By MUST Development
Look at the premises before the lease is final. The building, not the brochure, sets the construction risk.
Existing conditions: Is the space a shell, a second-generation office, or still occupied? What HVAC, electrical capacity, and restrooms are already there?
Use and zoning: Does the city allow the occupancy you want, or will the use need a separate approval?
Code upgrades: Will the alteration trigger accessibility, life-safety, or restroom work beyond the layout you drew?
Landlord rules: After-hours work, freight, and approval of drawings can sit on the critical path even when the city is fast.
Cost: Ask for a build-out review of the plan before you accept the allowance. Send the drawings through the free pre-lease review.