Your financial lender’s role in your new office may seem obvious, but they can play a valuable role beyond approving your loan. Specifically, because of the importance of working within your overall project budget, they can share their experience working with various vendors and service providers and connect you with the right professionals.

Locating and negotiating the lease or sale of a property is difficult if you haven’t been through the process before. The landlords and developers you will be communicating with are savvy. Remember, they negotiate similar deals every day.  This puts you at a distinct disadvantage.  Working with a good tenant representative (commercial real estate broker) can save time, money and your sanity.  Of course, it should also be stated that all contracts should be reviewed by an attorney experienced in real estate law.

Your architect will wear many hats throughout the design and construction of your new office. In addition to designing the functional, spatial, and aesthetic character of your office, your architect will serve as your advocate throughout the process.

Be sure to meet with several dental equipment vendors. While the equipment they sell may be the same or similar, prices and quality of service after the sale can vary greatly. Speak with your colleagues and see what their experiences have been.  It is also important to remember that any rudimentary equipment drawings your vendor provides is done so as a courtesy and is not a replacement for the detailed design and engineering information your architect will be providing.

Today’s dental office is so reliant on technology that your IT professional needs to be involved during the earliest stages of the office design. In our experience, integrating the technology into the design through proper planning yields the best results. Your local dental association can often assist you in locating these professionals.

When it comes to selecting a general contractor, look to your architect for guidance. Chances are, he/she can help you identify qualified professionals in your area.  Keep in mind that commercial construction differs considerably from residential construction.  The general contractor who did a great job on your neighbor’s basement renovation is not necessarily the right contractor to build your dental or dental specialty office.