Home remodeling projects have taken the country by storm. Thanks to the prevalence of various home reno shows, Americans are more inspired than ever to change and upgrade their living spaces — and that includes their work environments. The number of jobs in the construction equipment operation industry alone was 426,000 in 2016. Numbers like that are fueled in part by the high demand for renovation. Although they are much trickier to manage and complete, the commercial property remodeling projects are on the rise; the industry has grown by 11.7% between 2012 and 2017, and is only expected to increase through 2022. Whether you’re an older company looking to reinvent your image in order to keep up with the competition or are a younger business trying to maintain your edge, here are a few tips to help you along the way.
Preparation Is Key
One of the biggest struggles of office remodeling projects is the fact that they require different codes. Because you’re changing a space that houses other people, you must be absolutely certain that you’re doing everything by the book to reduce any safety risks; you may be able to cut corners in the sanctity of your own home, but that isn’t an option in your office. The best way to ensure you’re dotting all your i’s and crossing all your t’s is by planning ahead. In the event of any unexpected (or frustrating) surprises, you’ll have a strategy in place to deal with it which will hopefully prevent the project from falling behind.
Consider Your Goals
Logically, you can’t design a new professional space if you don’t know what you want to get from it. Ask yourself how your current office supports your work, and what it’s lacking; think about where you and your employees spend the most amount of your time — is it in separate private spaces or in boardrooms? Only by considering what you want to change — and what you want to stay the same — can you get a good understanding of how to go about the entire process. This is an excellent moment to get your employees involved; ask them for their opinions and what they would like to get out of the new office, since they’ll be in it as much as you!
This step matters regardless of where your office is located. Many people are fortunate enough to be able to work from home, and have established backyard office studios for peace and quiet; in fact, the most popular use for a 10×12 backyard modern shed is as a detached office. It’s important that you treat the space the same as you would if it were an entire floor in an office building.
Communicate With Your Employees
If you have employees, they absolutely must be involved in the design and decision-making process. If possible, ask for their opinions through every step of the experience; not only will you be able to get a sense of what your people really want, but they’ll most likely end up being more productive and passionate in a space that they helped create.
Most Americans work at least 40 hours a week. If you’re going to be spending so much time in one place, it should be one that you enjoy physically and visually. By giving your professional surroundings a bit of a makeover (or complete facelift), you’ll both see and feel the difference that it makes.