Over time offices lose that spark they once had, eventually the styles go out of fashion, the materials become faded and things get broken and require repairing, alas, degradation is part of life. No office fitout will last forever and you will need to periodically have the premises renovated to remain not only appealing to look at but also remain a practical and functional workspace to be able to complete their work with efficiency and using more up to date office equipment.
However this is a process that most of us will be unfamiliar with as it’s a process that doesn’t happen very often and there are things that differ quite substantially to just, say renovating your home, luckily, the process these days have become much smoother as techniques and manufacturing methods have improved and become more easily accessible, and there are more companies offering this service than ever before. Figuring out what to prioritize and what things require your focus can be a confusing and frustrating process, so hopefully we can point you in the right direction.
Budget
Ahh that six letter staple of any construction project. After all, money makes the world go round right? But in all seriousness it’s important that you review all of your company’s finances and determine whether or not you are in a position to have your entire office renovated. Costs can vary greatly dependent on what design you have in mind but generally you will need at least a lump sum to pay for supplies and sometimes for labor costs. So you shouldn’t rely on money coming in that isn’t yet confirmed in order to pay the contractors for their work.
The first thing you will need to asses is exactly what work need so be done to the office, does just one room need to be touched up or are you looking for full renovation including kitchen areas and bathrooms as well? Things like plumbing and drainage will affect the price of any work as this will require not just a regular contractor but one who is also a qualified plumber. You will also want to assess how you can cut costs by doing things like avoiding large imported items that need to be shipped over as these will incur taxes which will ultimate hike up their price.
Contractor
You will need to find a contractor in your area to carry out the work and it’s essential that they are experienced in planning and executing office renovations. The main thing that you will want to look for in a contractor is one who can offer you the shortest possible timeframe of delivery, after all, your staff will most likely be unable to carry out regular duties during the work and will most likely have to either perform different work or in a lot of cases be unable to work.
That why the shortest possible timeframe will mean time spent off as your premises is renovated and less time lost to it. After all for every day that your company is not functioning at 100% the odds are that it will cost you money. Another consideration to take in is their reputation, ask around other local businesses and read online reviews to see what other people thought of their work and whether or not they delivered in the timeframe they quoted before the work was started.
If you need help finding a reliable contractor to carry out your office fitout. Be sure to do your due diligence and check their work history.
Design
We all have that idea of the perfect office in our head and this is most definitely the time to bring some of those dreams into reality. However you also need to be realistic to not only what you have a budget for but also what is actually useful and cost effective to have in the office. Luxury ergonomic workstations may sound great on paper but if you have a small office that can barley fit regular desks then your dream may come under considerable duress in reality.
A good starting point would be to consult your employees and together come up with a list of things that they want resolving, take a vote to establish their priority and then maybe throw in a few of your more practical “dream ideas”.
