0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

Money Matters ● 83
get thrown out by our loving spouses or families. The Applegate Group,
founded in the den of our home in Sun Valley, California, outgrew that
space within a year. Taking a big risk, we invested $10,000 to remodel the
garage. It was a great commute—down the driveway.
We worked in the renovated garage until we moved to Pelham, New York.
Our temporary world headquarters there were in a basement—it was either
blasting hot or freezing cold. When my husband, Joe, and I bought a spacious,
three-bedroom apartment in a stately stone building overlooking a country club,
it was evident that the company was going to be evicted—the condo association
prohibited operating a commercial enterprise in your apartment.
We were lucky to find a big, sunny corner office in the funky Pelham,
New York, post office building. We moved in early 1997 and ended up renting
three very cheap offices there (no hot water, ghosts, and a nonworking
elevator kept the rent affordable).
So, if it’s time to move out of your home, explore all the options. First,
look for a business incubator in your area (see Great Idea #8). There are
hundreds of private, university, and government-sponsored roosts for small
companies. The rent is affordable, and there is great comfort to be found in
the company of other crazy entrepreneurs.
Most cities have a glut of office space, so with some persistence, you
can find affordable digs.
Here are some tips to help you find the right space:
• Drive around neighborhoods that appeal to you. Look for “For Rent” signs.
• Check the neighboring buildings to see if they are well maintained.
Take notes on the parking situation, proximity to mass transit, and
street lighting.
• Check out the lobby. Is it well lit and clean? Remember that deodorant
commercial that warned, “You never get a second chance to make a
first impression”? Well, you don’t want a building with a dreary lobby.
• Visit the restrooms and check the fire exits and hallways for cleanliness
and accessibility for disabled workers and customers.
• Speak to other tenants before you meet the building manager. They
will usually give you the scoop on what it’s like to work in the building.
• If you are renting retail space, find out whether the landlord expects a
percentage of gross sales as well as rent.