The Ghost of Business Past

By Billy Aldridge

As the old saying goes, “One man’s problem is another man’s opportunity.”  That adage has never been truer than it is today, when one considers the glut of office and retail space that has become available due to businesses shutting their doors. While a weak economy can sound the death knell to a number of ventures, there are those who look to capitalize on another’s misfortune by scooping up office and retail space on the cheap.

Ask any commercial realtor or property owner and they will tell you that tenancy for the past few years has been at a historic low.  So too are rents.  Where once office buildings and strip malls were filled nearly to capacity, any drive around town will show you numerous “ For Sale,” “For Rent” and “Space to Lease” signs.  While you may be looking to start a new venture or expand an existing one, realize that while you might be able to rent space on the cheap, there are a few things you need to check out before you sign on the dotted line.

In the first place, while you may inherit a prime location to run your operation due to a vacancy, you may also wind up inheriting your fair share of electrical and plumbing problems that were either ignored or jury rigged by the previous tenant or landlord.  A quick inspection can tell you whether systems are up to snuff, or if you are about to buy into someone else’s nightmare.

Areas to check include:

A picture of antiquated Water Heaters (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     1.      Are there any signs of leaks in the roof or walls? Wet spots, discoloration and any indication of mold could be signs that water has or is finding its way into the structure.

     2.      When you turn on the hot water, how long does it take for the water to get hot and how hot is the water coming out of taps.  If the water seems to take an inordinate amount of time to heat up or comes out lukewarm at best, this indicates a compromised water heater.

     3.      Do sinks, drains and toilets empty quickly and completely?  Or does the water stand there awhile before it drains?  While this sounds like a simple enough problem to overcome, the last thing you want to do is have your sink back up during your grand opening.

     4.      When you turn on the tap, is the water pressure outstanding, average, or inadequate? Older buildings have older pipes which over time tend to clog with mineral accretions that reduce the effective flow of water.  The only solution in many cases is to re-pipe.

      5.      Are toilets low or high efficiency models?  In structures built before 1990, the toilet can use twice the amount of water every time it is flushed.  If you have a lot of foot traffic, this could add up to real money.

      6.      Other than plumbing, you also need to test every electrical fixture, socket and circuit to make sure that there are no electrical issues that need to be addressed. 

The bottom line is that by taking an hour or so to thoroughly inspect a property that you are considering can save you weeks of problems once you have taken possession.  After all, there are reasons other than financial that cause a business to close or relocate.  Just make sure that the ghost of business past doesn’t come to haunt you in your latest venture.

Billy Aldridge is one of the Doctors of Plumbology with Aldridge and Sons Plumbing.  To find even more helpful hints and how-to videos, visit their site at http://plumbers-jacksonville-fl.com