As some of you may know, we have a way to reserve space through "block scheduling". Block Scheduling allows you to reserve a space for 4 hours for a specific day for the month at a time. By doing so you can purchase the block at a cheaper price than you would renting space by the hour which will vary depending on your membership level. We have rolled this feature out to quite a few of the locations including: Highland, Stapleton, Thornton, Centerpoint, and Cherry Creek and look forward to continuing to extend to additional locations in the near future. Blocks will be available in specific rooms with the words Block in the name.
Here is a brief overview of what the Block Scheduling entails:
If you are a member of a location that has added the block schedule feature you will see any available blocks show up in the community room view within the portal. They are offered in the following structure:
Monday through Thursday:
- 8am - 12pm (at a reduced rate)
- 12pm - 4pm
- 4pm - 8pm
Friday - Saturday blocks are available at a reduced rate
Any blocks left unclaimed within two weeks will be taken down and will be available to be rentable by the hour.
Why consider the block schedule?
There are several reasons to consider the block schedule for your practice.
1) Limited Availability - Perhaps you have a very limited schedule to offer to clients. By claiming a block or blocks of time you will now have peace of mind that those days and times are yours to book - similar to subletting and truly month to month. Claim what you want in a given month and tweak from month to month as your practice evolves.
2) No Cancel Limits! - That's right. Within a block you have purchased you may schedule, cancel, schedule, cancel, as many times as you need to without worrying about a limited number of cancels provided each month. The blocks of time you purchase are yours to reserve however you need to.
3) Consistency - We have heard a good amount of feedback from members indicating that as their practice grows it becomes increasingly important to have a consistent schedule and space. The block schedule enables you to claim larger chunks of time within the same spaces.
What is the best thing for your practice?
Every practice is a bit different in terms of individual needs and preferences. If you are still looking to land your first client there is no real need to worry about the block schedule. Just take a mental note of what it is so you will know this resource is available as your practice grows.
If you are someone who is seeing an emerging caseload or has a need for a consistent schedule then I would encourage you to run the numbers. If you transitioned from booking by the hour to blocks or even just partially (some blocks and some hourly), how much would you save and what would having that consistent schedule be worth to you?
Need help running through a couple of scenarios and seeing what may be best for your specific situation? We are here to help. Just send us an email at support@sondercenters.com. We are happy to walk through each case scenario with you so you feel empowered to make the best decision for your practice.
How do I claim a block?
It's pretty intuitive! In the portal calendar click on an available block you are considering. This will provide you the detail of what you would be paying for that block times the number of remaining blocks left in that specific month. Like with subletting an office you may claim blocks on a month to month basis but will be required to purchase every available block for the specific block you are considering. That is, if you want a Thursday from 8am-12pm, you cannot purchase the third Thursday of the month only or skip holidays if that date falls on one. You have to purchase all of the Thursdays within that month for that block of time. That said, you are not responsible for purchasing past blocks. If it is mid month currently you will only be charged for and remaining blocks left in the month.
Why don't I see blocks for this or next week?
If a block is left unclaimed within two weeks, then that block will be taken down and will be available to be rentable by the hour. The reason for this is that we want to give members who want to rent space by the hour the opportunity to do so! This means that In order to rent a block, the soonest you are able to do so is 2 weeks ahead of time.
When am I charged?
You are charged on occurrence. This means that if you claim blocks for next month, each individual block will be added to your next invoice as you use each of them individually. On your billing date you will be charged for whatever number of blocks you used during the past 30 day cycle.
Cancellation Policy
Per the membership agreement we require 30 days notice for cancellation. Since you claim an entire month of blocks at a time you will be responsible for those blocks unless you provide 30 days (1 month) notice from the start of the month that they begin. This means that if today was January 31st and you provided 30 days notice for blocks you claimed in February and March, you would be responsible for February but could cancel March. Make sense? If not, just shoot us an email at support@sondercenters.com.
How do I see my block when it is purchased?
Once you purchase a block, you will see a light green box in the "My Calendar" view. These blocks are yours to utilize and if you book an appointment within a time that you have a block, you will be able to book that appointment for free within your block.
We hope that block scheduling allows you for more room for your practice to grow! If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to email us at support@sondercenters.com!