Dental Office: Build-Out vs. Remodel
As a physician, you might be wondering whether you should build a completely new space or remodel what you have. Whatever choice you make, the objective is to ensure that you end up with a working environment that is comfortable for you and your clients. You should end up with a space that a good fit for your working style. There must also be plenty of room to accommodate all the equipment you will be using and leave enough space for free movement.
In order to determine which option works best for you – to build or to remodel – you need to be aware of what the pros and cons are for each. This way you will make an informed choice while knowing full well what you are getting yourself into.
The choice to build-out
The most interesting part of a medical office build-out plan is that you get to make all the decisions for the construction. In most cases, when it comes to office build-outs, you lease space from a developer and it becomes your responsibility to build-out the space. You will decide the number of rooms, their sizes, and their designs. You may know all of these, but for it to work out perfectly well, you will need an expert. If you are a dental practitioner get an expert who specializes in dental office construction. A specialized contractor understands what exactly is required for your line of work, and can provide you with a space that is optimally built for your practice. They know what every room is for, their specialized functions and their exact measures so that not even an inch of space is wasted or left unused.
Special considerations of medical office build-out
1. Special requirements
A medical practice has a lot of branches where every branch has a specialized medical practitioner. And for every branch, there are special requirements for their offices. A dental office, for instance, will have special separate requirements from pediatric office. Be clear on what you will require so your contractor can effectively fit out the space available.
2. Cost
Always have a lawyer for yourself to take you through you lease contract signing, to make sure that the deal is fair. In most cases, you have to talk with your landlord who might be ready to break down your rent in exchange for you building out your medical office.
The choice to remodel
The thought of remodeling medical offices, like dental office remodeling, comes up due to one major factor – cost. Medical office build-outs are costly to do, and remodeling an existing office is usually a cheaper option. The problem is that you will have to give up some of your preferences and work under a previous plan. This may, in most cases, confine you to a certain level of growth and lack space for expansion.
It is always advisable that, if you are planning to stay in the area for many years, an office build-out is the best option. It gives you your real preference, while you are able to work on growth within your plan. However, if you do not have solid plans to remain within an area, you can go for an existing office, remodel this and then see if you’ll get a better option down the line.
