Most businesses need a building in which to operate. Whether it’s a market or store, a factor, or a business that offers a service such as insurance, the right kind of building is essential. You could lease or buy an existing structure but if you can afford it, having a new one constructed has its advantages.
You can have it designed and built in the way that best suits your company’s operations. Office, manufacturing space, warehouse, loading docks, whatever you need can be added. Preparing to have a new building constructed is a big task. There are things to consider along the way.
Decide How Big It Should Be
Before you hire a construction company and start making purchases from a building material distributor, you need to know how big the building should be. This will naturally depend on the size of your business and what it does.
Size includes the length and width and also how many stories you will need. It may be affected by the size of the lot you plan to build on as well as your financial resources. You also need to look into local zoning laws and find out what permits will be needed.
Put Together a Budget
Your budget is extremely important. You certainly don’t want to have to halt construction because you run out of money. You may pay for the building with company assets, loans, or money from investors but budget carefully.
It is also important to plan for the unexpected. Delays due to weather, supply chain problems, illness, or other factors are not unusual. The total cost of a building may also end up being more than anticipated. Allotting an additional 5-10% over what you expect the project to cost is prudent and can save headaches, especially on big projects that may take several years to complete.
Hire a Good Architect and Contractor
It’s natural to want to save money but skimping is a bad idea especially when it comes to your architect and contractor. Hire the best you can afford. Be sure that your team is experienced in commercial construction as it is different from residential building.
Make sure your architect and contractor are properly licensed and ask for references. You want to know they have successfully completed projects to their customers’ satisfaction. The team also must be knowledgeable about all laws applicable to construction in the area in which you are building. A violation can be costly in terms of fines and delays and could shut down your project altogether.
Communicate Effectively
Excellent communication between you, the architect, the contractor, the project manager, and all subcontractors is also vital. Without open dialogue in which everyone clearly understands what’s going on, mistakes can happen. Mistakes are costly and can easily derail the entire project. Avoid them by having all the major players in constant communication.
Minimize the Length of Construction
Time is money. It may be a cliche but it’s also true. The longer it takes to put up your building, the more it will cost you. You can save by minimizing the length of time the project takes. Have your contractor utilize construction techniques that will save time. A shorter period of work means lower labor costs and if you took out a loan to pay for the construction, you will be able to pay it off faster, saving on interest. A good contractor will know which techniques and equipment can streamline the process.
Lower Maintenance Costs
You can save yourself money down the road by choosing a building design that will require as little maintenance as possible. This will save on labor and materials throughout the life of the building. It’s a savvy move.
A business needs a place to operate and having a commercial building constructed can ensure it meets your needs. Take the time to consider every aspect before beginning. You’ll save yourself headaches and money.