by Zoe Zorka

Building your own business premises can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Not only do you get the opportunity to tailor-make a working space that suits, but you can also integrate branding from the ground up. 

The only trouble is that as anyone who’s embarked on a project like this will tell you, things rarely go according to plan where new buildings are concerned. Instead, you’re liable to face a multitude of setbacks as you attempt to create the business of your dreams. 

This is bad news considering how busy you are at the best of times, but it also means that you’re set to fall foul to the worst business sin of all - downtime. And, that in turn leaves you at risk of disgruntled and even lost custom in the long-term.

Luckily, there are ways to build from scratch and make sure this doesn’t happen. All you need to do is avoid the following prime mistakes. 

# 1 - Budget busts

Running over budget has to be the worst building mistake, and, honestly, it’s an easy trap to fall into. Building work rarely ever costs the amount initially quoted, so keeping your savings pot too close to that figure is guaranteed to cause setbacks. Instead, accept how issues and the need for additional expense can arise. With that in mind, overestimate your budget by quite a margin. Fail to do that, and you could find that work altogether stalls on your new space, leaving you, and your company's efforts, in an untold limbo.

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# 2 - Building run overs

Building work, too, has a habit of setting these projects back a fair amount. The need to wait for unexpected parts etc. could even see you days or weeks behind schedule. Again, it pays to account at least an extra month/stay put for a further month so that you can meet these needs. You may also find it worthwhile looking at building methods with guaranteed speed, such as steel erections like those offered by Baker. This alone could ensure a project that never needs to go over your time frame, thus eliminating downtime risks altogether. 

# 3 - Technical hitches

It isn’t just your business building itself that could cause delays. You’re also going to have to install brand new electrical systems, which can cause issues of their own. Worse, this is a problem that typically doesn’t make itself known until you’ve already moved your staff in, making downtime almost inevitable. To avoid such a significant issue, it’s vital that you always double-check your systems are up and running in advance of moving the rest of your office. Make sure, too, that you’re seeking reputable traders with qualifications that prove they’ll provide you with the best and tested electrical systems on offer.

Avoiding downtime altogether during the building process might seem like an extreme ask, but trust us when we say that it’s possible. All you need to do is know the mistakes you could make, and the best ways to avoid them.