Building an office from scratch is a gargantuan task. Your organizational skills will be heavily tested, so to help you establish a plan we’ve come up with a list of eight tips for building an office from the ground up.
Financing
Ensuring you have the money to complete the project will be one of your first tasks. Speak to your accountant and bank manager to figure out what you need and what you can get.
Design
Hiring a professional designer will ensure you ideas are able to reach fruition. A good designer will work with you to create a functional blueprint that will guide the project from beginning to end.
Contracting
A trustworthy contractor will convert your blueprints into an actual building. Look for reputable contractors who are both licensed and insured and ask for their portfolio and references. YOu should also make sure you get along personally as you will be spending a lot of time together.
Building Permits
The type of permits you need will depend on where you’re located. Your contractor should already have some experience in this area and should be able to help out. However, this process can take longer than expected, so account for this accordingly.
Land Survey
You’ll need to make sure the land you want to build on is appropriate for the structure you’re about to erect. A land surveyor will be able to test the ground and familiarize you with the best practices for building in that area.
Subcontractor Bidding
You’ll want to get multiple bids on the various subcontracting jobs (ie plumbing, electrics, HVAC etc) to ensure you get the best price for the best quality. Price is important, but experience, skill and reliability should also be considered.
Equipment
Depending on the type of business you run and duration of your construction project, it may be to your advantage to buy much of the machinery needed to complete the job. You can always sell it on later. If this is unnecessary, look at renting the gear for the short term.
Record Keeping
Keeping good records will ensure you don’t get ripped off by unscrupulous suppliers, contractors and workers. You’re the one footing the bill, so getting what you pay for will ultimately be left up to you.
