Sheila Urban

Opening a business is exciting. Signing a lease is exciting. Designing your future space is exciting. Then the questions start. Do I need an architect and an interior designer? Both? When should I apply for permits? Why are contractor bids so different? What is an RFI and submittal? How do I know if I'm making the right decisions? For many first-time business owners, these questions don't arise until construction is already underway. By then, every change costs more, schedules become...

When water damage hits a commercial space, the first call is usually to insurance. The second decision, often made quickly and with limited information, is who will rebuild the space. In many cases, owners are directed toward a “preferred vendor” through their insurance carrier, such as Service Master. These firms play an important role in emergency response. But reconstruction, especially in medical, office, and retail environments, is a different discipline, and it’s where owners should...

Restoring office, medical, and retail spaces back to pre-loss condition Water damage in a commercial space is never just about drying things out. It disrupts operations, impacts revenue, and in medical environments, can compromise patient care. The difference between a stressful, drawn-out recovery and a controlled, efficient rebuild often comes down to who is guiding the process. Many owners are told to use a preferred vendor through their insurance carrier. In one recent case, my client was...