Don’t Let Your Remodel Derail Operations: Planning for the In-Between
- Kelley Reis
- Nov 11
- 4 min read
The Excitement, and the Risk of a Remodel
There’s nothing quite like the energy of a renovation. Fresh branding. Updated finishes. A new layout that reflects your next chapter.
But between the planning, permits, and construction dust, one crucial question often gets lost:
How will your dealership continue to operate smoothly while the remodel happens?
Because while customers love a grand reveal, they don’t love confusion, clutter, or service interruptions. Without a solid remodel operations plan, you risk losing both efficiency and trust long before the ribbon is cut.
As Ward’s Auto notes, even the best-intentioned remodels can disrupt workflow, reduce throughput, and frustrate staff if planning doesn’t include day-to-day operations.
Where Remodels Go Wrong
Too often, dealerships underestimate the “in-between.” They plan for before and after, but not the “during” the months where the team still needs to sell, service, and deliver vehicles in a construction zone.
Here’s what usually goes wrong:
Unclear Phasing: Teams are unsure which areas are active or closed each week.
Workflow Bottlenecks: Temporary setups force employees to crisscross the building or double-handle tasks.
Customer Frustration: Wayfinding signs are missing or unclear, creating confusion and poor first impressions.
Team Fatigue: Disruption leads to miscommunication and burnout.
Revenue Gaps: Lost productivity adds up quickly when service bays or sales areas aren’t accessible.
The good news? This can be substantially minimized with proactive remodel operations planning.
Why Remodel Operations Planning Matters During Construction
Remodels are not just design projects, they’re live business transformations. A dealership doesn’t shut down while construction happens, so every phase must be thoughtfully planned for continuity.
Operational planning means anticipating change before it happens:
Mapping alternative workflows
Establishing phased timelines
Maintaining customer flow
Protecting team efficiency
As CBT News highlights, phased construction strategies are essential for keeping dealerships operational during renovation. By sequencing upgrades and controlling flow, you minimize downtime and confusion while maintaining customer confidence.
Four Tracks to Protect Your Operations
At Arreis, we guide dealerships through remodels with four key operational tracks that keep both people and processes on track.
1. Business Continuity
The #1 priority: stay open and functional. Identify your mission-critical areas: service intake, delivery, F&I, and customer waiting spaces, and protect them from total shutdown. Set up temporary, branded alternatives if necessary.
2. Zone Sequencing & Phases
Work with your construction partners to phase renovations by zone.
Never close two customer-facing zones at once.
Maintain clear ingress and egress points.
Use barriers and signage to separate work areas without sacrificing safety or perception.
3. Communication & Change Management
Remodels test communication. Keep your team informed through weekly briefings and clear visual maps showing what’s changing and when.
Transparent communication with customers matters just as much.
Use email, signage, and service-lane conversations to proactively explain updates.
4. Temporary Layout and Signage
Temporary doesn’t have to mean sloppy. Wayfinding, branded banners, and customer-facing visual cues maintain professionalism even amid disruption.
Clear communication and customer experience details during a remodel are what distinguish professional operations from chaos.
Keeping Service Running Strong
Your service department is your lifeline during construction. Customers are more forgiving of dust than of disorganization.
Focus on:
Preserving access to bays and parts storage.
Staging vehicles logically to prevent bottlenecks.
Creating a clean, comfortable check-in experience even in temporary spaces.
Every point of contact, digital or physical should communicate that your dealership is still dependable, attentive, and ready to serve.
The Operational Framework
At Arreis, we have a framework margin remodel strategy with experience design.
Here’s what’s included:
Pre-Construction Walkthrough – Identify daily pain points before demo begins.
Flow Mapping – Define alternate routes for customers and staff.
Signage and Communication Plan – Design visuals that maintain clarity and brand trust.
Mid-Project Reviews – Assess what’s working and pivot in real time.
Post-Renovation Reintegration – Ensure the new layout supports operational goals, not just aesthetics.
When remodels are treated like live operations, not construction detours, the outcome is stronger systems, smoother teams, and a more intentional customer journey.
Small Disruptions, Big Rewards
A remodel done right doesn’t just modernize, it refines.
Take the opportunity to:
Audit how your team actually uses the space.
Correct inefficiencies discovered during construction.
Introduce better traffic flow, clearer signage, or improved collaboration zones.
Dealerships that treat renovation as an opportunity for workflow re-engineering see higher long-term retention and morale.
Your remodel isn’t just about paint and polish, it’s a once-in-a-decade chance to rebuild smarter.
The Arreis Approach
Arreis helps dealerships bridge the gap between architecture and operations.
We don’t just look at floor plans; we walk the floor with your team. We listen to how they move, communicate, and serve customers, then create a strategy that keeps your business running, even mid-renovation.
If you’re planning a remodel or already knee-deep in one, we’ll help you:
Sequence your project for minimal disruption
Maintain consistent customer experience
Realign your new layout with operational flow
Because your dealership deserves more than a facelift, it deserves a foundation built to perform.
Comments