If you are starting or expanding a business, there are a lot of steps that go into cultivating systems and support structures that allow a business to properly thrive. While not all businesses need a lot of property in order to run, as the business gets larger, the space it utilizes tends to become a more important aspect. If your business is starting to grow, you need to move to a dedicated space for employees to work, or you need additional space for equipment and services throughout the business, leased space planning may be the next big step for your business.
To get the best out of your next commercial property in Houston, you will want to locate and utilize a professional architect who understands the needs of your business and what you need to accomplish with new commercial real estate space.
Today we want to help you figure out how to find a great architect and what to look for as you begin looking for commercial real estate opportunities for your business.
Understand the Requirements for Your Next Commercial Property
Before you even begin to look for an architect, it helps to know the fundamentals of what you need out of a commercial property. An architect can only help so much with planning out the layout and infrastructure of your property.
How much square footage will you need for your business? How many meeting rooms do you need? Where will the majority of your employees spend their time? How many additional rooms do you need for other business purposes, such as storage? Do you expect a lot of changes to the interior to accommodate business growth or to promote project flexibility? Knowing the answers to these questions before you speak with an architect will help streamline the process and ensure that you get exactly what you’re looking for.
Look at the Architect’s Website and Biography
Most architects either have a professional website about them or are part of an agency that has information available to the public. When you’re shopping around for architects for your commercial real estate project, take the time to review each architect that you are considering. You want to read as much about them as you can find on public websites to get an idea of who they are as a person. You can also look for portfolios that they have published to see the type of work have done in recent years.
Ask Other Businesses for Feedback
Businesses that have already done leased space planning may have experience with other architects in the area. You can get in touch with other local businesses to get an idea about the types of information you want about an architect and his or her skills and services. Many businesses will likely be willing to provide you with recommendations as to which architect may be best for your situation as a result of personal experience with their own commercial real estate projects.
Survey the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a valuable resource for individuals looking for commercial architects that can assist them with the development of a new commercial property.
Combine Services from Different Commercial Real Estate Professions
Some commercial projects may be too large for a single individual to take on. Each profession specializes in various tasks and objectives for their clients. If you want to focus on developing different parts of your commercial property, you could consider combining services from different professionals. For example, you could combine the work of interior and exterior designers alongside a commercial architect.
Interview Potential Architectural Candidates
After you have looked through potential candidates and found one or two that may be ideal for your commercial initiatives, call or email them to schedule an interview. You want to spend some more time getting to know them, learning about their values, and figuring out if they can accomplish what you’re looking for. Most architects won’t charge for an initial consultation to discuss the objectives of your project.
Below are a few questions and topics to get you started:
- Examples of previous work?
- Approach to your project?
- Major obstacles expected during the project?
- Fees and rates expected for the project?
- Any referrals to local contractors for the project?
- Will budget support the project?
Finding the best commercial real estate architect for your leased space planning can take time. However, make sure you set aside enough time to research and verify that the architect you hire is the one that will get the job done exactly to your specifications. Building a commercial property will take a lot of resources and is not a project you want to have to start over with.
If you need assistance with commercial real estate services, give us a call today and we will be happy to help!