Any commercial build represents a significant investment of time and money. Careful planning and detailed troubleshooting before you commence is essential in order to foresee all variables and ensure you and your enterprise are ready for any bumps in the road ahead.
Weigh Up Your Options
Before you start looking at the details of the build you are about to undertake, it is essential that you establish whether a new building is the right move for your business. Make sure you have checked all your other options, including renting an existing space, buying another building or expanding on your current building. All these options could save you and your business time and money, should they be a possibility.
You should also check the properties in your area and establish if you could feasibly renovate an existing building within your budget.
Budget
It is of utmost importance that you don’t endanger your company’s financial health with a project of this scale. Careful budgeting can help avoid costly mistakes and ensure that you are able to see the project through to its completion. Make sure you know exactly how much money is required to finish the project, and if necessary, establish what financing solutions are available to you. Employing the services of a financial consultant can help to reduce risk and make your venture more appealing when seeking financing from external sources. In addition to a financial consultant, try a construction cost calculator app to help keep your construction costs on track and within budget.
Permits
Make sure you are acquainted with all permits and legal requirements in your state before you begin your build. Delays in acquiring the appropriate permits can result in costly repercussions should the contractor be ready to start. Contact your local building office and describe the nature of your project. They will be able to provide you with an application form that outlines the requirements, as well as any necessary inspections to review the quality of the work being done.
Architect or Designer
This is a vital step towards ensuring the success of your project. Inefficient use of space, poor natural light and poor functionality are some of the pitfalls that can occur if the building is not designed appropriately to meet the needs of the business. As an example, a building that is solely for the purpose of storing agricultural equipment will benefit from a clear span truss to eliminate the need for supporting interior poles to maneuver your tractor around.
A good architect or designer will also be able to foresee any issues and address needs that you may not have even considered. This is an invaluable resource, and trying to cut costs on a designer will have detrimental consequences down the line.
Prepare for the Future
You need to anticipate the future needs of your business or enterprise and incorporate these into the plan for your construction. Is there room or expansion or remodeling? How difficult would it be to divide rooms or open the building up into one space should the needs of your business change further down the line?
