While you compete with e-commerce markets and nearby shopping centers, the retail experience continues to evolve for your customers. Consider the advantages of a successful retail renovation construction project. It puts a fresh face on brick and mortar and helps pull shoppers away from their laptops. Expanded space, improved layouts and updated interiors extend a renewed invitation to customers and keep employees happy. Here are three cost-effective strategies that can result in substantial savings for your next retail renovation.
1. Reuse Existing Systems
The infrastructure that keeps your retail site humming is already in place, so identify system operations that don’t need to be altered. If a contractor’s bid includes ripping out everything, take a close look at his plans. A reputable company of retail construction services will determine which systems are in good shape and recommend replacements only as needed. Heavy equipment, plumbing and wiring should always be inspected and brought up to code, but it’s rarely necessary to install entirely new systems. A small investment in focused repair and refurbishing extends the life of mechanical and electrical operations while substantially saving construction renovation dollars. Discuss the options with your commercial contractor, and focus on working with existing infrastructure such as:
- HVAC – Heating and cooling equipment, ductwork and rooftop units
- Electrical – Wiring, meter panels, switch gears and disconnects
- Plumbing – Supply, vent and main lines
- Sprinklers – Main lines and risers
2. Don’t Reinvent the Slab
Expanding retail space doesn’t have to involve extending foundations. For every new concrete square foot poured, you face the additional expense of framing, finishing and roofing. An experienced retail renovation company knows how to make the most of an existing floor plan with minimum structural changes that maximize your savings. An updated design doesn’t require heavy construction. New entryways, fresh paint and improved signage are just a few of the cost-saving tricks in a professional contractor’s toolbox. From tearing down walls for expanded space to decorative lighting and indoor water features, you can transform the looks of a tired retail store without restructuring your budget. Take advantage of what you have, and save money without replacing:
- Foundations and slabs
- Concrete and steel shell structures
- Existing flooring materials
- Sound roofing systems
3. Hire Your Contractor First
When you choose a general contractor, you want someone with retail renovation management expertise. Often, owners will have an architect draw up initial plans, but he can’t anticipate problems that an experienced contractor can identify before construction begins. Focused feasibility studies head off the expense of change orders. This exploratory phase sharpens budget projections and gives you a realistic overview of the entire project. Hire a commercial contractor who uses the team approach to retail renovation jobs, and he’ll coordinate the talent it takes to bring your project in on budget. Look for a contractor with a proven industry track record who ensures job success with:
- Comprehensive management strategies
- Reputable subcontractor and vendor networks
- Detailed bidding and accounting practices
- Innovative design capabilities
Commercial remodeling presents endless opportunities to increase business, but you have to hit that critical balance between renovation investment and solid returns. Your job’s success depends on hiring the best retail renovation contractor in the business. Here at Stovall Construction, we specialize in the focused planning and quality building practices that keep your renovation project cost-effective. Contact our talented teams today, and let us put a new face on your retail business and help save those renovation dollars.