Chester, Inc. is proud to be home to a stellar staff of Northern Indiana veterinary architects as well as builders who also specialize in Northern Indiana office construction, Northern Indiana medical construction, and Northern Indiana industrial construction. When you’re going to build a new veterinary clinic from the ground up or modify an existing one, you’ll need to figure out your construction budget first. While this may appear to be a complex undertaking, follow these steps and guidelines below to ensure that your building budget is complete.
Putting a team together with the proper Project management and owners will help both teams navigate any issues with the commercial building project. Chester’s professional project management team reviews and collaborates on a weekly cadenced call with you and your team.
We assist you in making all the essential decisions. Successful projects need a build-out schedule, the proper budget, financing, and a clear understanding of the strength and quality of the vendors, architects, engineers, and contractors.
You will want to create a “desires versus needs” list for your practice with the help of your architect. Consider the following questions:
- What type of structure and design do you want for your practice?
- What other services will you be providing?
- What kind of gear will you need?
- How many exam rooms will you require today and in the future?
The answers to these questions will impact the design of your office construction in Northern Indiana and, as a result, your budget for the veterinary clinic or facility. Being a veterinary construction lender, we can assist you in ensuring that your budget includes all the relevant categories.
If you’re starting from scratch, your site purchase and development costs will be factored into your budget. Site development fees, stormwater management, asphalt, and grading are included.
Determine whether the medical office construction in Northern Indiana is appropriately designated, too. Does it need to be subdivided before purchasing commercial real estate? What are the zoning and permit timelines? What are the fees that must be paid? Many governments demand money upfront to evaluate drawings, go through the planning procedure, and obtain permits.
When creating your construction budget, don’t forget to account for all the little things that can add up. For example, the following items’ prices may change based on the provider: IT cabling, security systems, phone service, cabinetry, and office furniture and equipment are just a few of the services available. Make sure to discuss what equipment you’ll need with your lender and architect so that it can be factored into your design and budget. Our IT Services Division can assist with this integral equipment as well providing a one-stop-shop.
Don’t worry we finance all your building dreams. How do you know how much you can spend in different sections of your budget? Lenders like banks will evaluate how much debt the practice can reasonably support by learning about it, looking at its financials, and looking at your personal credit history. You’ll want your new building to boost business rather than put a strain on company cash flow.
Tips for First-Time Facility Owners
Don’t Shy Away from Asking Questions
Your contractor is a seasoned professional who does not expect you to be an expert on everything. Do not be hesitant to inquire. Early queries and explanations can help decrease the number of adjustments required or requested during construction. Here are a few questions to consider:
- In my jurisdiction, how does the approval procedure work?
- When can I expect local officials to provide their approval for my project?
- What additional charges might I anticipate?
Keep All Communication Lines Open
It’s crucial to have a positive relationship with your project team and maintain an open line of communication. The communication process is more accessible by having a point of contact between you and the building team. Communication can be multichannel by using cloud-based construction management software tool with your PM. Any good communication will enable you, your project manager, field team, and architect to communicate efficiently and in one location.
Attend All the Required Meetings
You should attend all public hearings involving your project during the approval process, such as zoning and planning commission meetings and city council meetings. In addition, have a weekly or bi-weekly team meeting on the job site throughout construction. If this isn’t possible, set up a regular conference call. Include essential players, including the owner, construction manager, architect, and subcontractors. Productive meetings will keep the project going forward by ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
Stay on Top of Scheduling
Before beginning construction, set a completion date. Scheduling will provide your project team with a deadline to work towards. Make a rough schedule for the duration of the job with your contractor. Deliveries of building materials sometimes take longer than expected, mainly if your project includes custom-made products. Be aware that scheduling may not go according to plan. As needed, have your contractor revise the timetable monthly.
Be Prepared for Surprises
Construction usually runs according to schedule, but there are times when it does not. For example, if you’re remodeling a building, you may discover that the existing building plans or underground utilities aren’t as specified, or there isn’t a record of them. Surprises are most likely to be found in an older structure. In addition, mother Nature isn’t always cooperative; rain, snow, and severe hot and cold temperatures can all impact the building.
Plan Ahead
Allow plenty of time for the approval procedure if you need your project completed by a specific date. Before the building can begin, approvals can take 6-9 months. As a result, obtaining city clearances may take longer than anticipated.
Getting approvals from government municipalities can be time-consuming and expensive. You may want to hire a building contractor before beginning the approval process so that they can guide you through the system. Also, if you’re rebuilding or expanding your current building while continuing to run your business, as usual, plan accordingly.
Hold a team meeting to review the details of the move, the risk of increased traffic, dust, and noise, and the presence of significant equipment on site. Next, determine the best approach for minimizing construction disruptions to your day-to-day activities. Finally, please make an appointment for your construction crew to meet with your staff to answer any questions they may have.
If you need a new medical construction in Northern Indiana, renovating an existing one, or adding on to an existing one takes time and can be stressful. Contact us today to find out more.
Let Chester Inc. assist in having your building dreams become a reality. Contact us today so we can better assist with all your architectural design and building needs.