The reception area is often the first impression visitors get of your company. An inviting, professionally designed reception fit out can make guests feel comfortable and communicates your brand effectively. When planning your reception area fit out, consider both form and function to maximise appeal and utility. 

Aesthetics Set the Tone

The decor, furnishings and layout establish the atmosphere. Warm, muted paint colours feel soothing, while accent walls in bold corporate colours reinforce branding. Hard floors like wood or tile convey durability; carpet creates a hushed, elegant mood. Arrange furniture in conversation-friendly configurations with end tables for resting drinks. Artworks with abstract shapes or nature themes are generally inoffensive backdrops. Potted plants breathe life into the space. Provide ample, flattering lighting and avoid harsh overheads. A cohesive reception design presents professionalism and polish at first glance.

Organisation Optimises Workflow 

While aesthetics make vital first impressions, an organised layout facilitates everyday office tasks. Place the reception desk near the entryway where the receptionist can see guests enter and stand to greet them. Position the phone, computer, notepads and supply drawers within easy reach so he or she can seamlessly manage incoming calls, lookup contacts’ information and sign for deliveries without extensive movement. Nearby filing cabinets keep essential documentation organised. If the organisation has a self check-in kiosk for visitors, position it next to the entry so guests can easily sign themselves in and apply badge stickers.

Comfort to Clients 

Remember to design a client-friendly space. Arrange lounge chairs and sofas in small groupings around low coffee tables to spark conversation. Provide convenient charging points for mobile devices. Reading lamps and plenty of natural light make environment feel tranquil rather than cavernous. Stock coffee tables with neatly fanned business cards and the company’s latest product brochures or newsletters. Refreshments like water, tea and coffee make waits more pleasant and convey hospitality. By catering thoughtfully to clients’ needs as they wait, you demonstrate customer-focused values.

Functionality for Staff

Don’t overlook making these high-traffic spaces practical behind the scenes for employees. Install sound dampening panels if call centre workers will hold hushed, lengthy client calls at neighbouring desks. To avoid disturbing others, position the copier and printer away from main corridors in an alcove. Build a shelving unit to neatly organise supplies like pens, paper and spare printer ink. Arrange cables and electric sockets thoughtfully so that vacuuming under desk can proceed without unplugging devices. Where many employees pass through daily, optimise pathways and storage solutions. 

First Impressions Count

The reception area impacts visiting clients, prospective candidates and delivery companies. Tailor this space to suit your brand identity and business needs. For maximum appeal, it should aesthetically communicate your style while facilitating guests and employees’ practical needs. With an inviting, orderly entrance organised for productivity, you’ll put visitors at ease while setting the foundation for professional partnerships to come. This vital first space deserves thoughtful attention for the impressions – and opportunities – it shapes from day one.

Block management services include overseeing the financial and legal aspects of a block, such as collecting service charges, arranging repairs and maintenance, dealing with tenant issues, and administering leases. Block managers also manage communal areas, ensuring that they remain clean and safe for all residents.

What is block management?

Block management Exeter includes managing and maintaining a residential or commercial property development. This includes taking care of administrative tasks such as collecting service charges, accounting, budgeting and dealing with maintenance issues. It also involves providing support to residents and tenants in the form of advice and practical help.

Block managers are responsible for ensuring that all legal requirements relating to health and safety, fire safety, access and energy efficiency are met. They also have to review existing contracts with contractors and manage any disputes that may arise between the property owners or tenants. They must have excellent communication and negotiation skills, good problem-solving abilities, and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Block managers also need to stay up to date with changes in legislation and best practice. With a combination of these skills, block management can be a rewarding and fulfilling career choice.

What is the difference between property management and block management?

Property management and block management are two terms often used interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Property management is the process of managing an individual property such as a home or apartment, while block management involves managing multiple properties in one complex or development.

Property managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of an individual property, such as collecting rent, assessing maintenance needs and repairs, handling tenant inquiries and complaints, updating records, maintaining the property’s appearance, and more. Their duties can also extend to coordination with local agencies or other businesses that interact with the property.

Block management involves the day-to-day operations of a complex or development that contains multiple properties, such as an apartment building or a gated community. Block managers often have similar responsibilities to property managers but on a much larger scale. They are responsible for ensuring the well-being of all tenants within the complex, enforcing rules and regulations set by the development’s governing body, managing common areas and amenities, handling administrative tasks related to the complex, and more. Block managers also typically have a much higher level of organizational skills due to the complex nature of their job. Always check ARMA for information.

A communal block of flats might often have an outbuilding or garage area where residents and leaseholders can store items, and where larger items such as lawnmowers might be kept for gardeners. These outbuildings can sometimes be a security concern if they are easily accessible and in a vulnerable location.

Outbuildings are best protected with a variety of security measures, including a high quality door (something like an up and over garage door or a well fitting roller shutter can work very well), an alarm system, and a CCTV system as well. These measures will show the property is secured to act as a deterrence measure, as well as putting up boundaries between valuable items and potential intruders. Alarm systems will come with motion detectors to help keep garages and outbuildings protected if an intruder does gain access too, sounding an alarm that will alert nearby residents to the break in.

Homes come with various character features and depending on what these are and the condition of them, people usually want to preserve them. They can add to the charm and character of a home and potentially even up its value. Some homeowners may also install new timber features in their home such as a fireplace surround or new oak or wood flooring.

If you have structural features like beams these will need to be maintained well and might also need to be upgraded. Monitor them over time to make sure their don’t show signs of deterioration. Other features like fireplace surrounds and mantle pieces will generally be more for decoration. You could replace them when they begin to look older or use sleepers and other cuts of wood to replace parts and keep them in good condition over time. Use the correct type of wood, like character grade oak, or green oak if it can shrink.

You should always pay attention to your front entrance doors. Why? Think about it – whenever you go into someone else’s home, you notice their front door, don’t you? It is hard to miss an entrance door, because it is one of the first things you see when you arrive at someone’s property, or when you walk past it on the street. If you go inside their house, you will definitely pay attention to it, from the colour and design, to the door furniture that the door has. Think about your neighbours doors as well – if someone who lives on your street has a new entrance door installed, you definitely notice it. It is the same for your own front door and you should pay close attention to choosing the right one. It is more important than you might originally think.

The first step to choosing your perfect entrance door is picking the style and appearance that you want. This is not the easiest of tasks, as there is a wide range of doors available. This can make it an enjoyable process as well though – you have the opportunity to browse different door types and find the ones that jump out at you, letting you style your home in the way that you want. You can look for entrance doors you like online, you can flick through magazines, look at product catalogues, or simply just go for a walk! Taking a stroll through your neighbourhood will help you identify the types of entrance doors that you like for your own home.

Picking the right style of door for your property

It isn’t just about your own personal preferences of course. It is also very important that you choose a door that will suit your property and will bring out the best in its design. It should be carefully matched to existing features such as windows and, if you have a back door as well, you should consider replacing this at the same time to get consistency. Some people will also match their front door to their garage door to make sure they have a consistent appearance from all aspects of their home. This can be more visually appealing and will make a home look more uniform.

There are various styles of door you can choose – some will have inset shaker panels, others will have modern, gloss finishes. The door furniture you can pick will also make a big difference to the overall finish of the door. Modern doors often make use of contemporary door furniture such as large handles that make a bold statement, so these kinds of features should be considered alongside the rest of the door.

The final component that can make a key aesthetic difference is the glazing. Doors might have small panels of glazing, they may have a larger panel, or they might have none at all. Think about the positioning of your front door and decide on the glazing option that will provide the right amount of light, whilst also balancing this with the need for privacy.