Do it Yourself Commercial renovations are usually a big mistake

Starting a new business and renovating your new space, yourself?

Save your money, just do it yourself

EVERYTHING you do in a commercial lease space can create a liability issue. Performing any skilled trades work could cost you your business. The building code and city bylaw restrictions governing commercial renovations allow very few tenant improvements to be performed by the tenant. Something as simple as changing a single light fixture, could result in a huge liability claim if something goes wrong. Your liability insurance will not usually pay for illegal renovation activities.

The City building department, planning (zoning) department, fire inspection, health and safety, as well as the Provincial authorities for environmental, electrical, etc.,etc., all have the authority to refuse to allow your business to operate, unless you correct all inspection report deficiencies.

Your City Business License will not be issued, until you have complied with every inspector's demands.

If you don't research the requirements for your type of business (in the location you wish to operate in), your dream of having your own business could quickly become a legal and financial nightmare! After you sign a commercial lease, it's too late to tell the Landlord that you changed your mind about renting the space!

My friends are going to help me do the store renovations

Unless your friends include an architect, engineer or experienced commercial renovation contractor, you could be in for a costly surprise! Commercial renovations have an entirely unique set of rules governing who can do the work, how it must be done and what must be included. If your friends have only residential experience, are un-licensed, uninsured and don't have the appropriate certification, your liability exposure is enormous. Most commercial Landlords will stop the renovation work immediately, if they are not satisfied with the quality of work you are performing.

We saw a similar business a few blocks away, and they don't have...

Our clients often assume that they don't actually need to have: sprinklers, legal ventilation systems, accessible washroom (or washrooms), plumbing upgrades, electrical system and lighting upgrades, seismic upgrades, etc., etc. Depending on the "type," of business you propose to operate, the age and type of building you will occupy and the extent of changes you intend to make, you (or your Landlord) could be required to upgrade the space to current code and by-law compliance. Although you may not need to upgrade, don't count on it! Once again, The City has the final word!

If that business down-the-street has been operating with the same tenant for many years, they are not required to upgrade anything (that's not a public safety hazard), unless there is a change in the tenant use or occupancy. However, if they want to renovate, they will be required to fix the deficiency problems too.

We're going to contract the renovations ourselves..

Unless you have a lot of commercial project management experience, you'll probably pay your contractors for unnecessary work or unnecessary costs. You might also see what renovation contract documents actually describes.

* From the plan submission date, many lower mainland building departments can take 3-6 weeks to issue a building permit. If your renovation proposal is not accepted (the first time), the process starts again! Still expecting to sign a lease and start construction within (2) weeks?!

Too many first time commercial tenants try to perform renovations, without getting the required permits. When something goes wrong, the only people who will make money... will be their lawyers! When you perform illegal work on your Landlord's building, you are liable for all their costs to fix the damage.

If done carefully, every dollar you spend designing and planning your tenant improvements will save you at least (3) dollars in construction and other costs. There are many critical decisions to make throughout the process of opening a location. A detailed, accurate plan will dramatically reduce your stress and costs.

Contractor Watchdog Services was formed because the current system simply doesn't protect commercial tenants and Landlords from:

Related Design and Lease Space Planning Information

• Important Renovation Planning Steps
• Your Legal Responsibilities
• Design a Retail Store
• Planning Tenant Improvements
• Common Renovation Myths
• Good Restaurant Designers

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We provide commercial renovation project planning and design services to lease space clients in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Delta, Richmond, Surrey, White Rock, Langley, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, BC.

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