What to Consider When Building New Store

Are you thinking of building a new store? Are you expanding your business? Or are you just starting out?  Building a new store makes most people overwhelmed as they reflect through the whole process. It is essential to do your research and prepare before getting started. Here are some tips on what to consider when building a store.

1. Planning and Development

Generally, this is the initial stage in any building project. Planning and development include:

· Choosing a convenient location. This needs to be based on where your customers are and where you are more likely to get more business.  

· Pre-designing your store. It’s important to have a strong idea of what you want your store to look like and the functionality of it before discussing it with an architect and contractor

· Familiarizing with the general contractor and the architect. You need to find a contractor and architect that you can work with well. They will be with you the whole project, so it is essential to find someone that shares your vision. 

2. Store Design

Have both the architects and contractors join during the design stage for easier cost estimation. Using this route will help you gain market price information which will again help you make sound and timely decisions.

Additionally, getting both contractors and architects joined will make the building detailing stronger. The design team’s work is to ensure all designs are as per building regulations and the codes.

It is essential that your store is accessible. This includes making sure the storefront door is large enough and automatic. Aisles need to be wide enough for wheel chairs. Public bathrooms need to have handicap stalls and appropriate sinks as well. These things need to be included into the store’s design and plans. 

3. Pre-Construction

During this stage, ensure you prepare and send lists of the required materials to various contractors and vendors requesting quotes. This will help you (the contractor) to identify the vendor who has the best offerings.

Gather at least three quotes to help assist you in budget analysis. Additionally, it is during this stage where you obtain the mandatory insurance requirements and building permits.

Usually, as the store owner, you are the one to give a go-ahead signal to the general contractor for a pre-construction. Then the contractor will allocate roles forming a project team. Some of the assigned roles include the following:

· Project manager who is the overseer of the entire project team

· Superintendent who directs all project activities and maintains time schedules (including materials and equipment deliveries).

· Contract administrator who works together with superintendent and project manager to help with the contract particulars.

· Field engineer who deals with important paperwork. Usually, they examine your site and point out any steps necessary before the store construction.

4. Procurement

This is where the purchase of all the necessary materials and tools is made. An agreement (purchase order) is usually created between the seller and owner for contact keeping. The purchase order helps make sure that the materials bought are as per the specs and agreed price.

Where you allow the general contractor to perform all the building work, the company can manage the procurement stage. You can also use subcontractors who generally specialize in one particular construction task like concrete, glass, or woodwork.

5. Construction

This stage starts in a meeting prearranged by the controller (superintendent). Generally, this meeting entails discussions about material storage, quality control, site access, and working hours. Usually, what follows after this meeting is the groundbreaking.

Based on your functionality and design, the steps to be followed may involve excavation, underground utilities installation, pouring of concrete, steelwork, all the way to interior work, and any other specifications. The state inspector, together with your project manager, works to inspect all these steps.

Additionally, it is during this stage where your already specified commercial doors will get fixed. Types of commercial doors may include hollow metal doors, commercial wood doors, metal building doors, and sliding doors. The doors may take either overhead or scissor gate structure, depending on the store functionality. 

6. After-Construction

After your store is fully built, several steps are necessary before it becomes operational. These steps are completing your stare punch list, including final walkthrough works like changing the paint color and replacing broken tiles. Once the work list is done, your store can become operational. Usually, this stage involves calibration and installation of furnishings and equipment. After the store meets the requirement, a certificate of completion will be issued by the architect. The certification signifies that your store has been officially completed. Lastly, the building official will perform the last inspection.

Finally, building a new store is a big step for every business owner. Discussed above are the things to consider when constructing a store.

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