How To Select the Right Fit Out Company for Your Office Refurbishment

If you are looking to update your office or working space, then you need to ensure you chose the right fit out company for the job. This article goes over the key points you need to consider when deciding between which companies to hire.

You should begin by compiling a list of office fit out companies that catch your attention. Use website’s which list ‘tried and tested’ office refurbishment companies and let you see what other clients have to say about their services. You will be able to construct your own list of potential suppliers, highlighting the best ones and removing the ones you find unsuitable. After you have your shortlist you can then arrange meetings to discuss your requirements and project details. Ensure that you don’t just simply meet the sales team, but also the project managers who will be coordinating the design and build process.

When deciding on the best fit out company to employ consider the following:

Experience

Finding the ideal office fit out company means finding office refurbishment companies that have a good track record and plenty of experience. A high quality, reputable fit out company will have no problem providing you with references for previous work. They should also provide evidence for projects that are similar to your own.

Accreditation

Many companies like to make plenty of claims, but the key thing is to see whether or not they are accredited. Accreditation ensures quality of work. Look for national accreditation such as ISO 14001, ISO 9001 and CHAS.

Turnkey projects

If you are looking for support throughout the entire office refurbishment process, then look for a fit out company that provides a complete turnkey solution. Turnkey companies will support you from concept and design, to fitting and management, completion and after-service. You should be expecting your chosen company to provide advice and consultancy on every aspect of the office refurbishment; storage and transportation, space planning, delivery and installation, risk assessment, regulations such as planning permission, a complete set of fit out solutions including mezzanines, partitions, lighting and decorating, office furniture, technological expertise, removals, and office accessories.

Insurance

Your company will need all of the appropriate insurance for the work they do. There are three primary insurances that you need to look for:

• Public liability insurance – This insurance is designed to cover clients and customers who enter the building whilst a refurbishment is taking place, and to cover any damages that might occur to people or property caused by the office refurbishment contractors.
• Contractors insurance – This insurance covers the cost relating to the loss or damage to contractor equipment, including tools and machinery. This insurance covers contractors if they are found liable during the renovation.
• Professional indemnity insurance – This insurance protects the contractor in case of claims made for loss or damage from a third party. Regarding claims of negligence, this insurance will cover for the services and legal costs if they apply.

Health and Safety

Whilst the office refurbishment is under way, you need to consider the health and safety of your employees. If you are unsure of what to do, then interior specialists can give you helpful knowledge and advice regarding your compliance to health and safety regulations, such as the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. Make sure you see evidence of the health and safety policies of the contractors, to ensure they take the appropriate measures against health and safety risks.

Apart from the points above the most important factor is rapport. Ensure you get on well with your chosen contractor as this will help ensure communication is at its best from start to finish.