Things To Think About For Your Office Remodel
Whether you have a small start-up or a large corporation the space your business occupies is crucial to your business success and image. On one end the appearance of your office could leave a positive or negative lasting impression, while on the other end the comfort of your employees and flow of your business can make a huge difference in productivity. All these factors are important considerations when toying with the idea of an office renovation or remodel. But before you bring in the sledge hammers and paint brushes you need to think about a few other important things:
What Is The Goal Of The Remodel?
As a company grows the space it occupies has to grow and evolve as well. This could require looking for new premises or it could be a reconfiguration of the current space you have. Think about what you are trying to achieve with the remodel. If you’re wanting to make it more comfortable and give the office a good flow this will have a different focus than if you want a more corporate environment. Something else to take into account is how long you see yourself occupying the space – short term will have a particular goal for your remodel, while long term will impact things very differently. Think about whether the changes you need are ones that are for your staff or are ones to accommodate current and future clients. Knowing this will help determine the direction of your office remodel
Identify the Reasons For The Renovations
To maximize your budget and allocate the right funds to the right places you need to know which areas are priorities in your office. Are you looking at just a quick paint refresh, updated carpeting and some new furniture? Or do you need to break down walls and move offices, increase your facilities, or invest in a technology upgrade? It is important to have some idea of the answers to these questions by the time you meet your contractor so that everyone is aware of the budgetary and practical needs for each area.
Determining Your Needs And Not Wants
We would all love to have individual offices for each staff member and $1000 office chairs, but realistically this is not an option. You need to separate your needs from your wants and desires. If you are struggling with a bad office layout and bad work flow then that is a priority over a Nespresso coffee nook. Adding recliners to your reception might make the clients happy but your employees would feel seconded. You need to understand the dynamics of your business and what renovations will give you long term success, not what might be a quick fix or a cool thing to have.
Budget High And Cut Back Spend When You Can
Rather than budgeting perfectly to the last dollar, make sure you have some wiggle room by over budgeting. This will help you tackle unforeseen expenses that can put a spanner in the works, like having to move a HVAC system to accommodate the internet fiber line or work around drain pipes you never knew were there. There are always hidden costs that come out of the woodwork when you least expect them, make sure you have this worked into your budget.
Create A Realistic Timeline.
Make sure that your remodel plans take place in a lull period for your company. Renovations are stressful and very disruptive, you do not want to be doing them during your busy season. You will need to look at your work schedule and plan according to your seasonal business fluctuations. You also need to take into account large project timelines to make sure you have enough time before or after a project to complete the renovations.
Consider A Green Investment.
The latest green office technology is pushing the boundaries in energy saving and efficiency. When you invest money in Green Technology you won’t just be helping the environment but also your expenses. New technologies are becoming more energy saving and cost effective as they evolve. It will be worth the consideration and investment in the long run.
With any large project, planning is the key to being successful. Make sure that you ask the right questions and find the best contractor to fit your needs. Give us a call to help you get started on your next office remodel project.
