An office refurbishment can be one of the most effective methods of giving your company a fresh new look – but there are plenty of things which could go wrong.
Thames Contracts are specialists in office design in the north London area, including Potters Bar, Hitchin and Edgware. Here we look at five of the common mistakes made during – and before – office fitouts and refurbishments.
Doing it Yourself
It might seem tempting to do all the work yourself. After all, you know what you want, and you could save on the budget. The reality is that professional contractors like Thames Contracts will do a much better job.
A modern office fitout involves far more than just getting the paintbrushes out for a few days. To do the job properly, you need to think about the configuration of the whole office space, where the utilities are going to be located, and any legal obligations you may have to meet. Bringing in the professionals will save you from making any errors which could cost a lot of money to put right.
Not Planning Properly
This is a crucial element of any office fitout or refurbishment. As the old saying has it, ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. Some projects run into difficulties because not enough thought has been given to seating plans and access arrangements and even basic issues like how many tables and chairs you will need.
A schedule of works is another vital component of any successful office refit, but one which can easily be overlooked. You need to consider not only when the work is going to be done, but also in what order to minimise disruption and to get you up and running as quickly as possible.
At Thames Contracts, we will have an initial consultation meeting with you then draw up a 3D computer generated image, so you can see what your new office will look like – subject to your approval, of course. We will agree a timescale with you, taking into account your company’s busiest periods, and also sort out the best times for specialist contractors like plumbers and electricians to come in.
Not Building in Future Flexibility
It’s all very well having a nice new office but what happens if you want to make changes to it? What if you want to take on more staff, or you need to create more enclosed spaces for greater privacy?
Thames Contracts specialise in glass partitions in offices in Barnet, Potters Bar, Borehamwood and across north London. This means we can easily convert different parts of the office from open plan to private meeting rooms and vice versa. Clear glass partitions will also give your staff a much greater feeling of space and make the whole office seem more welcoming.
Not Budgeting Effectively
Some office fitouts don’t look as good as they ought to because the customer hasn’t budgeted effectively. If money starts running out before the project is completed, then corners may have to be cut, while some elements may have to be scrapped completely.
You should have an initial budget which allows you to have a certain amount of money left over in case the work hits any unexpected problems. Keep monitoring the finances at every stage to make sure the costs are under control.
Thames Contracts will give you a detailed quote at an early stage, as we recognise this could affect your design options and choice of materials.
Not Thinking About Your Staff
Some office refurbishments aren’t as successful as they ought to be because they have forgotten one crucial element – the staff who will be using it. Many people don’t like change, so make sure your employees are consulted every step of the way on what is happening – before, during and after the work. Listen to their feedback and be prepared to modify your ideas where this is practical.
At Thames, we won’t forget their crucial creature comforts such as heating and lighting, and breakout areas so staff have somewhere to relax away from the rigours of work. Remember, having happy employees usually means higher productivity.
North London Office Design from Thames Contracts
Thames Contracts have well over two decades’ worth of experience in high-quality office design in north London. We have also carried out work in Hitchin, Edgware, Watford and Stevenage.
Our reputation for completing work on time and within budget means we often carry out several projects for the same client, who then recommends us to other customers. If you would like to know more about our office planning services, follow the link above or call us on 020 8368 0045.