6 tips to help manage your office fit out

3 min read

What do I really need to know?

Shane Deering – project director

The more we know, the less you need to worry about.  That, right there, is a standard rule of thumb that will help us create a beautiful, commercial office fit out for you while relieving the stress and worry that comes with large projects.  Here are 6 more things you need to know:

1) Know yourself, know your project

Um is not a dirty word… unless it’s followed by an extended blank stare and the words, “actually, we haven’t given that any thought.”  The consequences of this phrase can eat into timelines and budgets like a pack of wolves.  Especially, if you haven’t given any thought to what your organisation does, what it wants to achieve, what is does on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis, how and why.

We’re not saying that you need to fully understand all the design imperatives to help you get that done.  We are saying that if you know what you need to do, we’ll know what we need to do for you.

2) Tell us everything

Everything is relevant, everything helps, everything is what we need to understand about your work environment so that we can do everything possible to enhance it.  The interior design and construction of an office fit out in Sydney, or anywhere for that matter, can be fraught with complications but also, ripe with opportunities.  We often find that during the course of an open discussion with clients, during the initial phases of our relationship, they off-handedly mention something seemingly inconsequential.That something changes everything.  It can throw open the doors to new and amazing design innovations or likewise, shine a light on a solution that clears the path to creating an outstanding office.

3) Sharing is caring

Are your aspirations supported by supporting documentation?  Have you met internally about: how many meeting rooms you’ll need and why; mandatory or preferred branding; breakout and food prep/catering areas; staff numbers now and into the future; data storage requirements, that sort of thing?  If you have, that’s great.  We would love you to share it with us because we love making things easier for you.

We care about the whole commercial fit out journey which includes keeping tabs on how you’re travelling.  And yes, our rigorous documentation is invaluable to us, the process and the project.  That said, the fact that sharing information with you is a significant share of our way of working, also gives you peace of mind throughout the duration of the process.

4) Understand the process

When you realise that your end of lease is on the horizon and fast approaching, it will also become apparent that there is a lot of work to do before you move into your refurbished, brand-fit office.  A lot.  And even if you have no intention or need to move but your current fit out is no longer fulfilling its purposes, the process is still more involved than you may have imagined.

Thanks to home renovation shows and project builds on the small screen, the expectation is that an office fit out company in Sydney will be in and out in a matter of weeks – maybe a couple of months.  Maximum.  But that’s just the construction phase.  The success of your project rests in the planning.  The planning’s the thing and the myriad moving parts need to be set and coordinated in a logical order in order to successfully navigate everything from statutory approvals, technical drawings, permissions to scheduling.

5) Think outside your box

Speaking of planning.  When going into a future-focused, high value project such as a commercial office fit out, a lot of office fit out companies settle for a variation on a theme.  Either they or their client or both are thinking about solving problems that are right in front of them and go for the easy wins as a result.This certainly reduces the complexities – temporarily, but it may be the cause of longer-term pain when the current iteration outlives its usefulness.

Tip: focus on what you want the fit out to achieve without constraining your thinking to space restrictions, for example.Think about what could be achieved if only…That’s the headspace you want to be in when discussing plans to redefine the future of how and where your business does its best work.

6) Get comfortable

Patience and understanding are the keys here.  Think about ordering a new supercar – Ferrari for example (or other forms of private jet) – that takes your fancy.  You might know within minutes, days or weeks which one is right for you, but a year can pass before the custom hand-stitching is done and it arrives in your driveway.

That said, there is comfort in knowing that while you’re waiting, the very best practitioners of the trade are working through a tried and true process to deliver unparalleled quality.  Now, we’re no good at designing V12 engines but beautiful office fit outs? You can and should count on us.

Tip 6 is and should be a huge difference-maker when it comes to determining who you’ll entrust to bringing your office fit out aspirations to life.  Getting everything right and everything you need is an involved and lengthy process.  Our best tip is to find office fit out companies with experience, an expansive portfolio but most importantly, a reputation for trustworthiness, mutually beneficial relationship building and trust.  That’s what you need to know.

Shane Deering

Shane Deering

Project Director
With over 25years in the corporate sector, tight deadlines, the accompanying and requisite people and management skills have become part of Shane’s operational DNA. Leveraging formal qualifications in the key disciplines of electronics, business process engineering management and quality systems, Shane has a stellar background in all aspects of project management.

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