Commercial construction projects are large undertakings that require a lot of moving parts. Finding the right location, crew, and time to build a commercial construction project can also be challenging. But when you find the right space or have a great client to work with, building a commercial building can be an exciting job. If you’re ready to get a new building up here are the top four things to consider before starting a commercial construction project.
1. Building a Team
Before you can get started on a commercial construction project, you’ll need to consider who you want to be on your team. Your team will be the most important part of the job. You’ll work with these people every day and will need to make sure that everyone can work together efficiently to keep the project on track. Your commercial building team will include commercial contractors, site expectations teams, designers, architects engineers, and ad hoc professionals for more specific parts of the job.
When you’re building your team out you’ll want to consider how much experience people have in their field. In the early stages, you’ll most likely work with a contractor, designer, and architect to figure out how you’re going to design the commercial space. It’s worth it to take the time to vet these team members. You can ask to see examples of their past work and current portfolios. You can also look for references and reviews of these people to make sure the type of work they do is in line with the project you’re starting.
The right architects can also help advise you on the types of materials you’ll need for your build and make sure that everything stays within codes and permissions. You can learn more about some of the materials your team members may recommend in the beginning stages of the design in this helpful guide.
2. Obtain Permits and Contracts
When starting a commercial project you can’t just start building whenever you want. You must obtain all of the right permits and contracts for the job. Your team can help you do this as well as representatives from the area. Every city has different permits when it comes to commercial buildings.
If you don’t obtain the proper contracts and permits and start building anyway, you can be hit with large fines and huge building delays during your project. To make sure that you start your project on the right foot, make sure you consider all of the paperwork you need.
3. Create a Project Timeline
One of the most important parts of starting a commercial construction project is knowing just how long it might take. Before you hire crews and start placing shipments, you should consider creating a project timeline. This timeline will map out estimates of how long parts of the construction will take. Once you have a rough timeline, you can double-check with your team for proper estimates.
Contractors and designers will have a good idea of how long certain parts of the construction should take to complete. Sticking to your timeline as closely as possible can help avoid setbacks and improve the overall planning of the project. Sticking to a timeline can help avoid large delays for the project and keep you close to your budget.
3. Build a Budget
Just like creating a timeline, building out a budget before you start a commercial construction project is a crucial key to success. You don’t want to break the bank or have to obtain more funding halfway through a project. Your budget will help influence decisions on what materials you’ll use throughout the project. It will also help you to estimate how many workers you can have on a job site, how quickly you need to get certain parts of the build done and if you have wiggle room for extra design features down the line.
When you’re building your budget you’ll also need to consider the financing of your project. This is the step where it might make sense to obtain a loan to finance the build. You can also work with your contractors to figure out how much you should set aside for unexpected expenses that may occur throughout the project. Having these things prepared before you start a project can help avoid any unwanted extra costs throughout construction.
Conclusion
Creating a new commercial building is an exciting project. You get to build something that people will use every day. The space is where you get to be creative and decide if the architecture will reflect your style or if the interior will do all of the talking. Before you can open the doors though, keep these pre-construction considerations in mind. They will not only help to shape the finished project but also ensure you can stick to a budget-friendly timeline throughout the build.