Pre-Construction Checklist for Commercial Remodeling Projects

A commercial remodel is a complex project that requires careful preparation and consideration. With the right approach to pre-construction planning, you can minimize delays, maximize your budget, and set the stage for a successful commercial remodeling project.

In this guide, we provide a comprehensive pre-construction checklist to help streamline any commercial remodeling project.

Commercial Remodeling vs. Renovating

Before you start planning, it’s important to understand what a commercial remodeling project entails. Although remodeling and renovation terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they are distinctly different projects and require different pre-construction planning strategies:

Commercial remodels involve more substantial changes that alter the fundamental layout, function, or aesthetics of a space. Examples include adding new rooms, expanding existing spaces, or altering the building’s exterior.
Commercial renovations on the other hand focus on updating and improving the existing space without making major structural changes.

Understanding these differences between commercial remodeling vs renovating is essential to determining the scope of work, budgeting, permitting, and more.

Pre-Construction Planning for Commercial Remodeling Projects

The lobby of a commercial building, with polished concrete flooring, white walls, black doors, and potted plants

The first step to planning a commercial remodeling project is to establish your goals and objectives, or in other words, define what you hope to achieve at the end of it. This can include many things like increasing square footage, improving functionality or energy efficiency, enhancing the property’s aesthetic appeal, and more. Defining these goals helps bring the project’s final product into focus and creates the perfect foundation for the rest of the planning process.

With your project goals in mind, you can move on to the next most important step of the planning process: finding your commercial general contractor.

Find the Best Commercial General Contractor for the Job

A general contractor is responsible for managing a construction project from start to finish. They oversee every step of the process, including hiring subcontractors, sourcing materials and equipment, obtaining permits, and upholding all safety standards.

It’s important to select an experienced contractor with a proven track record in commercial remodeling projects like yours. Reviewing a builder’s online portfolio can give you a good idea of their quality of work and the projects they have experience with. You will also want to check that they are fully licensed and insured.

Once your general contractor is on board, they will work with you to create a comprehensive pre-construction plan and streamline the remodeling project as a whole.

Learn How to Find the Best Commercial Contractor

Conduct a Site Assessment

A commercial construction team stands at a construction site, looking over a computer and blueprints, wearing hard hats.

Conducting a thorough site assessment during the early stages of pre-construction planning is essential to evaluate the site’s current condition. A site audit involves identifying any structural issues, assessing utilities, establishing a clear understanding of the current layout, etc. This information will help in determining what steps must be taken to achieve your commercial remodeling goals.

This assessment is also key to establishing timeline requirements, budget distribution, materials and equipment needs, design specifications, and more.

Determine Budget Allocation

With your goals defined and your property’s current condition assessed, creating a realistic budget for a commercial remodel is much easier. Your budget will need to account for a wide range of things, including the cost of materials, labor, permits, etc. A highly experienced commercial contractor will be able to provide insights into all the costs associated with various project components.

Your team will also be able to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, which identifies opportunities for cost savings. This means expenses for certain aspects of the project can be reduced and the funds can be reallocated somewhere else or put back in your pocket.

Create a Project Timeline

A close up of hands as a group of people go over commercial remodeling permits and other important documents at a desk.

The next step in pre-construction planning for a commercial remodel is to work with your contractor to create a realistic project timeline. This detailed schedule will be your remodeling roadmap for the entire project. It will help you and your construction team prioritize specific tasks, manage resources effectively, and spot potential hold-ups before they even arise.

This helps ensure maximum time efficiency of the entire remodeling project.

Acquire Materials and Equipment

The next step is to start sourcing all materials and equipment necessary for your commercial remodel. Your general contractor will partner with quality suppliers to acquire everything you need at the best possible value. They will also procure all necessary safety gear for workers and secure equipment rentals in advance to ensure availability.

During the pre-construction planning phase, your commercial contractor will also source alternate vendors and products to use in case there are delays. Having these backup materials pre-approved will save time and money compared to trying to source them mid-remodel.

Permitting and Approvals

A general contractor shaking hands with a client over a desk covered in blueprints and commercial construction documents

The next step in the pre-construction planning phase is to obtain all necessary local, state, and federal permits. These are usually required for any structural changes, electrical work, plumbing modifications, and even some aesthetic changes made to a commercial building. Your general contractor will handle this step for you, but it is still beneficial to familiarize yourself with local building codes and standards.

Once all the permits are approved, you are ready to enter the construction phase of your commercial remodel!

Find a Commercial Remodel Contractor that Checks Every Box

Commercial remodeling projects are complex endeavors that require many moving parts. By following the checklist above, you can properly plan for every stage of any commercial remodel to ensure a smooth, efficient, and successful project.

Opting for a commercial construction team that understands the nuances of pre-construction planning is key to any project. At DRF Builders, we have years of experience in commercial remodeling. We want to help increase the value of your commercial property and secure the long-term profitability of your investment.