Commercial remodeling work is a team effort, and that includes some things the customer can do. If you're preparing for a commercial building remodeling job, you can help the contractors by addressing these four common early issues.

Determine What Is Permissible

Whether you have outright ownership of a property or are renting it, there are often limits on what can go into a commercial building. It's wise to consult with legal counsel to learn what limits there may be on your location. You may also need to talk with other stakeholders, including local government compliance officers. It's not a bad idea to speak with neighboring businesses, too.

Similarly, if the business is a franchise or subject to brand standards, you'll want to sort those out. Even if it's your business and brand, you should still try to keep remodeling choices on target.

Assess Practical Issues

Although there is a lot of fun to be had on the aesthetic side of renovating a building, commercial remodeling work is an opportunity to address practical considerations. Think about the equipment that's going into the building after the remodel and consider potential plumbing, electrical, communications, and HVAC upgrades. Speak with the people who've worked at the location and learn what they think needs some attention, too.

It's also a good idea to look at a commercial site through the lens of members of the public who might come there. This is a great opportunity to fix traffic flow issues, for example. If a door opens out to a bad spot for foot traffic, you might want to have the remodelers relocate it.

Survey the Site

Don't depend on existing documentation about the building and the property. Contact professionals to survey the location and assess its issue. If there's an engineering problem with the property, for example, you want to know that before you sink money into renovations. Develop a set of reports that will tell you what has to be addressed and what is ready for remodeling work.

Connect Everyone

Anyone who has a stake in the remodel should be able to get in touch with other parties. Collect the contact information for all parties and distribute it to everybody. If the architect has a concern about something in the plans, for example, they should be able to get in touch with the primary contractor. Make sure everyone stays in the loop so no one is caught off guard as the project progresses.

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