My shop sits on a busy road. Is the building worth more than the business?
On a busy road, the building often carries a big share of what you'd get. That's not a knock on your business. It means you have two things to sell, and you can price and sell them together or apart.
If this sounds like youCars go by your bays all day. You've started to wonder if the corner you bought years ago is worth more than everything you built inside it.
What you can do.
Sell the shop and the building together
One sale, one closing, and the buyer keeps the shop running where customers already find it.
Sell the building, keep or close the business
You take the real estate value now and decide what happens to the shop on your own timeline.
Keep the building and sell the business
You become the landlord and collect rent from the new owner.
What to watch for.
- Get a separate number for the building and for the business, so one doesn't hide the other.
- Ask a buyer how they see the road: traffic, visibility and how easy it is to pull in.
- Know your zoning before anyone else tells you what the lot is "really" for.
Owner to owner, and it stays private.
Lotus looks for auto buildings on main roads in Massachusetts and Connecticut. We'll talk about the building and the business together or apart, whichever fits you, and we keep the shop open.
James StephensonLotus, Massachusetts and Connecticut
Quick answers.
Does traffic really change what my building is worth?
Usually, yes. A spot people pass every day is easier to fill with customers, and buyers know it.
Can I sell just the building?
Yes. Plenty of owners sell the real estate and keep running the shop, or sell both at different times.
Who sets the value?
An appraiser and a real estate pro can give you numbers. Your CPA can help you see what you keep after the sale.
Thinking about what comes next for your shop or building?
Tell James a little about it. Only James reads it, and the conversation stays private. No pressure, no broker and no mailing list.