How often have you heard that homes sell quicker or are valued higher when they have curb appeal? We hear it all the time! Did you know that the same can be true for your business? Depending on the type of service you offer, curb appeal can play a vital role in enticing customers to enter. This is especially true for retail and hospitality type businesses. It takes 7 seconds for someone to make a first impression. According to a 2011 survey by Morpace, a market research and consulting firm, 95% of consumers said, stores’ external appearance influences their decisions about where to shop and that more than two-thirds of consumers say they have avoided a place of business based on its external appearance. Would you rather stay at a hotel that has weeds growing out front, the parking lot has cracks and broken asphalt, and the lobby is outdated or the hotel that has beautiful landscaping and the appearance looks fairly new? Regardless of the customer service or cleanliness of rooms, you most likely would want to stay at the hotel that has beautiful landscaping and looks fairly new, right?
For some businesses, a fresh coat of paint, adding a few potted flowers and a new sign is all it takes to make it more appealing. Depending on the image you would like to set for your customers, a complete makeover might be in order. Beyond landscaping, there are various ways that you can enhance the appearance of your business. Fortunately today, you can find brick and block in various shapes, sizes, colors, textures and materials. Using a mix of materials is often common. If your building needs a little more, here are various materials that are often used to create a fresh look:
BRICK can create a more dramatic change and give your business a fresh look. You can find brick and block in various shapes, sizes, colors, textures and materials. Belden has a great website that shows brick and block in various colors and sizes, as well as, a photo gallery of completed projects for ideas. With all the variations available it makes it easy to create patterns and texture for your building.
METAL SIDING can offer a very different look than brick. It can create more of a hi-tech appearance. There are various types of metal siding, such as ribbed panels, sandwich panels (horizontal and vertical) or weather screens.
GLASS is perfect for retail or storefront businesses. Glass can provide a modern look. You’ll often see glass in businesses located in downtown areas, using a Storefront or Curtain Wall system. Just like brick and metal siding, glass has several variations, such as clear, tinted, or reflective.
CEMENT BOARD OR WOOD SIDING are other ways to enhance the exterior look of your building. Cement Board and Wood Siding are also available in an assortment of colors and varieties.
EIFS stands for Exterior Insulation and Finish System. EIFS is a non-load bearing exterior wall cladding system. It comes in a large selection of colors, textures, and designs. The appearance of EIFS is similar to stucco.
Each of these materials has advantages and disadvantages and range in cost. They can also be combined in many different ways on the building. It is always good to check with your local planning department to know what is and isn’t allowed. Your local municipality may determine what materials and colors are allowed and can limit the use of various materials. For example, the City of Dexter where our office is located limits the amount of EIFS on the building and requires a minimum amount of glass depending on the project location within the City.
Step out front of your building and look around as if you are the customer. What do you see? Survey your customers to find out their first impressions since they are who you need to impress. Decide for yourself what kind of corporate image you would like to project. Whether you’re just wanting shade and shelter as inexpensively as possible, trying to make a bold corporate statement or are in between, there are plenty of materials and ways that can help you enhance your business’ curb appeal. There is an old saying that “you have to spend money to make money.” In this case, your return on investment can outweigh the upfront costs of your renovations.
Do you need money to spend money to make money? Don't ever borrow money unless your business will see ROI from the loan. But if you do see a return on investing in your business, whether it is a make over, expansion, equipment, marketing or more, let CPS Business Loans help.
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