What is almost as important as a building’s amenities and good neighbors? When you are ready to look at a medical office rental, there are some obvious pitfalls to avoid. That said, there are also plenty of advantages you can find even in buildings where no other physicians have set up shop yet.
- The right location. The American Academy of Family Physicians reminds those tasked with the search for a medical office rental that patients have listed a “convenient location” as being among the top five search criteria when choosing a primary care physician. Having retail locations and pharmacies nearby is a plus. Having numerous other primary care physicians close by is a distinct minus. In addition, did you know that having a hospital close at hand may be a boon for the physician in the office but that patients generally do not like this type of location?
- Plenty of parking. As a general rule of thumb, look for office rentals that allot you six parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of rented office space. While you can make do with fewer spaces, remember that your practice will lose patients who have to walk too far to reach your location.
- Exclusivity clause. If you are thinking of relocating a successful practice, you may be able to negotiate an exclusivity clause with the building owner. This clause ensures that for a predefined period of time you are going to be the only primary care physician with an office in the building. Having this type of clause allows your practice to firmly take root at the now location before the competition moves in.
- Services provided by the landlord. X-ray machines use quite a bit of electricity. ENTtoday notes that some landlords agree to furnish your office with electricity even if you have some high-use machines in daily use. Others will ask for a separate agreement that requires you to pay for excessive use of electricity. The more services the landlord provides, the more money you can free up to improve the office space and grow your patient base.
- Improvement allowance. Setting up a medical office in a general office space calls for a few improvements. The majority of landlords offer tenants an allowance per square foot. While these funds will not cover all of the improvements you make to the space, they will help you stretch your practice budget.
The expert tenant representatives at OfficeFinder know that the right medical office rental can mean the difference between a thriving and a struggling medical practice. Contact us today to discuss your office needs and to find out how we can assist you with finding the right property and negotiating a great lease.