Start with how you work, not how it looks
Count the people, the meetings and the quiet work you do each week. A layout that fits the way your team really works will save more than any finish.
What must keep running?
List the rooms, systems and teams that cannot stop. That list decides how the work is staged and how long it takes.
Who signs off?
Agree who makes decisions and how fast. Waiting a week for an answer on carpet can hold up three trades.
What does the landlord need?
Most leases need the landlord to approve drawings and contractors. Ask early: some take a month.
What is the real budget?
Include furniture, data, moving and signs, not just the building work. Then keep ten per cent back for surprises.