The location of your business speaks volumes to your clients

As your client steps out of their car, walks across your parking lot, travels through the building to your suite, and arrives at your door that client has been forming an impression of you and your business based solely on their surroundings. During every step toward your door, the client has been judging your business and before you are able to greet them they have made their first impression. Your office is the first indication of your success and is truly a reflection of you and your business.

Much like the car you drive or the clothing you wear, your office can create a lasting impression of your business. In selecting your office, you should first take into consideration the image that you are aspiring to portray and then select a location and building that match it.

Just as important as the type of building you choose is the area of town you locate in. For example, if you run a prestigious law firm you will not want to subject your clients and staff to less-than-safe areas of town and should locate your practice close to executive housing or within walking distance to courthouses or other law firms. However, if you are a trendy advertising firm you may choose a side street downtown near the river to match your firm's creativity.

The type of building in which you should be located also says a lot about your business. In the office world we determine the type of building by its "class." The highest class is "A" and it is comprised of the top-of-the-line building, which are steel framed, over three stories, and elevator-served. Multi-tenant buildings that are well maintained and are in the best locations. They are usually occupied by major law firms, high-end brokerage firms, corporate office users and other image-conscious industries.

Class B and C are also multi-tenant buildings but are usually older and not as well located as class A offices. They usually offer at least a 15-percent discount in rent from Class A buildings and have fewer amenities. These types of buildings are usually occupied by back-office users, such as processors, government offices and billing companies, who are more sensitive to price and may not have clients coming to visit on-site or their clients appreciate them not spending too much money on their office. One example is an engineering firm who would like clients and contractors to know they are value-driven.

Another type of building is garden office which is comprised of buildings under 10,000 square feet and is usually located within an office park. A few examples are Ribeiro's complex at the corner of South McCarran and Talbot or Tanamera's office park at Double R and Professional Circle. These buildings usually offer convenience, allow for a firm's own identity and are usually dominated by medical professionals and service companies who would like to offer convenience with parking right off the front door to clients. Firms selecting these locations include insurance providers and mortgage companies.

In the blink of an eye your clients, potential employees and vendors make an impression about you. What are they thinking as they drive to your building, park in your parking lot, use your elevator and finally greet you at your office? What do you want your office to say about you? Or better question, what do you want it to say about your business?

Tim R. Ruffin and and Melissa J. Molyneaux work with the Colliers International Northern Nevada Office Properties Group. Contact them at 823-9666 or through www.nevadaoffice.com.