If you are a commercial property owner who hopes to attract tenants and maintain an ongoing positive relationship with them, you’ll need to be proactive. In today’s economy, this begins with an effective marketing campaign and ongoing promotion of your property and all its attributes. Potential tenants want to know your property is well-located, which means the location will be beneficial for their business, but they also want to be assured the property is a good fit for their company. In many cases, you’ll need to demonstrate the function and aesthetics of the property which often means a build out. You can perform a build out on your property before potential clients are on board, but more often the build out comes as a part of the lease. In the property lease, if you are the landlord, you need to clearly outline the details of the build out, ensuring you maintain control of the proposed changes to your property to keep your property values high and your property sought after.
For a commercial renovation project, whether you are a landlord preparing the property in view of attracting new tenants or you are the tenant using the build out to roll out your new company or rebrand your existing business, it is crucial that you understand the build out process. Knowing what to expect as part of the renovation of a commercial building will ensure nothing of significance is neglected in the process. Here, you’ll find the build out process explained by the build out experts at Perillo Construction.
- The Build Out Planning Stages – The first step in any build out begins with goals and objectives, coupled with the budget for the project. Depending on the lease agreement, doing so may not only include the ideas and opinions of the landlord and the tenant, but also those who will be working in the completed space.
- Choosing a Trusted Contractor – While you could act as your own contractor for your build out, hiring a trusted professional contractor offers a number of advantages which will save you time and money in the long run. Contractors often know the best subcontractors and tradesmen, as well as where to get the best materials, and how to keep the job on time and budget when the unexpected happens. If you don’t have a contractor in mind, narrow your search by looking at reviews and recent projects of contractors in your area. Next, interview your short list of contractors and request bids based on your project. Always ask questions through the hiring process, as you want to choose a contractor who you feel you can communicate with easily throughout the process. You also want to consider more than the bid quoted, but also the quality and workmanship provided. Communication should be clear, with details regarding payment schedules, warranties, change order processes, licensing, building permit acquisitions, and more, upfront, and easy to understand.
- Know Roles and Responsibilities – Many individuals are involved in a build out project, making it important that you as the client understand the rolls and responsibilities they have, whether or not you have direct interaction with them. Along with your contractor, you may have a designer, architect, project manager, as well as inspectors, subcontractors, tradesmen, and others. Your contractor should know everyone’s role and responsibility, communicate that information to you and ensure every part of the build out process is happening on time, according to plan, and within your budget. From building permits to inspections, zoning to structural requirements, insurance to accessibility codes, your contractor should keep you informed while dealing with any issues that arise.
- The Contract – Your contract with your contractor should have clear, understandable terms, roles, responsibilities, warranties, start and completion dates, budget limitations, and details regarding change orders.
As you consider the plans for your upcoming build out, call on the team at Perillo Construction to explain the build out process in detail and complete your project on time, on budget, and with the highest quality materials and workmanship.