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SEARCHFor one Florida couple, a tough economy opened up the opportunity to purchase their own commercial property.
For one Florida couple, a tough economy opened up the opportunity to purchase their own commercial property.
Although times are tough, there can be a silver lining. This may be the
perfect time to buy your own building, says Mike Van den Abbeel, who
recently purchased the building that houses his Mosaic Hair Studio in
Orlando, Florida. Property prices are down, sellers are motivated and,
with proper due diligence and/or creative financing, it can happen.
Van
den Abbeel and his wife Kiri Wollheim were both stylists with more than
10 years of experience. Before they bought their building, Van den
Abbeel had been booth-renting and Wollheim was at a commission salon.
"We had been looking to start our own salon but finding a unique retail
site was difficult-we didn't want a strip-mall location," Van den
Abbeel says. The building they bought wasn't for sale at the time, but
he approached the owner anyway and started a conversation conveying
their interest. "That conversation lasted almost two years," Van den
Abbeel says. "In the end, we agreed to owner financing with the old
owner still being allowed to work until he retires."
The sale
price for the space was $215,000, the couple put down $25,000 and
renovations cost another $40,000. They are members of a barter company,
so they were able to buy renovation materials on trade.
Renovations
can be stressful-Van den Abbeel recommends future owners to remember
the "five Ps": Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance. "We lined up a
great contractor, friends and family to get the job done," he says.
"Remember, it will always cost more and take more time than you think."
Owners: Mike Van den Abbeel and Kiri Wollheim
Location: Orlando, Florida
Square footage: 1,079
Cost per square footage: Building sale price was $215,000 bought in 2004 = $200 per sq. ft.
Age of building: 79 years
Number of styling stations: 3
Estimated monthly savings by owning: "It's difficult to calculate since I haven't shopped for retail space, but around $1,000 to $2,000 per month," Van den Abbeel says.
Not
everything has been easy, though, he says. Monthly maintenance and
repairs can take up time and be costly. "You need more and better
insurance than if you just rented," he says, "especially liability and
building insurance." And, he says, dealing with local government can be
a hassle, especially if it involves a renovation.
Van den
Abbeel and Wollheim don't regret it for a second, though. The mortgage
on the salon is cheaper than what rent would be for a similar building.
Also, the mortgage does not go up incrementally year after year; it's a
fixed cost. "There are no building maintenance fees that landlords add
on in addition to monthly rent," he says, "which can sometimes be
almost as much as half the rent."
And the investment puts the
couple on a solid course for their future. "We are trying to purchase
the property next door, giving us the ability to build a larger salon
with ample parking and more stations," he says. "Financing will be made
easier because we now have equity in our building. Also, small local
banks like to work with owners/occupiers of commercial property."
Share one of your best salon practices by contacting Alison Shipley at ashipley@vancepublishing.com.
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