The 5 Most Common Mistakes Churches Make When Evaluating Property—and How to Avoid Them
The 5 Most Common Mistakes Churches Make When Evaluating Property—and How to Avoid Them
A practical guide for pastors, elders, and ministry teams making real estate decisions
For many churches, evaluating property feels exciting—expansion, new ministry opportunities, or a chance to create a home that finally fits your congregation. But it is also one of the most financially risky decisions a church can make. A property that looks right can hide costly challenges in parking, access, zoning, occupancy, or the building’s structural and mechanical capacities.
After working with a couple of hundred churches across the southeast and across the US, we consistently see the same avoidable mistakes in the early stages of property evaluation. Solving these upfront can save significant time, money, and frustration.
1. Overestimating Parking Capacity
Most growing churches feel how vital parking is, but they overlook the impact of things beyond the asphalt. Items like permits, required parking counts, and shared-use agreements actually work.
Common issues:
Suppose guests can't find a spot within 5-10 minutes. They go home. The first time in a church can be incredibly stressful for guests. Don't start that in the parking lot.
Municipalities require more spaces than a site can provide, or limit the number allowed by zoning, but not enough to meet actual need.
Underestimating ADA, Fire, EMT requirements, and drop-off needs.
The impact paved vs. permeable parking has on the stormwater requirements.
Why it matters: Parking governs attendance growth, code compliance, and traffic flow. A site that “feels big” may actually fail to support your ministry patterns.
2. Assuming a Big-Box or Warehouse Will “Just Work.”
Everyone sees vacant commercial shopping centers weekly, and yes, it might be an opportunity. Still, their structures, exits, sprinkler requirements, and roof systems may not support assembly occupancy.
Typical surprises:
Sprinklers are required once the assembly occupant load crosses the code thresholds, typically 300 people or 2,100 square feet of sanctuary space.
The number of Egresses and the Exit travel distances exceeds what the building can physically provide.
HVAC systems not designed for worship code compliance and acoustics performance.
Column grid spacing limits the layout of the sanctuary.
Adaptive reuse is powerful, but only when assessed early by a team that understands church program needs and code triggers.
3. Ignoring Phasing and Growth Patterns
Churches rarely grow linearly. Most grow in waves.
Leaders often evaluate a property based only on today’s needs instead of planning how the site can support:
A future children’s wing
More parking expansion
A second service
Midweek ministries
Multipurpose or community outreach spaces
Other uses that can provide the church with additional income.
A good property is flexible. It allows you to add what you need later without starting over.
4. Relying Only on Broker Assumptions
Real estate agents are invaluable in finding opportunities. Still, they are not responsible for verifying that your ministry program fits the building—or that your future uses are code-compliant.
We regularly see:
Misapplied the zoning code that does not allow churches, preschools, or after-school programs.
Misread square footage.
Property or Rooms that can’t be used for their intended purpose.
Incorrect assumptions about occupancy loads.
Overstated “potential capacity.”
A trusted architectural Test Fit converts opinions into actual data.
5. Skipping a Preliminary Test Fit
One of the biggest mistakes I see is when a church calls me after moving straight to an offer on a property or a lease without a simple, fast feasibility package. And that's when I have to break bad news to nice people. A Test Fit answers the most critical questions before any commitments are made:
Can we fit our ministry program on this site or in this building?
What will it cost to get it ready?
What code barriers exist?
What is a realistic phasing plan?
A Test Fit is a few days of work that can save you tens of thousands of dollars and months of lost time.
The Bottom Line
Your mission deserves a clear path forward. A property that looks promising can quickly become a financial burden if you don’t uncover its constraints early. With the right clarity, though, churches make wise, confident decisions that support ministry for decades.
If your church is evaluating a property or building, understanding its true potential early can prevent costly surprises. Scheduling a consultation ensures you make informed decisions that support your ministry in the long term.
Schedule a 20-Minute Call.
Let’s discuss your options and determine whether a quick Property or Building Test Fit will give your leadership the clarity they need.
