Moving Office in Jakarta
As the cost of office space has dropped dramatically in Jakarta over the past few years a number of companies have looked to move to reduce rental costs. Moving office from one location to another, whether renovating your existing space or getting up new operations, involves careful planning and confidence in the multitude of decisions one is faced with. Understanding the process will help anticipate these decisions and reduce the inevitable stress associated with moving. Professionals have divided the process into eight basic steps:
Brief taking or Programming is the process whereby one defines their goals and needs. At this point a property agent and design professional should both assist in determining exactly how much space is needed and the suitability of any proposed space to answer those needs. Often the designer can prepare block plans to graphically illustrate departmental adjacencies and how a proposed building’s geometry may respond to these requirements. The Property Agent can advise on such issues as rental rates, lease terms, etc. This is the stage where you can make an informed decision on where to move. The property agent may then negotiate on your behalf, your best deal.
Schematic Design is the next stage of the process where the designer will present you with different concepts of how the space may be laid out and will identify pros and cons of each. These concepts will need to be fine-tuned later once you, as the client, decide the direction you would like to go in.
Once a schematic layout is decided, the designer then can present you with both a Schedule and a Budget for the overall job. This should include all costs associated with the move, start to finish. Beware of those that give you a rate per square meter and are vague about what exactly this includes. A typical costing should include many ancillary but necessary items such as Security Systems or Window treatments and any other consultants that may be required such as mechanical and electrical engineers.
Design Development is the phase where the designer will develop details, color schemes and will specify the precise materials to be used. Again a professional knows how to achieve innovative yet cost effective solutions and will discuss with you life cycle costing. That is; what are the advantages of sometimes using more expensive materials because they last longer.
Once the design is finalized, Construction or Contract Documents will be prepared. The more detailed these drawings and specifications are the more accurate pricing will come back from tendering (bidding) the project to the builder or general contractor. The project manager and designer can recommend a short list of qualified and reputable contractors and evaluate the bidder’s submitted Bill of Quantities, based on their unit rates, with a recommendation for appointment.
In foreign dollar terms there has never been a cheaper time to fit out an office in Indonesia. With international construction cost averaging in the $400 to $500 per square meter range, the current Indonesian average, all-inclusive costs are well below $200 per meter squared for all new construction. Obviously further savings may be realized through reuse of existing furniture and equipment. Again your design consultant can advise you on the budgeting and costs.
Once the most stressful time of the move is over, it is time for proper follow-up of the defect Rectification. It is often said the last 10% of the job takes 90% of the effort and your design professional will assist in following up all the loose ends and implementing any necessary Maintenance programs. 5% of the contractors fee will be retained by you to insure that this “punch list†get finished in a timely manner.