Planning a Successful Office Remodel

Office remodels can vastly boost productivity.

However, like all commercial renovations, they can also be a little daunting and stressful. The good news is, as with all remodeling projects, if you have the right team, planning a successful office remodel doesn’t have to be an impossible task.

Why Remodel Your Office?

In our introduction, we said office remodels can boost employee productivity – and it’s true! Recent studies have shown 90% of employees say their productivity is directly affected by their office design.

It’s not all psychological either.

Smart office remodels can also increase the space’s efficiency. Not only by installing water-saving and energy-saving appliances to replace their resource-intensive predecessors, but by increasing and opening up the space.

Of course, you don’t have to go to extreme lengths when planning your office remodel, but let’s cover that in the next sections.

Planning a Successful Office Remodel (the Smart Way)

The first step is always to start considering having your office renovated.

However, if you just leave the idea undefined, you’re only setting yourself up for failure. So really, the first dedicated step is to identify what your goals are.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to help with the process:

1. Are there any safety issues that need to be addressed? For example, are there enough exits with clear pathways for employees to quickly and efficiently evacuate in an emergency?
2. Is your office accessible to people with disabilities? This should always include thinking about how wide the walkways between desks (etc.) are.
3. Do your employees need more desks, shelving, etc.?
4. Would your team benefit from opening up the space for easier collaboration?
5. Is there any way you can boost productivity, such as with better lighting or by upgrading your office appliances?
6. Are the bathrooms, kitchen, and break room large enough to accommodate your entire workforce?
7. Do you have enough conference rooms for meetings, including with prospective business partners?

Figuring out the answers to questions like these will help you better understand the scope of the remodeling project you have in mind.

Figuring Out Your Budget

It’s very easy to go overboard in the ideation stage.

The more honest with yourself you are about things that can be improved, the more you’ll look for them and the more you’ll find. In an ideal world, you’ll be able to tackle everything at once.

However, more realistically, you’ll need to set clear parameters for yourself. And the best way to do so is by evaluating your budget.

While cost can differ vastly from one project to the next (even between almost identical buildings side-by-side), we have a pretty good formula to help you figure out a ballpark figure.

Start off with the assumption your office remodel is going to cost between $100 and $200 per square foot. You can use $150 as a good average for your base figure.

So multiply $150 by your office’s square footage.

To help make the process even more exact, consider the expected cost of materials, appliances, and fixtures. Then start contacting contractors to get quotes.

This might seem a little backwards, but you should use their quotes to help you figure out a more exact cost.

As a final step (something we also recommend for home renovations), add 10% to the new total. Now compare that figure with how much your business can realistically afford to spend.

If it’s more than you can afford, you’ll need to cut some of your goals out for now.

Don’t let cost determine what you postpone, though. Look at what needs to be done most urgently and base your new goals on that.

We’ll talk a little more about prioritizing goals in a later subsection.

Researching Contractors

Obviously, we think H&H Construction and Renovation is your best bet if you’re in the North Texas area.

However, we also want you to do your due diligence by researching different contractors and asking for quotes. Remember to ask for recommendations and look at portfolios!

There are a few others you might want to look into hiring too.

For example, an Interior and Architectural Design team to help bring your vision to life. You might also need a reputable dumpster rental company (if your contractor doesn’t handle construction debris disposal themselves).

Prioritizing Goals

To properly prioritize your office renovation goals, you need to take another hard look at the building’s current state. It’s a good idea to have a professional building inspection.

The team will help highlight some top priorities, such as mould and asbestos, that need to be tackled as part of the renovation.

A few other areas to consider prioritizing include:

• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems
• The condition of your load-bearing walls and support beams
• Your emergency warning systems and exits

Don’t forget to make sure if there are any historic elements that need to be preserved, they’re taken into consideration in the design phase.

Designing Your New Office

Now that you have a better idea of what you can afford and exactly what needs to be worked on, you’re ready to get started on what’s probably the most exciting phase of planning your office renovation… the design!

This is a lot easier if you have a design team, whether internal or someone you’ve hired. Talk with them about exactly what you want to change and how.

Be as clear and specific as possible.

For example, if you need to expand your current workspace to include extra cubicles or desks, tell them exactly how many desks you want to add.

It also helps if you know exactly what type of desks you’ll be using. This helps the designer to more accurately create a to-scale mock-up.

It’s always a good idea to ask for two mock-ups. This way, you have options to choose from. And if there are elements of both you enjoy, don’t be afraid to ask for a third!

Communication

Communication is vital in any renovation, especially an office remodel. This starts with your employees.

Here are a few things to talk to them about as soon as possible:

1. Why you’re remodeling the office (including the intended benefits for them)
2. Which teams will be working, where, and when (especially if you’ve decided to stay open during the renovation)
3. Temporary office spaces your employees will be using (this could be another part of the current building or at another location)
4. When the renovation is expected to start and finish
5. Who will be acting as your Internal Project Manager – the person who will be communicating with the contractors and who employees can approach with any questions or concerns

And of course, you should always be in open communication with your contractor.

Poor communication between clients and contractors, and even between the contractor and their own team, is what leads to most of the otherwise easily avoidable mistakes that can happen in any renovation project.

If you usually meet with clients at your office, remember to put up notices (at the venue and online), especially if you’re going to be moving to another location temporarily.

Start Your Office Remodel and Enjoy the Results!

Once you’ve got all the above steps under your belt, you’re ready for your contractor to get started.

This is probably the part where patience is going to play the biggest role.

Remember to keep an open line of communication between yourself and the contractor so you’re updated on progress and understand any necessary delays!

Once it’s over, have a final inspection with your contractor. Then all that’s left is to enjoy the benefits!