commercial remodeling

What is a Tenant Improvement?

What is a Tenant Improvement? 1000 750 Majid Riahi

In real estate, a tenant improvement, or leasehold improvement, is “the customized alternations a building owner makes to rental space as part of a lease agreement, [to] configure the space for the needs of that particular tenant. These include changes to walls, floors, ceiling, and lighting, among others.” When your business/company upgrades to a larger space, the space you’re working in should be customized to your needs and fit the look and appeal of your brand. Often there is a clause for tenant improvement in the lease. It would be valuable to get the most out of it.

What have we seen done in our Tenant Improvement projects?
We’ve seen a smart use of materials and creativity let loose from fun paint colors, wallpaper designs, and murals to laminate/vinyl flooring with soundproofing beneath.

With our recent project On Glendale Blvd, the tenants had various colors to match their company logo throughout their walls. The designs and patterns were refreshing and different.

In the individual offices, they made use of wood wall paneling to add texture and character.

Our Tip: Know Your Design + Budget
We highly suggest consulting an interior designer that specializes in tenant improvements. They understand the functionality and use of an area from corporate offices, retail, restaurants, and such. A simple understanding of electrical outlet placement, flow between desks/tables/chairs, hiding acoustic paneling to absorb sound makes a considerable difference to the efficiency and productivity of your employees.

Budget. Budget. Budget. With the cost of materials fluctuating because of supply shortages, always leave an allowance in your budget for variation and last-minute changes.

Tenant Improvements Post-Pandemic
We’re now seeing a significant impact from remote work. Many companies are downsizing their office spaces. However, if your employees cannot work remotely, then the spacing between them must expand.

Are you considering a tenant improvement of your own? Before beginning, interview qualified general contractors. You want a general contractor who will work with your budget and honor your vision.

We’d love to chat with you about your tenant improvement. Contact us today.

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commercial remodel

commercial remodel

Commercial Remodeling: Tips for Successful Improvements

Commercial Remodeling: Tips for Successful Improvements 1920 862 Majid Riahi

So you’re looking to dive into the vast undertaking of commercial renovation. It’s a smart choice: done well, a commercial remodel can impress clients, boost foot traffic, motivate employees and embolden investors. That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? You’ve got to make sure it goes well if you want to reap the rewards. So before you get started with your big commercial remodel, make sure you’re clued-up with the following tips. Think of this as your own personal commercial building renovation checklist!

Create a Budget and Time Frame (And Expect to Exceed Both)

Commercial remodeling services don’t come cheap. There are a lot of jobs that will cost you a lot of money, from your initial design to the acquisition of materials, baseline structural repairs to the commercial renovation itself. It’s worth researching quite how much you’ll expect to pay and setting aside an appropriate sum, with an extra 10% or so in case of unexpected costs or alterations you may desire.

As well as budgeting your finances, you’ll also want to budget out your time; that is, lay out an expected time frame for your commercial renovation. When considering this, remember that your employees and customers will likely have to continue operating throughout the proceedings. This can lengthen the time-to-completion, and if you don’t account for it, can lead to higher costs too.

Have a Central Reason for Your Renovation

One of the great things about a commercial remodel is that they can benefit a company, its employees, and its customers in a variety of ways. Still, before contacting any commercial remodel companies and getting started, it’s important that you work out a core reason for your renovation. Are you looking to modernize? Increase the services you offer? Perhaps you seek a more collaborative environment for your employees? There can be secondary reasons and benefits to your commercial renovation, sure, but without working out that core guiding factor, you’ll risk suffering from a lack of direction. With the myriad steps involved in even the simplest remodel, that sense of direction is key to keeping you within budget and on schedule.

Keep Within the Law

Any sort of major construction work, especially on premises that will be used by the public, must conform to local building regulations, safety regulations and accessibility requirements. Without meeting these requirements, it’s likely that you’ll face a number of complications with regulatory organizations down the road. It’s also important to attain all the relevant permits from your local authorities before getting started.

Ask For Your Employees’ Input

There are a mountain of decisions to make when taking on a commercial remodel, and while too much external advice can be overwhelming, it’d serve you well to keep track of what your employees are thinking from time to time. They are, after all, the ones who will be spending the most time in your building; the remodel should suit them more than anyone else. If you’re stuck on a tough design decision, remember who’s going to be working around it for the foreseeable future and ask for their thoughts.

Commercial remodels can work wonders in reinvigorating your employees and re-engaging customers. If you plan wisely, choose the right contractors, and stay within the laws of your locality, you’re on track for rewarding project outcome.