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Category: Tenant Improvement
Date: Sept 2021

TOP 5 TIPS FOR TENANT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Are you starting a new company in a new location? Is your current business growing fast enough? You might need a tenant improvement project.

At Canadian Blueprint we work with business owners to help them design and build out their ideal tenant space or warehouse properties. In this post, we’ll review a few of the best ways to make sure your tenant improvement project is a success.

If you’re planning a new project, call us today at (604) 320-7855 to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goal!

1. Start planning before you sign a lease.

Planning for your tenant improvement project should begin before you even think about signing your lease. In your search for the perfect space (whether it’s an office, restaurant, or retail location) you should consider:
Budget: do not invest in a space that needs more work than you can afford
Timeline: Even if you can pay for renovations and construction, will the space be ready on the time scope needed?

Fire Separation: Is the leased space properly fire separated for your type of business? Avoid expensive construction of firewalls from your own money by consulting first with your landlord or a Specialist.
At Canadian Blueprint we will always be ready to assist you with cost and time saving solutions.

2. Work with your space not against it

The key to a large tenant improvement project is the flexibility and ability to work with the features offered by your new space. For example, if your new office has a lot of natural light, use it to reduce your energy bills. Think of creative ways to take advantage of the characteristics of your new space (Existing washrooms or storage, open ceilings, etc)

With our permit design service for tenant improvement we will help you anticipate cost overruns and have flexible options in mind to keep your project within budget.

3. Balance wants and needs it

When it comes to keeping your project within your schedule and budget, you may not be able to achieve all the items on your wish list. Don’t get too attached to the initial idea. One of the biggest mistakes that new tenants make is to think too narrowly and consider everything as a “need”, success is found in the ability to prioritize the design components that help you run the business.

4. Do not emphasize form over function
Remember that your tenant improvement project must have a goal, which is to create a space that meets the needs of your customers and visitors. Many tenant improvement projects fall into the mistake of spending the entire budget on decorative features while overlooking the actual elements that provide profitability.
5. Think like your customers and visitors.
As the owner you don’t get to experience your business as your clients and employees do. One of the keys to a business success is the level of comfort that you provide to those who will visit or work in your company. Making a great impression with the lighting, layout and accessibility will keep you clients constantly retuning for your services. Ask your team what they would like to see in their work space. Take a look at other local companies and see how they have built their work spaces. The productivity of your employees derives from.