How To Prepare for An Office Fit Out
An office fit out can feel like a huge overhaul of your company’s office space — and quite rightly. It usually is! However, just because your space will be undergoing some major changes doesn’t mean it needs to be a stressful or time-consuming period for you and your employees. With some preparation, your office fit out can be an exciting and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Wondering what you can do to prepare for your office fit out? Here are our tips…
Get plenty of inspiration
Ask to visit the offices of business friends, browse current fit out trends, and dive into the world of office interior design. There’s no such thing as too much inspiration! Seeing lots of office fit out examples will alert you to what you love and want to incorporate into your plans, what you like but would tweak for your office, and what things are a firm ‘no’.
Ask your fit out company for some examples of previous projects, the design blogs that they use as their own inspiration, and what potential they see for your space. They’ll be happy to create a clear vision for you. However, they should also be receptive to your requirements, tastes, and need to look around before making final decisions.
Have you spotted some particularly nice solid partitions? Perhaps glazed partitions appeal more. Maybe you’re a fan of the suspended ceiling style that your friend has in their office, their plaster ceiling, or their mezzanine floors. If you notice these things, make a list and share your thoughts with your contractor!
Think about the aim of your office fit out
If you’re getting an office or commercial fit out, something must not be working too well in your current set up. What are your goals with this change-up? Perhaps your office is simply rather outdated and needs modernising. Or maybe your company has evolved over the years and the layout is no longer fit for purpose.
Once there are lots of options, opinions, and exciting ideas being shared during the planning stage, it’s easy to lose sight of the core reasons you need a new office space. Of course, there will be some things you decide on that are simply nice additions — there’s nothing wrong with this. However, don’t forget to also stick to the changes and features you know you really need.
What’s your budget?
No one likes to dwell too much on budget, but it’s important. If you’re a large company with a significant budget, you’ll be able to do more with your space. Try not to fret about saving a few pennies in various areas of your fit out when you don’t need to. You’ll be spending money on your switch-up, that’s to be expected. You may as well focus on making the right decisions, not just the cheapest ones!
On the other hand, if you’re a small business with a limited budget, make this clear to your contractor at the beginning of the planning process. They won’t mind what your budget is or try to get you to spend more. They just want to know what they’re working with so they can create the best office space with the resources available.
Talk to your employees and have a time frame in mind
Firstly, it’s a good idea to include your employees in the planning process. They might have some great suggestions or want to request specific features to improve their work life. Hold a team meeting or send out an anonymous survey.
Second, the best way to ensure your employees are prepared for the fit out is to clearly communicate all the changes that are happening and how things will affect their work. If you’ll be out of your office space for a while, where will everyone be working — at home or another space? If there will be barely any interruptions, that’s great. Just let your employees know so they don’t worry. Mention the predicted time frame, what they can expect from the new layout, and be receptive to queries.
Communicate openly with your contractor
Good communication is key to a stress-free office fit out. Trust us, we know! If you’re having doubts or concerns, talk to your contractor as soon as possible. Plans can always be tweaked or clarified. However, when minds change halfway through the fit out — let’s just say, this can be pretty stressful for everyone involved.
Equally, if you’re at a loss about some processes, speak up. Puzzled about what drylining is or where (and why) you need plastering? Any professional contractor will be able to explain every detail of your office fit out, what it means, and why it’s needed.
Commercial fit outs from SLP Interiors
At SLP Interiors, our friendly team has extensive experience carrying out internal refurbishment projects for office spaces and commercial units. We cover everything from suspended ceilings and plastering to mezzanines and solid, glazed, demountable, and metal stud partitions. We manage and coordinate the different trades and work elements that go into our fit out projects, ensuring everything runs smoothly, within budget, and to a high standard.
We enjoy working with our clients and offer a truly personal, respectful service with great attention to detail. We’re always available by telephone or in-person. Contact us today to see how we can help you with your fit out.
