What is an Office Fit Out Checklist?
An office fit out checklist is the list of necessary design and logistic considerations. These will make your brand-new space work conducive and efficient for your daily needs. Creating an office fit out checklist can help you avoid the pitfalls and traps commonly encountered by individuals who recently relocated to a new office.
What to do before making a fit out checklist
Prior to making a fit out checklist, there are certain things that you must first do in order to make a successful checklist. Here are some of them:
Choose Type of fit Out
You must first have a clear vision of the space that you will be relocating to. To do that, you must decide on the type of fit out that you will be doing to your space. A fit out can be CAT A or CAT B.
The two differ in terms of kind of finishing an installation. It also depends how you want your space to look so when making a checklist, you must first decide on this.
Set Your Priorities
Once you have a clear vision of what your goal for the new office space is, you can now set your priorities better. Your priorities can be placed on the checklist. Each priority depends on one company to another depending on the nature of their work and transactions.
Expansion Opportunities
Another important consideration before making a checklist is deciding whether you are intending to expand in the space that you are relocating to. If you are, then there should be an additional area that can be reconverted for a different purpose later on or enough facilities to sustain your needs.
The Contents of Your Fit Out Checklist
We suggest that your company fit checklist is divided into three-parts. These three parts are essential in planning and actual fitting. Here are they:
Budget
Let’s begin this office fit out guide by starting with the budget. The budget is the most significant in setting the whole office refit. It requires rigorous consideration and sometimes, it also demands you to stretch your corporate structure. This is why, when making your checklist, you must consider the following:
- Occupancy Cost
- Capital Expenditure
- Advisory Fees
- Migration Fees
- Soft Cost
We suggest that you always provide a good allowance on all your budget estimates so that you wouldn’t have any issues in the future. You must also factor in all the expenses from start to finish. To have a better idea of the cost involved in a fit out, you can coordinate your fit out specialists who have specific knowledge when it comes to these details.
Find a Team
Taking on an office relocation project can be difficult especially when it is on top of your daily workload. It can be very easy to lose track of your priorities and mess up. To prevent that, you can do yourself a favor and hire fit out specialists and a team whose job is to make moving offices more convenient. As much as possible, you should have the following people in your team:
Project Manager
A project manager is responsible for overseeing the entire renovation process of your new office. They communicate with you and other third parties to make sure that everything goes according to your plan.
Building Manager
Building managers are often provided by the management of the building that you are leasing. It is important that you work closely with them to make sure that everything that you are doing to the space is according to your lease contract.
Contractor
The contractors are responsible for doing all the hard labour in preparing your brand-new office. They do the floor and lighting installation, painting, etc. Working with well-established professional contractors will help you make sure that you stay on schedule and within your budget.
Although hiring people who will compose this team can be costly, it is justifiable given that they ensure that your office relocation is done properly and efficiently. In the long run, you will realize that you actually save money this way because you wouldn’t need to do renovations because all aspects are considered.
Interior Design
The style of your new office is critical in setting the work atmosphere for your employees. Study shows that employees are 15% more productive if they work in a space which they like. They are also more likely to become more creative as well.
Under this checklist, the following must be included:
- Color Palette – In offices, neutral color palettes that will fit the taste of the majority of the staff are proven to be better.
- Lighting – You can achieve natural lighting by opting to relocate to a building with big windows. However, if that is not an option, choosing a bright yet warm fixture will help make your new office look bright.
- Furniture – Each furniture in your office must be cohesive with the overall design but is still practical and useful for the staff.
- Arrangement – The arrangement is essential in making sure that there is a good workflow in the office. Ensuring proper office arrangement also helps ensure staff safety from electrocution or tripping incidents.
Special Considerations
If you are an IT company, your fit out checklist must prioritize flexibility. Most technological types of equipment easily go out of date and you may need to do new installation often. This is why unlike other companies, it can be difficult to invest in long term design, seating and even electrical wirings.
Moreover, you must also go over the logistics of the space. If you are renting, you must ask permission from the landlord for the renovations that you are planning to do to space. Doing this will save you from legal problems and additional costs in the future.
Everything that you change about your new office must also adhere to the laws and safety standards of your state. This is why it is ideal to work with a trusted and proven contractor who knows about these legalities.
Top Tips
Here are some expert advice in planning your next office space:
Do Your Research
A key to successful planning is extensive research. You can research several techniques on how to make your new workplace more efficient and conducive for employees. You can also canvass for estimated cost or look for possible vendors to help keep you on your budget.
Work With Professionals
It is important that you include the service of professionals in this process. They have a vast knowledge of the necessary logistics involved in moving to a fit out office.
Find Better Alternative
Sometimes, things will not go the way you want it to be. This is why it is advisable that you always have a contingency plan whether it is in your budget or your choice of furniture for the new office.
Stay On Your Schedule
Moving to a new office does not happen overnight. However, it is necessary to make sure that you stay on your schedule to avoid disruption to your usual business activities.
Final Thoughts
Relocating to a new office is indeed exciting. However, execution requires tremendous planning and considerations. Dealing with all the specifics can be very tasking for the top management which is why it is highly suggested that you work with a fit out specialist to help guide you on the process.
Moreover, we hope that the details mentioned above have given you an idea of what to include in your checklist.