Five Tips for Surviving an Office Renovation

Relocate

During the renovation process you will require a work station to relocate to. If possible, request to have complete floors renovated at one time. If the renovation is to expand the office building within the existing space, construct your new space first. This will create the required capacity needed to relocate during renovation. Planning to relocate your employees should be considerate and careful, minimizing disruption and the number of moves your employees make.

Communication

Communicating a positive perception of your office renovation is almost as vital as the work itself. Changes when renovating your office space brings potential concerns, especially when the need isn’t understood. Disclosing your visions using sample boards is a positive way to dispel concerns and keep employees informed. As work progresses, you may offer tours and updates during the construction process to keep staff in the loop.

Budget

The cost of your project won’t be finalized until all the work is completed. Start with 10 percent as your budget for costs you encounter during the design process. Also take into account an allowance for the overtime work put in. Consider your allowance when construction tasks are disrupted or stopped. Experienced and professional construction laborers will assure these issues are accounted for. Make sure to minimize changes to ductwork and electrical distribution where you can expect the costliest upgrades.

Office Conditions

Site-surveys are used to observe areas that are concealed and can be used to modify a challenging work space. Obtain a site-survey to effectively set out structural framework. It can to determine an estimate with a more accurate idea of the work space. A responsible design team and a visual layout will ensure the essential conditions are reflected correctly. With your sitesurvey in mind, perform inspections on plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. This usually comprises of two-thirds of your total construction costs.

Field Representative

Consider having your contractor provide an on-site project manager for in-place renovations with construction on multiple floors in multiple phases. A project manager would be an idealistic representative to exceed the normal requirements to administer the work. With any renovation project there are sure to be surprises. A field representative will enable any issues with your project to be addressed quickly and with ease. An on-site project manager will offer an idea of what is to be expected and peace of mind.