Before you start renovating, there are countless things to consider, but the main thing to consider is your overall goal. Are you trying to save money? Remodeling so you can sell? There’s one answer that fits nearly every issue.
Efficiency can make a huge difference in how much your company has to pay monthly to heat and cool the building. These are some top tips for making your building more efficient and why it matters!
Why Renovation is Necessary
Renovation is a major part of revitalizing any business and building. Renovating gives you the chance to reimagine your business overall and give it a physical location tailored to your needs. Unfortunately, most companies move into older buildings with outdated HVAC systems, drafty windows, and low energy efficiency.
Renovation, more obviously, also increases the value of the building. If your company is getting ready to outgrow this location, updating the building will add some money that you can put toward the next area.
Key Areas to Focus on in Renovations
There are three main spaces to focus on during any renovation. These are the exterior as a whole, office spaces, and restrooms. Although you may want to update your waiting room area, this space generally has minimal needs beyond paint and furniture swaps.
The exterior often needs window replacements, maintenance, and updates to the greenery. Office spaces need a new HVAC system, noise dampening, and updated lighting. Restrooms can’t be ignored because the moment they age, the entire building begins to feel less hygienic.
Optimizing Space and Layout
Bouncing between commercial interior design trends and your personal tastes can be difficult. Thankfully, a lot of these trends are moving towards efficiency and how things are done instead of making every single building look the same.
When you’re getting ready to start a renovation, take the time to heavily research countless publications and sites to see what the options are, what you want, and what you want to avoid. Planning ahead can make all the difference.
Upgrading Infrastructure and Technology
The technology that fills your building, from smart lighting to air barrier systems, should all be carefully thought out. The last thing you want to do is grab a product because it’s affordable or readily available without checking its impact on your building.
When reviewing your current building and layout, think about what issues there are with your infrastructure. Is your technology serving your business in the best way possible? Take the time to make this property awesome from the very infrastructure out.
Improving Safety and Compliance
Employees, customers, and clients all expect you to have a building that’s safe for them. Many will put their faith in your hands before even considering that your building could be a hazard for them.
Create a building that is as safe and compliant as possible. Pay attention to details like hand safety rails and fire damper inspection timelines to create somewhere you’d invite your own family and loved ones.
Steps to Maximize Efficiency
Efficiency in how you conduct business and how your building needs and uses energy are both important. On the one hand, you need your employees to stay focused, ignore the noise and visual distractions, and be great at what they do. On the other hand, you need a building that holds air and keeps temperatures steady throughout the day.
A surprising way to help both is to boost how much insulation is in your building. Insulation reduces how much air gets through and will help your HVAC system stay at a consistent temperature without running as hard.
Insulation will also reduce noise pollution, shielding the inside of your industrial space from the sounds of traffic and the outside world. Being able to do both can do a lot of good.
Plan for Flexibility and Future Growth
Every business owner needs a ten-year plan for where they see themselves and their businesses over the next decade. It’s a good idea to keep that plan in mind when updating your industrial space.
If you think you’ll outgrow this space before that decade is up, it’s time to stop and plan for selling. Invest in parts of your building that will boost value, and look at how you can create a location where other business owners will want to buy.
Otherwise, plan for growth within the building! Flexible space and intelligent planning can set this building apart and make it a place for your company to flourish.
Efficiency Saves Both Money and Time
Whether you’re updating your property to sell or trying to give your business the best home, tons of changes bring money in and save you thousands of dollars. Follow these tips, and consider checking out Dunn Commercial for more ideas.
Author Bio:
Sam Willis is a freelance writer who loves sharing his knowledge and expertise in residential and commercial real estate, as well as engineering and construction. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he enjoys spending time with his wife and researching real estate trends in his free time. Sam’s work as a freelance writer can be found on Building Product Advisor, a construction industry resource site.