How to Find the Right Location for Your New Dental Office
Posted by HJT Design
You’ve all probably heard the saying, “location, location, location” when buying or renting real estate. There’s a valid reason for that saying, especially when it comes to finding the right location for your new dental office. One of the most important aspects of starting a new dental practice is the physical location of where you will be practicing.
It’s imperative to do your homework ahead of time to ensure you choose the perfect location. One that will serve you and your patients well for many years to come.
Before settling on where to open your new dental practice, there are some important factors you’ll want to take into consideration.
Listen to the Podcast
Location
Let’s say you’re interested in building a brand-new dental office. One property is half the price, but is not in a very high traffic area. The second, more expensive location gets a lot more traffic. Which do you choose?
While some budget conscious dentists may see the less expensive option as the more attractive out of the two, it may surprise some to learn that price should never be the main criteria when choosing between multiple locations. You need to consider which property will make the best investment in terms of dental sites. The more people who view your building on a daily basis, the better it will be for long-term growth. Your building is a valuable marketing tool that should be fully utilized.
Demographics
First and foremost, you’ll need to do some research on the area’s demographics. You’ll want to determine if the area is growing and developing, or is it at a stage where this is as good as it gets? While it may seem like the perfect location right now, how will things look ten years from now? Will there be any future construction projects in the area that might affect business?
It’s important to really take the time to research where you want to establish yourself. If you’re a specialist, location might not matter as much, because specialty services rely heavily on referrals and most patients are willing to travel outside of their area for specific services. Also, if you’re an already established practice simply moving to a secondary location, the majority of your patients will likely follow you, so the area you choose isn’t quite as important as those who are starting their practice from scratch.
Accessibility
Another important factor to think about is the accessibility of the location. Make sure there are no restrictions in accessing the entrance from the main road as it may turn off potential patients if it’s a major hassle to locate or turn into your dental office parking lot.
How easy is it for patients to turn in and out? Do they have to make a U-turn in order to turn into your driveway? Driving to and from your office should be a fairly easy and low stress experience for your patients.
Where Should You Begin Your Search?
The best advice is before you buy a property, talk to a dental office design expert with architects on staff, like HJT, to help walk you through the entire dentist office design process. Choosing a location can make or break your practice, and once you purchase a property, your options are highly limited and you may be forced to just make it work, even if it turns out to be less than ideal.
Whether you’re starting a dental office from the ground up or purchasing or leasing an already existing building to move into, the most important thing to keep in mind throughout the entire process is that it’s not about the money, but rather making the right investment. We are here to help, and can discuss all of these points to consider and more. We can guide you through all steps from planning to finished dental office. Contact us today!