We’ve heard it said that both true love, and the devil, are in the details…well, for our purposes, you should add successful site selection to that list. You see it’s the details that can really sink a site and possibly break your heart, so it makes sense to pay attention to them.

What kind of details? Well…lots of things actually; take signs for example. If, in your travels you notice the fascia signs on the newer businesses in an area are vastly different from the signs on the older businesses, chances are that the there may have been recent revisions to the area's building codes where it applies to signage. Because this can eventually have an effect on the final cost of your signage package, you'll need to take this into consideration when weighing a site in this area.

We're not suggesting that you ignore an area because it has stringent building codes, but it makes sense to identify it and be prepared for it. You don't want to eventually find yourself where you finally have building permits in hand, and can't afford to build your business.

It's the small things like this that can make a big difference. You will be surprised what can eventually affect your construction budget, so do your best not to go wrapping your arms around the first site that you see and call it home ("Love at First Site"). You'll be in a better position to make an educated decision when you discover multiple opportunities in given area.

Drive the residential streets

As you gather your data, drive through some of the residential neighborhoods. Look for indications that will tell you the basic character of who lives there. This should be no different than if you were shopping for a new home (Which, if you think about it, you are). Look for details that suggest a certain pride in ownership (i.e., well-maintained landscaping, recent remodeling, etc). Stuff like swing sets, toys in the yard and basketball hoops over the garage, suggests that young families live there.

Is an area in transition and in the process of building back up? If it has older style “row homes” or brownstone-type houses, pay attention to the front doors. One of the first things that a new urban home owner does is replace their front door.

 

As I said ...DETAILS

Stop by the local supermarkets

Since they stock their merchandise in response to their customer’s demands, it makes sense to check what they are selling. Take a look at the baby aisle. If it’s extremely well-stocked, chances are that there is a big demand because of a growing population. Similarly, if the meat section has a large amount of “family packs” there probably a fairly large amount of families in the trade area. Up-market offerings (such as butcher shops, fish mongers, etc.) suggest a more up-scale clientele.

Think of walking the aisles of a supermarket as the poor man’s demographics, for the most part, it will give you a good quick pulse of the neighborhood.

Identify possible impediments
to vehicular and/or walking traffic

Take notice of any psychological trade barriers or physical trade barriers. A psychological trade barrier is anything that may sway potential customers from visiting or even passing by the area (i.e.; economically challenged areas, commercial “dead zones”, crossing a heavily traveled roadway, etc).

A Physical trade barrier is just like the name suggests…rivers, interstates, large parks or recreations areas, basically anything that people and or vehicles can’t pass over easily. These do have an impact on potential business and can cut your area’s demographic population in half.

 

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