Are you considering an office renovation or refurbishment? Perhaps you’re a start-up, or relocating your business, and looking for a reliable business to to design and build a brand new office from scratch?

Choosing the right office fit-out company is crucial for ensuring that your new workspace is designed and constructed to meet your needs, budget and timeline, and will allow your employees and business to flourish.

Whether you’re looking for a full-service design and build company, or an experienced team who can work with your designers to make your vision a reality, here are some key steps to help you choose the best office fit-out company.

Think about what you need

The first step in any project is to define what your ultimate aim is, and have a clear understanding of your objectives.

Things that you need to consider before reaching out to an office fit-out company are:

• Your budget – Determine how much you’re willing to invest in your new office. This will of course have a big impact on your options.
• The timeline – When do you need your office to be ready for? Ensure that your timelines are realistic; contacting office fit-out companies as far in advance as you are able to will give you more options and flexibility.
• Functional requirements – What do you need from your office? How much space will you require? Are there any specific functions that you need to consider in the design phase?
• Design preferences – Before you reach out to an office fit-out company, it helps to think about the style and aesthetics you want for your office space. If you have in mind roughly the style of office you want, then you can save a lot of time on wasted design.
• Future business expansion – Anticipate how your business might grow in the future, and consider how the office space should accommodate it.

Research office fit-out companies

Once you have set out your requirements from the new workspace and you’ve fixed your budget, it’s time to research potential office fit-out companies.
There are many companies out there who have varying degrees of experience and expertise in workplace design and bespoke office interiors, but how do you find them?

You can start by:

• Seeking recommendations – Word of mouth is still one of the most popular ways of choosing a fit-out partner. Ask friends, past and present colleagues and industry contacts who have undergone renovations and office fit-outs if they are able to recommend the company they used. LinkedIn is a great resource for this.
• Searching online – All reliable and established office fit-out companies should have a website which is listed on search engines and business directories.

• Asking your property agent – If you’re moving into a new office space, your agent may be able to recommend an office fit-out company to you.

Evaluate each company’s experience and credentials

Before you contact any office fit-out companies, ensure that you check their portfolio and read reviews and testimonials from previous clients to check that they are able to meet your needs and come well recommended. At Manor Interior Solutions, you can see a broad portfolio of work and read our 5* reviews on our website.

When choosing who to approach, it is advisable to engage a company that is experienced in the specific type of fit-out you require. Ensure that they’ve undergone successful projects that are similar to yours in terms of the budget and size, scope, and complexity.

Experience with other businesses in your sector will mean that they have better understanding of your requirements and have an awareness of the challenges they may face.

If you’re looking for a company to do a full service design and build project, then look at their design capabilities as well as their technical expertise.

Check for professional affiliations and, lastly, be sure to check the sustainability credentials of the office fit-out company.

Request proposals and quotes from your preferred companies

Once you’ve acquired a list of potential office fit-out partners, reach out to them to request proposals and quotes.
An initial proposal should include an outline of the project, with design concepts and a basic layout, and a rough timeline with budgets.

If you haven’t already seen them, ask them to provide references and testimonials from past clients who are satisfied with the company’s reliability, professionalism, and the quality of their build. They should also be happy to arrange site visits to previously completed projects so that you can assess their work firsthand.

Conduct face-to-face interviews

When you’ve narrowed your potential fit-out partner down further to around three or four companies, it’s important to meet with your shortlisted companies face to face. This will give you a good sense of their approach, communication style, and dynamics within the team.

At this stage it is usual that they will deliver a more complex proposal, including a 3D workplace design based on your brief and any feedback you have provided, plans for construction, details of materials, an in-depth cost plan and construction programme with set timelines.

During the interviews, consider how well the company has listened to your brief and the quality of the design they’ve put forward. Think about how clearly they have communicated with you to this point as this will be an important aspect going forward contributing to the success of your project.

Enquire about the team structure; who will be your main point of contact? Is there a back up? You will need to work closely and strategically together over a potentially long period of time so ensure you’re satisfied.

Ask about their project management process and ensure there is some scope for flexibility should unexpected problems occur during the office fit-out.

And, crucially, check out their aftercare services. A decent office fit-out company will not simply disappear once the build is complete, and will be there to answer questions and resolve any issues that arise at a later stage.

Make a decision

Carefully look at all the factors – design, budget, timescales, team, experience – and select the fit-out partner that you want to work with.

Your new office will need to last your business a long time, so don’t rush your decision. You need to be satisfied with your choice.

Check out their references

Before you officially appoint your office fit-out company, if you have not already done so it is important to check their references and contact past clients.

If you are happy that everything is in order, then it’s time to get contracts signed and you can begin to get excited about your new office!

Contact us today!

Whatever you are looking for in an office fit-out partner, at Manor Interior Solutions we have many years of experience in designing and building commercial fit-out projects, and would be happy to help you achieve your vision. Contact Manor Interior Solutions for a free consultation.