By Mark Driscoll

The final installment of a 4-part series. The entire article is available in PDF form here.

18. Cleanliness

Very simply, is the location clean? Will people be comfortable in the restrooms? Will people be comfortable if they have small children crawling on the floor? If the overall atmosphere is not generally clean and adequately maintained, a statement is being made about your congregation.

19. Accessibility

How difficult it the facility to find? Is it near a known landmark, in a known neighborhood, and/or accessible to the freeway and major arterials? If not, it may be cumbersome and difficult for people to find you and thereby inhibit your growth.

20. Signage

Is there any opportunity for you to either temporarily or permanently place signs on or near the facility to notify people about your services and related events and information?

21. Conflicting Dates

Will there be days that you do not have access to the facility, or have access for limited or altered times? Will your rental agreement have precedence over other rentals, or will there be an ongoing possibility that your event could be bumped in favor of another? If possible, it will be important to clarify these issues in your contract, as well as the length of notice you are guaranteed if a conflicting event is scheduled. You will likely need at least sixty to ninety days’ notice to successfully relocate your service or alter its meeting time. You should include in your contract that such notice be given to you in writing in order to safeguard your interests.

22. Contract Length

It is to your benefit to negotiate for a long-term contract that provides you a short escape clause should you decide to move to another location. Since you will be purchasing supplies and equipment for a particular location, as well as promoting that location to the community, you want to ensure that you can remain there for as long as you possibly can. Still, since it is possible that a better option may arise, you will want to have a stipulation in your agreement that lets you out if you give, for example, thirty or sixty days’ notice.

23. Facility Options for Consideration

As a final note, the following categories of potential locations may be of some help for your consideration: schools, churches, hotels, warehouses, community centers, theaters, and concert venues.  

This has been a four-part series - download the full article here.