Common Office Fit-Out Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

An article by Rob    Comments Off on Common Office Fit-Out Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

How an office fit-out goes can mean it goes either budget, or lead to the fit-out being miserable for staff. We’ve seen both ends of the spectrum; smooth and difficult. Here are the most common pitfalls, and how to avoid them.

### Underestimating the timeline

Design sign-off, procurement lead times for furniture and materials, building consents… the list goes on and on. Most businesses are used to planning fit-outs that take a few weeks, but they can span several months if you don’t tackle all of the variables. Start planning as early as possible—ideally six months— to avoid rushed decisions.

### Fitting growth into your design

You may find yourself having to redesign a space that fits your staff count perfectly, and that will likely happen within a year and a half of moving in. Avoid additional expensive fit-outs in the near future by designing your space for growth from the outset. Flexible meeting rooms that can be reconfigured, adjustable desks, or modular furniture with extra capacity will do just that.

### Ignoring the infrastructure

While shiny new features like a breakout area, a branded reception, and a feature wall may be enticing, don’t overlook the less visual elements such as power and data, HVAC, and acoustics. An office that has beautiful aesthetics will quickly wear thin on people if it’s hot in the summer and they can hear every phone call at the desk next to them.

### Stakeholder input

Even if management view is that a space doesn’t need input from staff or other management, it’s likely that just about every other user of the space would disagree. Spaces need the practical details that management misses. This can include quiet zones and storage space, and desk plug sockets.

Before they become costly to tackle, issues can be identified through informal talks with teams or a brief questionnaire.

Choosing A Contractor Based Only On Price

While price is undoubtedly important, some fit-out contractors can be more expensive than they appear due to the additional costs associated with correcting their poor quality work. Therefore, it is important to obtain feedback from their previous clients, ideally those who had jobs of a similar size, and to inspect one of their completed projects prior to signing any contracts.

Planning Ahead

1. Start planning and contracting a minimum of 4 to 6 months before your target date to move into the new space.

2. Consult with team members as opposed to only the executive side.

3. Budget for hiring growth, rather than the current size of the team.

4. Give priority to the location of power, data, and sound insulation, and finish at the same time.

If you need help with business and office relocation or refurbishment, please contact us.