A commercial remodel can be a massive undertaking for your business, and sometimes it’s the right choice but not always. There are a lot of pros and cons to think about with a commercial remodel—even more so than with a personal remodeling project.
If you do opt for a commercial remodel, it gives you the opportunity to expand, impress your customers with updated spaces, and modern business furniture, and it can make for a better overall brand image.
However, are those benefits worth the cost?
The following are things to know about business-related remodeling projects if it’s something you’ve been thinking about.
Read more after the jump:
Signs You Might Benefit from a Business Remodel
Some of the potential signs that could indicate it’s time for a remodel or at least a refresh include:
• Your office feels outdated. The issue of an outdated office may not be as big a problem in some industries as others. If you want to show your business as being innovative and forward-thinking, or you have a lot of client interaction in your office space, if it’s outdated, it can have a significant impact on how people perceive your organization. If you were, as an example, in the tech industry, you could be especially affected by an outdated workspace.
• Are there signs of wear and tear or even deterioration? If you have issues ranging from aesthetic such as peeling paint all the way through to serious issues like a leaking roof, it’s going to be in your best interest to take on a remodel. A business that’s in poor condition can have an impact on employee morale and even their physical health. It can also be problematic in the eyes of clients.
• If you’re growing your business, that’s great, but it can mean it’s time to take on a commercial remodel. When you feel like you’re outgrowing your current space, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to move. A remodel can give you the opportunity to change how you use the space and make it more functional for your current needs, or you can add space to what already exists.
• Are you have problems with your functionality? A business needs to operate in a way that’s organized and efficient, and an outdated or poor commercial design can inhibit that and may indicate the need for a remodeling project.
• Do you feel reluctant to have clients or vendors meet you at your office? If so, think about a remodel. You should feel proud of your office and like it’s something that reflects your brand and your company values.
• Increasingly, consumers are interested in doing business with companies that reflect their values, and this includes eco-friendly businesses. You may want to remodel your office space to be greener not only for branding purposes, but because you want to save money on long-term costs.
Planning For an Office Remodel
The following are some tips to help you as you’re planning for an office remodel.
• Find a contractor you trust and also potentially a commercial interior designer. Most people know they need to find a contractor to help them with office remodeling or renovation projects, but they might neglect to find a professional designer. A professional commercial designer can be a valuable asset because this is someone who’s going to understand how to make a space appealing to your specific audience. They are going to be able to help you know how to best use a space and how to convey a certain brand image.
• When you’re planning an office remodel, scalability should be a key priority. The reason you may be in a situation where you’re going to be remodeling at this point is that your space wasn’t scalable or well-suited to your current needs, so take steps to avoid this in the future.
• Along with scalability, prioritize your project based on business objectives that are specific to your organization. You should think about making changes that are going to create the most revenue increases for your business. Know how to increase revenue based on office design can guide your budget.
• Get input from your employees. Employees can be significantly impacted by their work environments. The better an office space makes employees feel, and the more conducive it is to work, the more productive they are likely to be.
• If you own the building, which you likely do if you’re doing a remodel, you have to think about how a renovation project can impact its future resale value as well. Even if you don’t have immediate plans to sell, it’s always something to keep in mind during a remodel.
Understand the Potential Downsides of an Office Remodel
It’s important to go into a remodeling project of any kind with a sense of understanding about the possible downsides so that you can be prepared. The following are possible downsides of an office remodel to take into consideration.
• The most obvious downside is the initial financial burden of an office remodel. Are you at a point in your business where you can take on this burden? Are you going to require financing, and if so, is that going to be sustainable in the long-term? You can set a budget and stick to it, but regardless you need to have a clear way to determine what renovations will provide you with a return on investment that you’ll find satisfactory. For example, will renovations really lead to more clients or more employee productivity?
• Expect that your workflows will be disrupted during construction. You will have to weigh your options when taking on an office project. Will you rent a temporary space, or will you stay where you are but reorganize so that you can continue working in the same space? How will the inevitable declines in employee productivity during this time affect your business?
Taking on a renovation at your office is no small undertaking. By going into it prepared, you’re going to be better able to deal with the challenges that can come with this kind of project.
