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Why you Should be Bringing a Contractor When you Start Looking for Spaces to Move Into

Most of the time, a professional contractor is only brought in by the projects team towards the tail end of the site inspections. The norm in the Philippines is just to have professionals involved in the process after sites have been selected and contracts of lease or sale are about to be signed.

However, there are actually many advantages to bringing a contractor in much earlier prior to site selection that clients miss out on. Most clients are not aware of the value that professional contractors bring that early in the stage of site selection.

Here are the advantages of bringing a contractor in to do site inspections with your real estate broker: 

Initial Handover Condition Assessment 

Different buildings have different handover conditions, and a contractor can assess how much more you would be spending on fit-out depending on the unit turnover. In other words, a contractor will be able to provide you with insights into which units have less of a cost impact.

Building and Space Specifications 

A contractor can immediately assess the building specifications and would be able to evaluate if your office would be able to move in any special equipment you have with ease or with difficulty (i.e.: the need to reinforce floor loads, Electrical systems, furniture and fixtures, etc…). In addition, they can very quickly calculate if you have too much, or too little space based on your operational needs, and finally, they would be in a good position to assess the building characteristics and efficiency of the building design and layout.  

Pre-construction Planning 

A contractor could prepare a floor layout for you prior to site selection so it is much easier to see what you could do with the space, decide if you would need more space, or less space for your requirement. If you have a really good contractor, they’d throw in some renders as well so you can actually visualize what the space would look like so that you can make a more informed decision.  

Professional Advice for Free 

The best part, most contractors will offer this service at no cost to you. Having a contractor when looking into prospective spaces will maximize your cost savings and contractors can provide you with insights and advice assuring you that each step of the site selection process goes smoothly and according to your vision. 

Need a contractor to assess your prospective properties? T1 Project Services provides a complete range of services such as Project Management, Space Utilization Analysis, and more to complete your envisioned development.  

For project management services, Contact (+63) 2-7971-0238 or send an email to projects@t1projectservices.com today. 

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Office Fit Out 101: Terms you need to know

Having an office fit out may be overwhelming for many, especially to those who are doing it for the first time. Business owners are often encouraged consider office fit outs as an investment in their company’s growth and success. According to a recent study, 88% of companies believe that office fit outs had a positive impact on employees. Hence, you can say that a successful office fit out can boost the productivity of your employees and improve business.

While many people confuse it with renovation, office fit out refers to the process of making an interior space ready for occupation and use. As a common practice in commercial establishments and real estate, the spaces inside a building are left bare for the occupants to be able to modify it according to their needs and requirements. In essence, office fit outs involve taking an empty space and transforming it to a usable office set up depending on a company’s preference and goals.

Fit out Inclusions

Office fit outs usually include putting up architectural features like different kinds of partitions, window placements, door fittings, plumbing, and ventilation. In contrast to renovation which commonly focuses on the design aspect and revamping the space for aesthetics, fit outs highlight the changes and customization of the space for functionality. Generally, an office fit out takes longer than a simple renovation process.

Different Types of Fit Outs:

Similar with other improvement projects, there are also two types of fit outs depending on its inclusions.

Category A – Functional

Category A is the basic fit out and includes all the processes like electrical and mechanical installations. It also covers suspended ceilings, fire systems and alarms, lighting systems, and air conditioning systems. This produces is a basic functional unit with some utilities such as electrical wirings and plumbing fixtures already in place. This type of fit out also covers internal surface finishes, fitted lights, and blinds.

Usually, a Category A fit out will involve installing features such as:

  • Electrical and Data
  • Raised access floors
  • HVAC systems
  • Fire protection systems
  • Toilets

Category B – Aesthetic

Category B covers the final changes and the modifications to help an office transform into a company’s preferred look and design. This type of fit out involves installing features and other systems that were not covered in Category A fit out. Essentially, Category B fit outs cover the aesthetic design fit out phase where the space is made to be more specific to the business’ branding and style.

This phase may involve window treatment, adding furniture, installing the lighting, adding some flooring, partitioning, painting, and branding. Category B fit out highlights the individuality and identity of businesses. Processes in this category should be derived from the company’s culture, work ethics, and team size with the goal of creating a compelling brand image.

Category B fit outs also modify the space further by adding and modifying spaces into private workspaces, reception areas, common rooms, pantry, and meeting rooms. Floor finishes, door installations, and adding of furniture is also included in a category B fit out.

Turnkey Office Fit Out

A turnkey office fit out sometimes also referred to as a design and build fit out is where the developer or tenant of the workspace makes sure that the current build is ready to be occupied. This involves a full and integrated line of service by a contractor to deliver a space from being bare to fully completed. A turnkey office fit out project involves the contractors from the design conceptualization to construction and finally turning over the space to the client ready for use.

Some clients prefer a turnkey office fit out for them to coordinate with a single point person, making the process more concise, efficient, and smoother. This is especially appealing for clients who may not be knowledgeable about the construction process.

Need assistance in your first office fit out? Contact us today and let us discuss your options. T1 is one of the leading project services providers in the Philippines. It specializes in office, hospitality, and commercial projects that deliver nothing but excellent results.

Reach out to Lana Kier at lana.kier@kmcmaggroup.com or call us at (+63) 2-7971-0238.