Investing in new or expanded premises has substantial long-term benefits for a business, but in the short-term the upheaval of construction work can wreak havoc for the smooth running of your operations. Downtime can be extremely costly for any business, which makes minimising disruption crucial during your building project. Here are a few ways in which you can control your budget, keep your project on schedule, and help your business tick over throughout the process.
Orchestrating architects, builders, deliveries and workflow can be near impossible if you lack the time or expertise to manage a building project yourself. Communication can easily break down between parties if there isn’t a central project manager overseeing your build, which makes hiring a professional to take care of this essential.
A project manager may be an additional expense for your construction work, but the savings secured by avoiding delays and hiccups will far outweigh the cost of their services. After all, prevention is better than cure.
Alternatively, some building firms offer a complete service, managing the whole project from the planning through to the finishing touches. Where subcontractors are required, they will delegate the tasks efficiently to vetted tradesmen, keeping your project on track whilst ensuring that your design is followed stringently.
No matter how carefully you plan your construction work, extra costs will crop up along the way. However, if your business hasn’t got the funds to address obstacles and requirements, it could cost you more in terms of the impact it has on your operations. To keep your project running smoothly, and ensure that your completion date remains unaffected, set aside a contingency budget that you can access in case of emergency.
Few businesses can afford to shut up shop altogether during the construction process, so how do you continue to run your business safely and effectively whilst work is being completed on site? Temporary facilities offer a smart solution, enabling you to set up camp in a safe, secure and well-designed portable building until your new premises is complete.
Portable buildings are available in a range of sizes, and can be fitted to meet your needs – whether you require storage space or offices for your staff. They tend to be much more affordable than hiring temporary office space, and if you invest in eco portable cabins, they are also cost-effective and efficient to run. In doing so, you can avoid downtime and ensure that it’s business as normal until your new premises is complete.
These are just a few ways in which savvy business owners can reduce the impact of construction work on their organisation. From managing the project effectively to keeping the business running during the build, follow these tips to protect your bottom line and ensure a great return on investment from your project.
If you embark on a project or are in the middle of one please tell us about it in the comments
This article was written by Kelly G Grassam with helpful information from Thurston Building Systems. Kelly can be found on Twitter @KellyGGrassam
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