Surviving A Commercial Construction Project

Surviving A Commercial Construction Project

The need to build new space for your business or renovate your business’s existing space is usually a good sign. When you have to update or expand your space, it typically means that business is strong or even growing. Commercial construction projects tend to signify growth, and growth is an indicator that the future of a business is strong. Once it’s finished, your commercial construction project will mean bigger and better opportunities for your business. Yet while it’s going on, you’ll probably be too busy worrying about your budget, your schedule and the potential impact on your business to think about the bigger picture.

The long-term benefits of a commercial construction project can be wiped out if your business can’t overcome the short-term problems it may encounter during the process. If your budget spirals out of control, your schedule is broken, or the project impacts your business in other ways, it can all add up to making your construction project more trouble than it’s worth. Although a commercial construction project is fraught with potential peril, some preparation and foresight can help you through your project with little difficulty. Identifying the potential problems a commercial construction project can face and how to cope with them is crucial for any business considering such a project. Here are some pointers for surviving a commercial construction project.

Keeping It Under Budget

No doubt, one of the biggest concerns you’ll have before starting any construction project is how much it will cost. If the cost of the project ends up exceeding how much you’ve budgeted for it, it can have serious repercussions on other aspects of your business. That’s why it’s crucial to set a realistic budget before you get started and account for any delays or unexpected expenses. No construction project goes as smoothly as you want, and your budget should be ready for that. Don’t set the budget based on how much you want the project to cost. Because cutting corners will result in work needing to be redone and substantial cost overruns.

On the other hand, it’s important not to go too grandiose with your plans, either. Extending the scope of the project beyond what your business realistically needs at the moment and for the foreseeable future can put a strain on your resources and hobble your business during a critical time.

Staying on Schedule

Time is money, and you don’t want your commercial construction project to come up short in either department. Unless your project absolutely has to be completed as quickly as possible, it’s important to set a reasonable schedule for it that gives you breathing room in the event of unforeseen problems. Trying to overpromise with a breakneck construction schedule can only cause mistakes and costly delays.

Avoiding Arguments

Even if your project’s budget and schedule are in order, details still can go wrong if you end up butting heads with your contractors. That’s why you should always make sure you communicate your expectations with contractors clearly and frequently. If you take the time to update your project team on a daily basis with reports, you’re less likely to encounter problems that can happen because not everyone is on the same page. However, it’s also important to remember that the people you hire to bring your commercial construction project to life should be experienced professionals. That’s why you need to put your trust in them to do the job right and not micromanage them.

Ultimately, proper planning and preparation is the key to success when it comes to commercial construction. Take these tips that can be found in this guide to heart and you’ll be more likely to make it through the short-term pain and reap the long-term benefits.

Author bio: Andrew Pempek is Vice President of Pempek. For 60 years, Pempek has been a leading Chicago commercial electrical contracting company, specializing in industrial electrical power, maintenance services, control services and more.