In this series, we’ll discuss the important steps in achieving a successful office fitout. In the last post, we discussed the importance of the right brief and setting accurate objectives for your needs. After you’ve achieved a clear, tight brief, it’s important to set budget expectations.

Bring together your organisation’s priorities for the new space, and your specific needs to set the project budget. It’s critical for all stakeholders involved to agree on a budget before commencing any office fitout action. For this reason, it’s a great time to involve a fitout specialist who’ll be able to provide direction on your need versus costs.

Here are some important steps to take when determining your budget:

Embrace the to and fro

If you have various stakeholders to consider, it might take a bit of time to come to a final decision on your budget. Compromising on your needs and costs can be consuming, but it’s important to set realistic expectations on both ends. Determine exactly what your limit is and where you’re willing to make cutbacks, if necessary. Let your fitout specialist know what your non-negotiables are; whether they’re materials, the size of certain rooms or the time of construction.

Get a quick baseline

Chatting with your fitout specialist should give you a rough idea of the cost of your plans. By getting this quick outline of your project feasibility and preliminary costings, you’ll be able to easily pivot and make changes to line items that might not sit comfortably within your budget. And don’t forget, this should be at no cost or obligation!

Ask (all the silly) questions

If you’ve got them, ask them! The budgeting process is the best time to get all your curiosities and any potential hesitations addressed. Spend solid time understanding your estimate to avoid any unpleasant surprises and extra costs down the track as the build gets underway.

After these steps, you’ll be able to reach an agreed budget that’s realistic for all stakeholders and their outcomes.

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