Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Negotiating the Best Deals

Some price savvy physicians tailor their contractor agreements to end once the walls are sheet rocked and electrical outlets and plumbing are all in place.   At this time your build-out will be subject to a preliminary inspection and you will receive a certificate that should be posted in your facility until all work is completed.

At this stage, you can save a bundle of money by doing the finishing work on your own.  Wholesale vendors for cabinetry, light and plumbing fixtures and flooring are readily available and sometimes offer free installation with purchase.  Check prices at your local Home Depot, Lowes or IKEA.  They offer a wide range of choices and their sale prices are often far below retail.

You may want to enlist the help of a local handyman in your area who can complete your finishing work in a reasonable time and for a good price.  In light of today's economy, your local papers are filled with talented people who will be only too happy to have this work.  Check with your local Better Business Bureau to make sure they hold a valid contractors license.  If all is in good order, they will be able to use this license to obtain additional savings on purchases.

Wholesale tile, marble and carpeting vendors are also abundant and the time you spend looking at samples of these products will be worth the savings.  When you choose your carpeting for your waiting rooms and professional offices, make sure you pick a fiber that will not thread when chairs are moved back and forth.  Spending a little more for good carpeting that will last will not only save you money but will not pose tripping hazards to patients or employees.

Tile or linoleum squares are the best choice for your exam rooms and they are very easy to install.  Use additional glue on tiles that come with their own adhesive to avoid future lifting.  These tiles are durable, easy to clean and will last for some time.  It is advisable to use rubber strips rather than wood molding where the tiles meet the walls.  These stay cleaner looking and will not chip or scratch.  
Consider chair railings for the walls of the exam rooms where patient or visitor chairs can scrape wall paint and affect the overall clean look you want to maintain.

Local painters in your area will also offer you discounts for painting multiple rooms.  Many also have connections will wallpaper outlets as well.  Choose paint that is washable so that scuffs and spills are easily remedied, and make sure your choose colors that will blend with your choices in furniture, wall covering and any artwork.

Once again check your patient demographics when it comes time to choose furniture for your waiting room.   For elderly patients, chairs should be easy to get in and out of without assistance, and arms are often warranted.   Colors and fabrics should be durable and stain resistance and you may want to consider at least one bench for overweight patients or for those with back problems.   If you want to add tables to your area, make sure that they are strategically placed to avoid bumps.  Have sufficient lighting and reading materials available.   Some practices run a series of informative videos in their waiting area that provide patients with health and fitness tips.  These can prove a valuable distraction for extended waiting times.

If anyone in your family has a flair for decorating, this is the best time to enlist their help.  They can shop around for the best prices and bring you samples of everything from paint colors to artwork.  This can be an enjoyable experience where your furnishings can reflect your personal sense of style and purpose, so get involved in the process as much as you can.  You will be living with the result of your choices for some time, so you will want to create rooms that you can live with from day to day.

Tomorrow :   Hardware and Phones

No comments:

Post a Comment