Top tips on managing a commercial refurbishment project

By Lea Hough Chartered Surveyors

01 Apr 2019

art-materials-art-supplies-artistic-1576210.jpg

There are several reasons why a company may need to refurbish their business premises. Whether driven by the desire to sell the property, requiring to refigure or remodel the building having recently taken occupancy (through purchase or lease) or whether needing to undertake a programme of works to comply with the terms of the lease, commercial refurbishment projects often involve far more work than initially anticipated and can quickly overrun in terms of both timescales and budget.

Here, we give some advice and tips on how to achieve a successful outcome.

Keep the brief in mind

As described above, there can be several reasons why you need to undertake a commercial refurbishment project. These circumstances will often dictate the amount of work and the level of finish that need to be met – if you own the property and plan to operate your business from there for a long time, you will likely want to take a considerable amount of time deciding on the best possible layout, also investing in obtaining a hardwearing and quality finish. If you are simply refurbishing to meet the obligations of your lease, less time will need to go into the planning stage, and you will want to limit your budget so the works meet the minimum required standard, but do not exceed this.

Budget properly

Budgets to complete commercial refurbishment projects are often vastly underestimated, which can lead to a temporary stall in the works, or even risk the project not being completed at all.

Appointing a property consultant to put together a Budget Cost Estimate and/or Programme of Works can give a true and accurate idea of costs from the very outset. Clients can ensure that they have necessary funding in place, or means to ascertain it, before the project begins. Where the estimated project costs come back outside of budget, it is possible to redesign and reconfigure plans in order to keep it within the client’s financial constraints.

It may even be possible to split the works you want into a number of phases, spread over the course of a few years. This is something an experienced property consultant will be able to advise on and help you plan out. 

Have a contingency plan

Depending on the extent of the project, it may be necessary to relocate staff on a temporary basis, or attempt to house staff in one area of the building whilst another area is being worked on. Whichever route you go down, it will be necessary to have a plan for how they will continue to conduct their work effectively.  Be sure to factor any associated costs of housing/relocating staff into the budget, including a contingency for if the programme of works falls behind schedule.

Appoint a professional

It can be tempting to try and save money by using internal resource to manage large projects. However, without the necessary experience, projects can quickly slip in terms of timescales, and despite best attempts, this will undoubtedly have an adverse effect on budgets too. Appointing a professional consultant to advise throughout the process, ideally at the very outset, will usually save time and money in the long run.

Lea Hough are routinely appointed to manage commercial refurbishment projects and have recently undertaken a number of projects for well-known clients across Lancashire.

 

Latest news

1

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs Manufacturing

PM urged not to retaliate over tariffs

03 Apr 2025

2

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer Matthew Ratcliffe CMAC

CMAC Group appoints Matthew Ratcliffe as chief operating officer

03 Apr 2025

3

For sale signs at The Villa Villa Wrea Green has been brought to market (Image credit: The Villa Wrea Green)

For sale signs at The Villa

02 Apr 2025

4

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub Anthony Rae Scott Murcott And Adam Lee

Montane group expands with new Lancashire hub

02 Apr 2025

5

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy Tom Grattan MD and Daniel Wallace

Trio of wins for Lancaster brand and digital consultancy

02 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Lancashire Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880395853-4862066883-1-original.20241022-091152-2.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
04 Apr 2025 - 04 Apr 2025

Lancashire Business Expo 2025

Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar
LBV Hub Seminars
22 May 2025 - 22 May 2025

Amber River True Bearing quarterly investment seminar

Cottons Hotel & Spa , Knutsford, WA16 0SU

16:00 - 18:00

Liverpool Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-881365363-4862066883-1-original.20241023-085714.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
23 May 2025 - 23 May 2025

Liverpool Business Expo 2025

Aintree Racecourse , Liverpool , L9 5AS

09:00 - 15:00

National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine Conference 2025
Remote and Rural 3.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
05 Jun 2025 - 05 Jun 2025

National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine Conference 2025

North Lakes Hotel and Spa, Penrith, CA11 8QT

09:30 - 17:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin