Renovations and remodels are a fact of life, generally speaking. Sure, it’s not something that a business goes through every day, but whether it’s the office or the home, updating and renovating is something that needs to happen from time to time. People like to get their spaces updated and modernised because we want something new and different, we don’t want old technologies, and we also want to fix general wear and tear issues. This is the same with an office renovation. It’s important to modernise to keep the business looking good to customers, and to just keep ahead of maintenance issues.

All that being said, renovations can be inconvenient. Even when they’re completed quickly, there’s always a period of having to live through renovation. This may mean a meeting room is out of action for a couple days, employees don’t have as much space as they’re used to, and even temporary shut offs to utilities. And when it comes to utilities, even if the power is off for only an hour, it can really disrupt a business.

So all of that raises the question: when is the best time for an office renovation? This could mean when is the best time of year, or when is the best time for a business in general? Let’s take a look.

Consider Your Business Cycle

Ultimately, the most important thing to consider when doing an office renovation is how it will impact the business. With this in mind, consider the business cycle and how you can fit an office renovation in. All business have slow seasons, so obviously it’s best to try and schedule your office renovation into a time period when you know business is going to be slower.

Be wary, however, of times like Christmas holidays, where many service based business may be slow. During these periods, many commercial construction companies will have shut down periods or, at the very least, be working with few staff members due to people taking holidays. This may delay a project.

Going further, when planning your office renovation, make sure you start planning well before your intended renovation period. Planning and designing take time, as does sourcing and shipping materials for a renovation. If you’re hoping to start an office renovation during a quiet time for the business, you may need to start planning and engaging builders months in advance.

Consider Staffing

This goes for both when the best time for a renovation is and in general.

Office renovations may start to come up when employee needs change. Renovations aren’t just about the look and feel of an office, but some of the other conveniences like restrooms and kitchens. As a small example, if the office headcount grows to the point where the office kitchen is overcrowded and there’s no room for anybody’s lunch in the fridge, it may be time for a renovation. It may be time to move to a new office as well, but that’s another story.

Many businesses have natural staffing fluctuations, whether it’s taking on more people at a certain time of year, or a time when there’s a lot of staff away. If it’s the former, it’s probably a good idea that renovations happen before a large induction of new staff. If it’s the latter, try to schedule your office renovations during times of fewer staff.

Going further, if you can temporarily shift staff to working from home or at an alternative site, this could also be a good option to minimise disruption to the staff as well as the construction workers trying to get your new renovation done.

Consider Replacement Furniture, Fittings, And More

We touched on this before, but it’s important to consider lead time for construction material, as well as furniture and fitting. Because of this, when trying to decide if it’s time for an office renovation, consider what the condition of your most used furniture is going to be in a year. If you think furniture may need to be replaced now, it will definitely be completely worn out in a year. This means it’s time to start planning your renovation, speaking with designers, and getting quotes from builders. You won’t be in complete renovation mode for a whole year, but by the time everything is done, 12 months will have passed.

Get Some Advice

Feel free to contact us if you’re considering an office renovation. The planning process can take a long time, so it’s best to engage a builder early.