Customer Journey Map
From the moment you decide it's time to find a new location to the day you open your doors — here's how ARES guides you through every step of the process.
We start with a conversation. What kind of operation are you running — independent repair shop, used car lot, or new car dealership? What are your space requirements, target area, expansion goals, and timeline? We map your real estate needs against the reality of the South Sound market before searching for anything.
Pain Reduced: Wasted time pursuing wrong-fit propertiesBefore you fall in love with a location, we run it through a zoning check. Is it industrially zoned for automotive use? Has it been rezoned to multi-use? Is it a grandfathered site — and if so, is the grandfather status intact? What's the permitting climate with the local city or county? We surface these answers before you invest time in a site that won't work.
Pain Reduced: Discovering zoning problems after wasting monthsWe check for existing Phase I and Phase II environmental survey data on the property. Soil contamination from previous automotive operations — oil, hydraulic fluid, chemical runoff — can make a property unsellable or unleasable. We flag contamination history, identify clean sites, and make sure you know what you're dealing with before signing anything.
Pain Reduced: Surprise EPA contamination discovered post-dealAutomotive properties have requirements standard commercial properties don't. Stormwater drainage, oil filtration systems, paved lots, lift infrastructure, service bay dimensions, lighting — we vet for the physical realities of running an automotive business at this specific site. If there are gaps, we quantify the cost of closing them so you can make an informed decision.
Pain Reduced: Hidden retrofit costs discovered after moving inOnce a site clears vetting, we help you understand the deal structure — own vs. lease, contract terms, consideration, and what a fair arrangement looks like for an automotive property in this market. We connect you with the right licensed CRE broker for representation, drawing on our growing network of automotive-specialized professionals across the South Sound.
Pain Reduced: Going into negotiations without market knowledgeThe deal closing isn't the finish line — it's the starting line. We help you think through expansion potential, future zoning changes, and what growth looks like from this location. Whether it's outward expansion while you have the land or planning for vertical growth down the road, ARES stays in your corner as your business scales.
Pain Reduced: Outgrowing a site with no plan for what's nextValue Exchange