Prepare Your Commercial Building to Go On the Market

Your commercial building is a large investment. So when you sell it, you'll certainly want to get as much as you can for it. But while most homeowners understand the value of staging their homes for sale, many commercial owners aren't sure what the best staging moves are.

If you are in this position, try these tips to make your commercial structure as appealing as possible to the highest bidder.

Make it Shine

To stage your building, first, give it a thorough cleaning from top to bottom. This is one of the easiest and least expensive steps you can take.

For the best results, hire an outside cleaning service if possible. These professionals will know the best tricks and have the right tools to shine the floors, clean walls, and ceilings, get rid of stains, clean the windows, and make built-in furnishings look nicer. Then, add curb appeal and boost the color and vibrancy of any landscaping.

Fix What You Can

Every building experiences normal wear and tear over time. While potential buyers will not buy based solely on minor repairs, these problems will give the impression that the building hasn't been cared for. So, take the time to do relatively small repairs. Fix nonfunctional lights, paint faded walls, make sure the doors open and close, ensure that there is no visible wiring, and replace damaged ceiling tiles.

You may need to take on some more serious repairs depending on their nature. Removal of any hazards (such as asbestos) will likely be obligatory. Other major repairs should be completed if you have the budget and there is a sufficient return on investment.

Emphasize the Good

What will your buyers be looking for? If you think like them, you can find ways to emphasize what they want and minimize what they don't want.

A retail location, for example, is often sold on the merits of location and heavy traffic. So, you might emphasize that good location. Spruce up and make the signage visible to approaching buyers, and encourage foot or vehicle traffic by making the routes easier and more welcoming.

A building in a hip downtown area might also benefit as you highlight eclectic architecture or the industrial-chic popular with young consumers.

If the building has limitations, perhaps due to zoning, you may want to use some staging to help buyers visualize its use. If the building is largely only fit for office usage, for example, appeal to co-working businesses and stage a sample workspace within the larger structure.

Empty It Out

Generally, an empty commercial building sells better than one that's filled with ongoing business operations. To really get the best price, you may want to clear it of as much stuff as possible. As with residential homes, commercial buyers may have difficulty visualizing their own operations if the space is too tightly tied to its current layout and usage.

If the building was a rental or if you will vacate it soon due to changes in your own business, clean it out early - even if you aren't quite ready. If you can't clear it completely, reduce the amount of unnecessary furnishings, partitions, cubicles, or storage spaces so that buyers can see the structure and its size beyond your operations.

Work with a Good Agent

Commercial property is a unique market, so you need a real estate agent who can navigate it. An agent can guide you as you prep the building, find the right price point, and determine other ways to make it attractive to buyers.