Introduction
You’re about to open a new retail space and know you need to hire a fit-out company. It’s an important decision, and you want to ensure you’re making the best one.
So, what should you be looking for in a fit-out company? What should their fundamentals be? What do they do before the building even begins? And what’s required of them during and after the fit-out process?
Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know before hiring a fit-out company.
Fundamentals: What Fit-Out Companies Should Have Before You Consider Them
When looking for a fit-out company, there are a few fundamentals you should always look for.
- Good reputation– you don’t want to deal with a builder who doesn’t deliver on time or meet your expectations.
- Plenty of experience in the retail sector– after all, you don’t want them learning on the job. They should also have a good understanding of the latest design trends and be able to provide creative solutions that reflect your branding and identity.
- A complete package– from pre-works to post-works, ensuring a smooth and stress-free build process.
Pre-Works: What Shop Fitters Do Before Building Even Begins
Before building work begins, the shop fitters will take care of the preparatory tasks. This includes things like:
- Installing essential services, such as power, gas and water
- Putting up the necessary partitions and fittings
- Preparing the floor and ceiling for the installation of tiles, flooring or ceilings
- Making sure all the electrical wiring is in place and meets safety standards
- This allows them to start building work as quickly as possible without having to waste time on these tasks once they’ve started.
During Fit Out: Know What’s Required Of, and Organized By, the Shop Fitters
When hiring a retail fit-out company in Dubai, it’s important to know what’s required of them—and, more importantly, what’s required of you.
The retail fit-out contractors should be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, while you need to approve all designs and sign-offs. You’ll also need to provide timely access to the site and arrange for any necessary permits or approvals.
In addition, you should make sure that you have a detailed project plan and timeline in place so everyone is aware of what’s happening and when. This will help to avoid any costly delays or misunderstandings down the road.
Post Works: What to Expect at Handover
Retail fit-out contractors must have sound systems in place to allow customers to inspect the work that has been completed before accepting a handover.
This can include
- A quality control system with detailed checks and balances,
- Regular inspections by their quality assurance teams, and
- Contractors who are willing to stand by their workmanship during the warranty period.
Ultimately, the retail fit-out contractors should ensure that the job is fully finished and free of defects or imperfections.
At handover, you should expect your retail fit-out companies to provide you with all relevant documents, such as drawings and instructions, along with test certificates that guarantee compliance with various building regulations.
The retail interior fit-outs in Dubai should also provide a warranty detailing any defect repairs carried out during the post-works stage.
Conclusion
So, what should you look out for when choosing a retail fit-out company in Dubai?
Firstly, they should have a wealth of experience in the retail sector – after all, you don’t want your builders to be learning on the job.
The retail fit-out company in Dubai should also be able to provide a pre-works assessment to identify any potential problems and ensure everything is in place for a smooth build.
Finally, ensure you receive a post-works report detailing everything that was done and what needs to be maintained. You can get all the promises mentioned above from the expert members of Starsteam for your fit-out needs.