Eight steps to survive your Office Renovation

At some point office owners may have to deal with a renovation project. They may require a better functionality of space or to have a more stimulating environment for productivity. Maybe just a new look and feel, or to make an old office more modern. Whatever the reason, office renovations may seem overwhelming on so many fronts, but with a little planning and a great office renovation team you can get through it. Here are a few steps to guide you through a stress-free office renovation.

1.     Budget carefully- Plan to spend an extra 10 percent of the construction budget on unforeseen expenditures. Consider the money a bonus if you don’t end up needing it.

2.    Be clear about your priorities- Priorities may get lost in the seemingly endless decisions you may be asked to make during a top-to-bottom office renovation. Staying focused on what is most important to you, will help to remove the stress normally associated with a renovation and to achieve your goals. Make a list of must-haves” and “nice to haves”. This will give you something to revisit if there are any difficult decisions later on or if you find the project straying from your original plans and needs.

3.    Choose an experienced commercial contractor – A proper, effective office renovation requires expertise, experience, and planning. Choose an experienced, licensed, insured commercial contractor to avoid common renovation pitfalls.

4.    Identify what is included- Once you have chosen your commercial contractor in the GTA, ensure that you are both absolutely clear about what is and isn’t included in their quotation and costings. You don’t want the job to start and then find out that things you assumed were included have not been. This would result in an additional cost and possible time delay while you try to resolve the issue. Make sure to get quotations in writing to avoid any miscommunications.

5.    Make selections early- Ask your contractor to give you a list of everything you need to select things like paint colours, tiles and lighting options, along with the date they need to receive the materials. This will ensure the process keeps moving ahead and you are not creating any bottlenecks.

6.    Expect, and plan for, some delays- Unexpected things often pop up in an office renovation, so keep track of overruns so you’ll have no major surprises at the end. Allow for a few extra days on key tasks, particularly when multiple contractors are involved.

7.    Believe in the process- Trust in your contractor’s ability and believe in the process to keep it moving. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, but allow the contractor to effectively manage their project as per their processes. 

8.    Be on-site frequently - Last but not least, visit the remodeling site at regular intervals to stay updated on project progress.

Stay calm, work your plan and keep your eye on the prize. The end result will be worth it…we promise!