Four Mistakes You Must Avoid When Constructing Your Next Office

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As your business grows, the time will eventually come when you need to move into new premises. Ideally, this process should be smooth, allowing you to pick up where you left off, with relatively few issues. In reality, though, it can be a real pain - so much so that you wonder whether it is worth the effort. 

Problems tend to arise in the planning and construction phase. You think you have everything sorted, but you discover that you’ve overlooked something - and that’s when the trouble can start. 

In this post, we’re going to take a look at some of the most common mistakes you need to avoid when constructing your next office. Please take a look at the following:

Relying On Vague Contracts

If you think the old-fashioned idea of a gentleman’s agreement is all you need to pull off a professional project, you’re sadly mistaken. Companies and contractors typically get into trouble when they haven’t thoroughly thrashed out the details of their agreement. Disputes over the specification can settle in, and you wind up with a full-blown relationship breakdown. The costs of sorting things out can be high, especially if there are legal implications. 

The trick here is to specify everything in the initial document. You want to clarify the scope of the work, what will happen, and when, and the amount you will pay. None of these factors should fall into dispute. 

Failing To Integrate Design And Construction Teams

Ideally, design and construction teams should share reprographics and work on plans together. Everyone needs to be in the loop. Sometimes, though, design teams can assume exclusive authority over the direction of the project, even if their ideas are infeasible. 

Planners and designers, therefore, need to integrate their methods and work on things at the same time. There needs to be a two-way consultation and a period of modification before settling on the final concept. 

Running Meetings Without A Plan

Office planning meetings are a necessary evil - something you must do to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that your move is successful. 

The problem is that the majority of managers aren’t used to running these sorts of meetings. Sometimes, they descend into madness, with everyone trying to give you their two cents. You bounce from topic to topic, never really deciding on anything. 

When organizing meetings, you only want to invite relevant people, not the whole team. Furthermore, just because your calendar says you have a meeting scheduled, doesn’t mean you have to take it. Think carefully about whether it will provide any value to your enterprise. 

Finally, set a time limit for the meeting. It will help reduce procrastination and focus minds. 

Uncovering Surprises In Demolition

It is common for companies moving offices to find “surprises” during the demolition process. Rare archeological sites, damp, and drains can all cause issues and delays, setting planning back. 

You want to avoid this wherever possible by getting a site survey. Specialists will come in, check around, and then see if anything could impede your move.