Moving into a new office space can be quite challenging regardless of the size of your firm. Ideally, it is best to have someone working on the minute details of your move, remodel or design so that you can be left to deal with your personnel and clients. Hiring a firm that streamlines your moving or renovation process could be one of the best business decisions that you ever make. If you are unsure of how to start your research process, it is best to consult the tips below to see how to conduct your search for the ideal firm to handle your upcoming design or space renovation.
What to Look for in the Ideal Office Design Firm
When you are shopping for a prospective office design firm, it is important that the firm offer services such as office design, office fit-out, office refurbishment, office relocation and furniture selection.
To begin with office design, it is critical that your prospective firm has experience with drafting design plans for office spaces. This is essential because they have to have the imagination and proper experience to create a place for your office that you would not have been able to anticipate yourself. When it comes to office fit-out, your prospective firm has to understand how to tailor space to a specific industry. This means that if you are designing a doctor’s office, for example, that they have a standard go-to template for your office design to start the process. This will make the process easier for you to customise the space if you have a general guideline to follow.
Your prospective office design firm should also have experience in office refurbishment. The reason for this is that you are bound to have issues with your office space down the road. Ideally, you want to keep the existing relationship with the firm that you are hiring to design your space so that they can fix your space in the future. Usually, your contract will contain a warranty clause, which is where the firm having experience in office refurbishment could be a great asset to you.
Your prospective firm should absolutely have experience in office relocation. The reason for this is that the majority of services within the office design consulting industry revolve around office location. Your firm should have extensive experience in the process of guiding a business through a transition to a larger or smaller office. They should have vendor contacts and a streamlined process; you should not have to lift a finger during your relocation.
Your prospective firm should have direct furniture vendor contacts that are willing to work with the unique concept design that you are trying to implement in your office. There should be furniture contacts pertaining to desks, sofas and kitchen and office supplies. These vendors should also have some sort of price deal with your prospective firm in order to lower your overall moving costs.
If you’re planning a major renovation of an office building, you may also need to look for other contractors that will work on your commercial roofing, bamboo flooring, plumbing, electrical, commercial hvac installation, etc. Experts like Cronen Plumbing & Heating Inc. can help with plumbing projects.
What to Consider When Choosing Your Office Design Firm
Choosing a firm to facilitate any major move for your business is an enormous investment in your business. It is important that you treat this as a very serious decision and interview multiple companies to make sure that you get exactly what you are looking for. When searching for the ideal firm for your office move, it is important to make sure that your prospective firm has online quotes, positive customer references, experience in many different industries, a working website, customer service and clear contracts.
To begin with online quotes, your prospective firm should absolutely have an online quote system that is either linked to their website or email account for after your consultation. You should be presented with a professional proposal that is catered to exactly what you are looking for. This is essential so that you can see the attention to detail with your space. Your personalised quote should have a wide range of prices pertaining to upgrades and downgrades that were discussed during your meeting. If you fail to see this from a company, it is an indication of how seriously they are taking your business and you should likely look elsewhere.
The firm you are considering hiring should have positive customer service references. Additionally, they should be able to directly refer you to positive contacts within your specific industry. You should also research their online presence to see if there are any comments about them in various online forums.
Something that is often overlooked is the importance of your firm having a well-maintained, professional website. If a business approaches you about your upcoming move or remodel and does not have a good website, then it is best to look elsewhere.
Your prospective firm should have customer service that is available 24/7 both during the direct involvement with your project and the post-project phase. You should always feel as if this company is one step ahead of you in order to ensure that they are worth investing your time and money.
Lastly, the firm you are considering hiring must have professional and clear contracts as to their exact services and fees. Many design companies try to take advantage of hidden fees, so it is important to read the contract carefully and even consider showing it to your in-house counsel for a second opinion.
There are many wonderful office design companies out there. The key is to know what you are looking for and not to settle until you find the precise company for your needs. If you follow these valuable tips you will be able to find the perfect company for your needs, and that company will make your upcoming move and/or office renovation a great success that reflects positively on your business. After all, your office is the first impression that many of your clients see; thus, it is imperative to invest the proper time and capital into making your unique business space truly sensational.