Business is booming and after some much careful thought, you realize it’s time to expand. But as you think about your commercial buildout you wonder, “What’s the best way to do this? Or could I just jump right in?”
If you’ve been wanting a commercial buildout and are wondering how to do that successfully, read on to learn more.
“Checking with your landlord saves you stress.”
1. Check Your Lease and Certificate of Occupancy
One of the first things you need to do is to check with your landlord and review your lease to see what you can and can’t do with the property. You don’t want a situation where you start the work only to find out later that your building plans need to change, or worse, that you can’t do any work at all. So avoid any mishaps now by checking with your landlord.
“What if I own the office?”
You might think that owning your office means that you can do your commercial buildout however you’d like. While this is mostly true, it’s a good idea to check your certificate of occupancy to ensure that your buildout isn’t breaking any rules. For example, let’s say you want to include a little gym in your commercial buildout so employees can take a moment to clear their heads. It sounds a great idea until you find out your CO won’t allow it. Like we suggested above, check now to avoid stress later.
2. Check for Violations
Another thing you must check for is if your office has any building violations. These can range from improper AC installation to incorrect certificates of occupancy. This is especially important if you’re new to the property and it has not changed hands in a long while.
The great news is that if you’re leasing the office space, the violations could be taken care of by your landlord. However, we suggest reviewing your lease to be sure. Also, if you’re planning on hiring an architect (more on that in a moment) they might be able to go through your building and catch any violations before they start drawing up commercial buildout plans. Another great way to stop problems before they start.
3. Hire an Architect
While we have talked about this before, it bears repeating. Not only can architects spot potential problems as we mentioned above, but they can also help you work around them. For instance, let’s go back to the gym hypothetical.
You’ve been stuck on a project for days and you can’t seem to crack it. You know the idea is there, but it can’t break through your cluttered mind. So you go to your gym for a quick workout. Suddenly, in the middle of your cycle session, it happens. The idea comes together perfectly! So perfectly, in fact, that you finish it that day.
With a gym in your office, you can take a break to clear your mind any time you needed to. And with an architect by your side, they can plan the gym out so it fits in seamlessly with the rest of our commercial buildout.
But the biggest plus to an architect though has to do with structure. When an architect draws up plans they can take into account the existing building structure to see if your office can handle the weight of your buildout and advise on what do with your plumbing and electrical. Architects can be your best friend in a commercial buildout.
4. Think About Accessibility
This might not seem like a huge deal, but it needs to be considered. No matter how you choose to build out your business, you will need to factor inaccessibility. This means adding a wheelchair ramp to the front entrance instead of stairs, and ensuring there are bathroom stalls wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs as well.
If your business was constructed before 1990, there’s a chance your compliance has been grandfathered in and you won’t have to worry about it. However, if you make huge changes to your building you will need to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so be cautious and factor that in just in case.
5. Find Out Bathroom Requirements
As with accessibility, finding out how many bathrooms you need are a must. In most cases, this means thinking about the number of employees/clients the office will house to determine how many bathrooms are needed. The type of business will also help you figure out the required number, so find out now before you start planning.
Hire Everhart Construction for Your Commercial Buildout Today!
Everhart Construction employs design consultants and not just order takers. When a design consultant arrives at your office they’ll discuss your project in length to get a good understanding of what you are trying to achieve with your commercial renovations or commercial buildout. Our contractors give good advice on what’s best and help you get the commercial buildout you’ve always wanted. If you’re considering a commercial remodel, call 713-461-4434 or click below to get started today!
