How Long Will My Office Fitout Take?

12 January 2022. 3 minute read

In most cases, a typical office fitout will take anywhere from 8-12 weeks to complete. However, several factors can impact this timeline, such as the complexity of the design, the availability of materials and furniture, the construction team, the time of year, and more.

Things That Can Impact The Commercial Fit-out Project

The size of the office

If you have a large number of employees, you’ll likely need more private offices, conference rooms, and other amenities to accommodate everyone. A larger office will also require more electrical and data outlets, furniture, and equipment that will need to be installed.

The condition of the existing office space (cold shell or warm shell)

A cold shell office is an office that has not been fitted out with partitions, drywall, or ceilings. It is at its bare structural bones of the construction where finishes and services are not installed.

A warm shell office is a space that has been partially fitted out with walls, ceilings, and floors but does not yet have lighting, power, or data installed.

The difference in time between a cold shell and a warm shell is that a cold shell office generally requires more work to be done to make it suitable for occupancy. A cold shell office could increase your office fit-out times by 4 weeks so keep this in mind when choosing your next office.

The complexity of the design

If you have a more complex design, it will take longer to complete the fit-out because there will be more work involved in building the office to your specifications.

Things that can increase the design times are;

Design brief, proposals and planning
Design reviews and sign off
Construction design and documentation review and sign off

Once the design is complete, it will need to be sent to different contractors for pricing.

The construction company

The construction process of any office fit can be complex and time-consuming. This is particularly true if the commercial fit-out company you choose is not experienced or reputable. A good company will have a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon, which can help to streamline the construction process and get your office completed in a timely manner, saving you money.

Utilising an end-to-end fit-out company can decrease the time for your office fitout because they manage most of the moving parts in-house.

At TACTIC we offer an end-to-end solution including advisory and leasing, interior design, and project management so you only have one point of contact throughout the whole journey. For a free consultation please contact us here.

Availability of materials

Depending on the scope of your project, you may need to source materials from multiple suppliers and coordinate the work of several different contractors. This can take time, especially with the current supply chain issues, so it’s important to factor in lead times when planning your project.

Permits & Approval

Obtaining the necessary permits and approvals can be a time-consuming process, but it’s essential in order to ensure that your commercial space is up to code. Depending on the size and scope of your project, the approval process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Tips On How To Ensure Your Office Fit-out Is Completed On Time!

Give yourself time

One of the most important things to keep in mind when planning an office fitout is to allow yourself enough time. Rushing a project can often lead to mistakes being made, which can end up costing more time and money in the long run. By starting the planning process early and working with a reputable team of office fitout specialists, you can ensure that your new office space is ready on time and within budget.

Get organised

Another key tip for ensuring a successful office fitout is to get organised. This means having a clear idea of what you want your new space to look like, what type of furniture and equipment you need, and what budget you have to work with. Once you have a good understanding of your needs, it will be much easier to communicate them to your project team and make sure that the project stays on track.

Be realistic

When planning your office fitout, it’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve within your budget. It’s often tempting to try and cram too much into your space, but this can often lead to a cluttered and unorganised office. By being realistic about what you can afford, you can ensure that your office fitout is both functional and stylish.

Create a timeline

Another important tip for ensuring a successful office fitout is to create a timeline. This will help you keep track of the progress of the project and ensure that everything is completed on time. It is also a good idea to set milestones along the way so that you can check in on the progress and make sure that everything is going according to plan. A good construction manager should do this for you and notify you how the fitout is progressing.

Hire a professional

Trying to tackle an office fitout on your own can be a daunting task. There are so many different aspects to consider, from the initial design to the final installation. By hiring a professional commercial fit-out company, you can take the stress out of the process and ensure that your new office space is everything you’ve dreamed of and is delivered on time.

Choose TACTIC!

TACTIC is committed to connecting businesses and their people with their perfect space.

We offer an end-to-end service so we can support our tenants throughout their whole office leasing journey.

We have pioneered our innovative Direct-To-Trade process, designed to deliver more accurate pricing, more time-efficient trade scheduling, and reduced variation potential.

This has led to us producing stunning market-leading spaces, we have delivered projects early, and have even returned money to clients due to the cost efficiencies.

Below is an example of the traditional method of a tenant using a leasing agent, and then finding a designer, fitout company, and managing all the third-party contractors vs our Direct-To-Trade approach.

Our Most Recent Project

With 22 active projects and collaborations with big-name brands such as REA Group, Elders, Stefan Hair and ASICS, the reception for our offering has been incredible (as of November 2022). This has affirmed the value-add clients see in our efficient Direct-To-Trade process and FOMO office design philosophy.

Below is our most recently completed fitout for REA Group.

Your next step

If you need help with finding office space, planning your office design, or fitting out your office our team at TACTIC can help. Contact us for a complimentary consultation here.