:30P] but after that they had to come around to the back of the building and come through the alley entrance.... lovingly referred to by all as "The Black Hole fo Calcutta". A dark, dank entry way with white shower curtains hanging on ropes to hide the debris from her remodel of the front of the building, with just enough light to see how not to trip down the 4 stairs to the walkway into my office space. It was an atrocious way to enter my practice, BUT, my clients always referred to stepping into the office from the alley entrance as "going through hell to get to heaven" so I think they took the circumstances okay.

If your clients understand the reason for the building looking like it does, and they keep coming back to you, just do what you can to ensure their safety and leave the rest to your good skills and talents to keep them returning to you.

 

[Jordan]

I have an opportunity to rent a space part time in a studio with another bodyworker and an acupuncturist. The problem is, the building looks pretty bad on the outside. It's an old brick building and you can tell it was once a nice place, but it's really run down now and there is grafitti on the sign outside.

I don't personally have a big issue with this, but I am wondering how clients may react. IMO it isn't a very therapeutic and soothing start to a massage session to come to a building that looks straight out of a horror movie.

I think if you are taking clients with you, it won't be as much of a problem as getting brand new clients (if you are starting out fresh, which I think you maybe are. Please correct me if I am wrong.)

However, I would ask the acu and bodyworker what their situation is for getting clients, where they come from & trying to figure out how their practices are doing.

The one thing that is on your side, is the whole concept of going through bad to get to good. I just heard a man speaking this weekend from Australia (part of my CEU's). He's an herbalist. When his daughter was younger... and obviously so was he *winks*, he heard of a "taiwanese acupuncturist/herbalist" who was old and "beyond years" who could fix most anything. His daughter had gotten ill and allopathic meds weren't helping. So, he sought out the old sage and found he owned an asian grocery and was practicing out of the back of the store. When he got to the back of the store, he was given a piece of paper with a number on it. There, among all of the people sitting on their little chairs, they talked amongst themselves and when someone would come out and call "next" in a foreign language, they had figured out by the numbers on the papers who should go... and would push the next one toward the door. About three hours later the Australian man came out with a concotion of herbs and was told it would take three days for the daughter to get well from something that had been plaguing her for a month. Sure enough... the stuff worked.

So, sometimes, I think people see things like this and when it all comes down to it, it doesn't matter where you are. Once they know you are good they will come.

Just a booster thought.

 

[Proffesor Jelskraft]

I see it very black & white: is it good enough for YOU? If it is, I know you can make it work. If you are compromising your standards then keep looking for another opportunity.

By the way, if it is located in a designated historic area, there are probably ways to put some pressure on the building owner to spruce it up. I work very near the Herieforum.xxxe Center of Gilbert - the Historic District. There are so many rules & regs because of its designation, all designed to keep up a certain standard & preserve the look & feel of a time honored space. There's a committee & everything. Maybe do a little research into it?

Jill/Sagetherapist

 

[Ajay]

my first office was in a "historic" building. The outside was not attended to, so much that the local yokels (drunks!) began hanging out, and hitting my clients up for $. No matter how nice I had made it inside, how comforting, they knew they had to go past the gauntlet again when leaving. The police were of no help, either. GRRR. Anyway, I eventually moved to a small shopping strip right on the main drag. Location has been EVERYthing for my business. The lawn is kept nice, the parking lot is well lit & pretty. If where youre at suits YOU, and your clients dont mind, then keep at it. But, could you be losing potential new clientell?

 

[Suz123]

i'm with bodymovers on this one. your space WILL make a difference to your clients ~ even if it is only the outside. especially if you're trying to build new clientele. as much as you can say they'll look past it, you'll never really know when a client doesn't choose to come back because of the location/look of the building and that would suck knowing you're losing business because of it. if you think you can make it work, go for it. if, like sagetherapist says, you feel like you'd be compromising your standards....keep looking for a new opportunity.

is the graffiti something that can be cleaned up? a lot of times people understand "historic" buildings. they know that they are old and have "character". they may not be as beautiful as other buildings but there isn't anything wrong with that. what i'd be concerned about most is that the building is safe, it's clean, it's taken care of and that no one has danger of something happening to them while entering or exiting the building. i'd be concerned about the graffiti as well but if it's something that can be cleaned up and the building is in an otherwise nice area, consider it.

 

[Anon]

Exciting news!!! (For me at least). I've decided to go ahead and rent the space. I saw it on the inside for the first time yesterday and it is absolutely beautiful. Spacious, airy reception area with lots of natural light, large modern bathroom nearby, and the room I will be renting is HUGE, elegantly decorated, 15 foot ceilings with giant windows and lots of closet and storage space. There is another MT that rents a room down the hall.

The landlord is also the building owner and lives on the 2nd floor with her family. She is an acupuncturist and seems excited that I also practice shiatsu in addition to massage. The best part is that she is willing to work with the fact that I have a limited income for rent and am just starting out. I will rent 1 day a week on the weekends for $100 with a month to month agreement.

On the building's condition: She wants to fix up the outside but her husband would like to keep it as is to avoid drawing unwanted attention to it. (It isn't in a "bad"/unsafe neighborhood, but it would stand out if it was really fixed up).

The whole thing is so beautiful inside, it's like entering another world. I get a really good vibe about the place, and it's a great deal considering I'm not locked into anything long term and the rate is reasonable. Plus, it's really close to where I live and I could bike there!

 

[Vegas Jimmy]

Great! Then hopefully at least the graffitti can be cleaned up. It sounds really nice inside.

 

[sydney m]

So happy for you Gessika!