How to Best Manage Timelines for Your Office Buildout

 


Office buildouts can be fairly complex projects, with multiple elements coming together in a set sequence in order to deliver a workspace on time and on budget. From signing the lease and designing the space, to the different elements of an office fit-out and, finally, the office move itself, it’s all about effective timeline management. The team at BE Builds has delivered exceptional quality, custom office fit-outs for many years, and we understand the stress that comes with this type of project. Here’s our guide on how to best manage these timelines.

Step #1 – Design

As soon as you have access to the space, it’s time to get office architects onsite to get a feel for the property. After assessing the location, they should have a sound understanding of what you want to achieve with the finished result, and what’s feasible within the space and budget.

This kicks off the design process that’s fundamental to realizing a truly productive workspace that represents your brand, is functional for your teams (especially in a more flexible post-COVID work environment), and is suited to your industry.

Step #2 – Permits and Planning Permissions

Once you have settled on your design, your office buildout team should move onto getting the planning permission and permits that your project requires. This is dependent on your city’s building department, so it is difficult to give an exact amount of time that this stage will take. For that reason, it’s a good idea to move on to steps 3 and 4 as soon as your applications are in, so that the project is ready to hit the ground running when permits are granted.

Step #3 – Furnishings, Features and Fixtures

This is the nuts and bolts stage where you start choosing what products and materials will be used in the office space. This includes everything from IT infrastructure, lighting and environmental controls to walls, storage, seating and desks. You should have a clear idea of the color scheme, what each department requires, and how this will fit into the overall setup.

Remember, many of the furnishings like desks, cabinetry, seating and reception furnishings will only be installed in the final stages of the project, so it’s best to set a delivery date that aligns with the timeframe for your project.

When selecting materials and furnishings, it’s recommended that you don’t just consider your budget, overall aesthetic or ergonomic design. In addition, it’s important to consider materials that will withstand rigorous, frequent sanitization, and products made without toxic elements such as formaldehyde, which is common in poor quality office furnishings1 .

Step #4 – Select a Contractor

For this step to work, the plans for your office buildout must have been finalized, as these are pivotal to costing out the project. As long as they are final, you can start collecting bids from contractors. When selecting contractors, it’s important that you use someone with sufficient, relevant experience backed up by client testimonials. They should be licensed, insured and bonded2 for the state that the work is to be completed in, and also ensure that your project will be completed within your expected timeframe.

Once you’ve hired a contractor, they will be able to give you a clear timeline for their work, including key milestones, as well as a final handover date. It is very important to understand these milestones and to note if your contractor is hitting them on time or not, as this can cause costly delays. It can also impact other aspects of the fit-out, including furniture delivery and subcontractor work.

Step #5 – Planning Your Office Move

Now is the time to start planning and coordinating your move from your old office into your new space if you haven’t done so already. Depending on the size of your office and the complexity of your move, this can take 3-6 months of planning3 .

In addition, start taking regular walkthroughs of your new office space with your contractor as work reaches completion. Inspect all work and write down any issues that need to be repaired or changed on your punch list, so that your contractor can do this work before your moving date, while the team is still onsite.

Take a Load Off – Leave Your Office Fit-Out in the Hands of Our Office Construction Services Team!

Of course, the easiest way to relieve the administrative burden of your office buildout is to utilize a team who can be trusted to handle it all for you. BE Builds is a full-service office construction services team based in New Jersey. With successful projects all across the tristate area, we work with each client to manage every aspect of the project, using our team to design, construct and furnish your new workspace.

Contact us today for a simpler, streamlined and hassle-free office buildout service, or visit our website at: https://bebuilds.com/services/office-buildout-installation/

https://ceh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Flame_Retardant_EGuide_May_2017.pdf

https://www.freeadvice.com/legal/licensed-and-bonded-contractors-what-it-means-and-why-hire/

https://www.thespruce.com/plan-organize-office-or-business-move-2436522

Originally posted at: https://bebuilds.com/how-to-best-manage-timelines-for-your-office-buildout

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