Once you decide to sign a second-generation restaurant lease, work can begin in earnest, but that doesn’t mean you should proceed without a solid plan. The more thorough you and your construction team are during pre-construction, the smoother the build phase will go. Moreover, you’ll be able to keep costs lower during construction while also mitigating risk. Here are some steps to take after you sign your restaurant lease.

Consult with a Construction Professional

There are a lot of unknowns in construction. Rather than be caught off guard by every surprise that comes your way during the buildout, prevent them in the first place by working with a construction consultant early during your project’s planning and development.

Construction consultants are experts in all aspects of construction and can help you reduce risk and errors in your project. They can be hired for just a single phase in the construction process or serve as owner’s representatives to oversee the entire project. Leveraging their professional background and expertise helps ensure change orders are kept to a minimum, the project adheres to established timelines, and there are no permitting issues or compliance concerns during the build.

Evaluate Your Commercial Kitchen Infrastructure

As you plan your design, there are some commercial kitchen infrastructure details you need to pay attention to. You’ll need to have an adequate grease trap to handle your waste. You’ll also need to ensure that your hood system meshes with your life safety components as well as all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing needs. The hood must function properly in concert with the fire alarm and HVAC system, which means the location of such components will dictate where your hood system can go. In second-generation restaurant spaces, the infrastructure should already be there, but it is something you need to be aware of as you consider modifications to the space.

Secure Necessary Permits

Running a successful restaurant in Miami cannot be accomplished without first complying with the city’s construction regulations. Restaurants, like any other business, must secure appropriate permit before beginning construction as well as pass inspections for fire and other code compliance requirements. A construction consultant will guide you through the permitting process in South Florida to ensure complete compliance and speed things up.

Contact us at Seacoast Consultants

If you’re ready to get started on a restaurant construction project in South Florida, come talk to us at Seacoast Consulting Group. Our goal is to help clients mitigate costs and keep their timelines on track by proactively managing potential obstacles with their builds.

To learn more about how we can help you and to set up a free consultation, get in touch with our team at Seacoast Consulting Group.