Remodeling a commercial space can be a very exciting time for your business. However, it’s important to get things right or you could be putting your venture in great danger. Getting things wrong can lead to costly delays which could ultimately sink your business. In this post, we go over four steps for remodeling your commercial space to ensure you don’t find yourself at a dead-end.
Understand The Zoning Regulations
Zoning regulations dictate what a building can be used for. If your renovations will be changing the nature of your business, you should pay very close attention to your zoning regulations. For example, if you have a bookstore and want to add a café, you need to make sure that you’ll be legally allowed to prepare and serve food. Finding this out too late could have dire consequences for your vision.
Find Out About Any Existing Zoning Violations
If your commercial space hasn’t had any work done on it for quite some time, you’ll need to ensure there aren’t any existing zoning violations. It’s possible that a zoning violation had been grandfathered in and will need to be rectified during your renovations. It’s also possible that previous leaseholders did unapproved work that will need to be addressed before your renovations are approved. You may also find that your renovations will require meeting accessibility requirements or historic landmark regulations. Finding out about hidden violations or new requirements before you begin your renovations can prevent a lot of financial and mental stress.
Understand Your Facility Requirements
Making a commercial space larger could increase your facility requirements. For example, increasing the capacity of a restaurant or bar may require you to add more toilets or fire exits. Keeping your facility requirements in mind when planning your commercial renovations could prevent costly oversights.
Assess The Building’s Integrity
Knowing that your building will be able to tolerate your renovation plans is another key to a successful project. For example, if you’re hoping to create an open office concept but are required to remove load-bearing walls, you might find your project is thwarted before you even begin. Similarly, a superficial renovation that doesn’t address the structural deficiencies of things like floors, walls, plumbing or electrical systems can turn out to be a waste of your money and effort.
