It can be intimidating when you’re thinking about designing and installing a new commercial office fitout, but it needn’t be. An office is more than just a pretty place to look at, it’s a place for your employees to work efficiently and for clients to see your business and to visit you. There are a number of different factors to take into consideration when looking at commercial office Fitouts. Understanding and knowing what will benefit both your business and your staff is important to the design of your new office. There are a few things to consider when planning your new office fitout that will make the whole process run a lot smoother and easier.
Your Budget
One of the key aspects to consider when planning a new commercial office fitout is the budget you’re going to be working with. Knowing how much money your business has to spend will help you to determine what exactly you can afford and what parts of the design aren’t necessary. If there are a few things you want to add to your new office fit out, having a budget means you’ll be able to figure out what the necessities are and what are just extras that you can do without.
Having a clear idea of what your budget is, you’ll be able to know up front if the quotes you have received for your new fit out will be acceptable or not. You will be able to determine which office builder can provide you the best fit out for the right price for your budget.
A Comprehensive Quote
When receiving quotes from prospective builders, you should be able to have a clear idea of what the build will entail. This means you will be able to avoid any costs that may sneak up on you. When you receive your estimate from the builder, it should have a clear outline of what will be involved. It should outline items such as:
Design brief
Technical plans
Building assessment
Material delivery
Construction
Project management
The more information available in the quote, the less likely chance there is of getting unexpected costs involved as the build continues.
Your Branding
The office design should literally be an extension of the businesses branding. Colour scheme, company vision and motto, your values and the overall look and feel of the office should match any existing business branding and advertising materials. The only time they shouldn’t match is if you’re changing some major branding aspects and will be changing your advertising materials to match those of the office fit out soon.
The reason you match all of these aspects and tie them together is so that your customers and clients have a better idea of who you are. If they see your office, they know that it is in fact your business that they’re visiting. Matching your branding across all aspects is important to remaining professional and effective in your efforts to make your business more recognisable.
The Right Size
When you are creating a new office fit out, you need to make sure it is the right size. It needs to be able to accommodate all of your staff, be large enough for their needs and enable them to have room to move. If the office layout is too cramped, you may find that staff feel uncomfortable in the office, which can hinder productivity. The builder that you choose should be able to help with the design process to ensure that you are making the most out of the office space you have without making the office feel cramped.
Staff Suggestions
Who knows what works in the office best? The people who are working in it. A great way to help your staff is to ask for suggestions directly from them when going through the design process. Your staff members may have an issue with the previous design that isn’t known to you or management because they aren’t affected by it directly. Your staff will be able to give you tips and suggestions that you can work with to make a better environment for your staff.
Communications
In the office, it’s very important to ensure all staff members have appropriate access to communications. Whether all staff members have phones at their desks or they simply need internet access, you will need to ensure that you avoid a potential disaster by having the right access to all staff where needed. Adding the right phone and ethernet connections (if appropriate) means your staff can stay productive and you won’t lose on any business or clients that may be trying to contact you.
Efficient Design
As well as having the correct communications available, such as internet and phone lines for each staff member, you should also ensure the design of the office and features that are included are also efficient. So, items such as lights and windows, power and electricity points, heating, ventilation and air conditioning should all be placed in the correct areas and aren’t affected in any way.
Not only will having sufficient lighting and power sockets for your staff help with productivity levels, but having the right temperatures and climate in the office for your staff will ensure a completely comfortable environment for them. One of the biggest complaints that staff members find most problematic is having to work in an office that is either too hot or too cold. Having a comfortable work environment means your staff will be able to work better and continue to be productive.
Room to Move
If you create a new commercial office fitout, it’s important to leave room to grow. If the business develops or you simply hire new employees to join the team, you need to be able to have room for such people. Whether you have spare desks and spots for staff or whether you use a modular system that can easily be adapted to fit more staff members, having extra room to move for any staff or business changes that you go through should be a part of your design process.
Legal Compliances
Whether it’s electrical certifications, disabled access, health and hygiene, or fire services, you need to ensure your commercial office fitout is legally compliant with all relevant laws and guidelines. Depending on which state you are in, there will be certain building permits that will need to be adhered to when the office is being constructed, which your builder should be well aware of and have a full understanding of.
Planning a new commercial office fitout doesn’t have to lead to a nasty headache. With the right planning and the right strategy under your belt, you’ll be able to easily create, plan, and implement an efficient office fitout for your business and for your staff.
If you’re struggling with any aspects of your new commercial office fitout, you can always get assistance from the experts at Office Fitouts. They can help you design the right office for your needs. Contact Office Fitouts today on 1300 859 154 or visit http://www.office-fitouts.net.au/