Moving offices is an exciting step for any company- after all, it is a sign of growth and improvement. However, moving is a daunting task, especially when you still must run a business on top of it.
Luckily, there are plenty of tips and tricks to help you pull off your office move seamlessly and efficiently. Read on for the top seven essential things to know when you’re moving out of your old office and into the new one.
- Give yourself enough time
There are lots of logistics to moving offices. You must coordinate moving vans, employees, inspections, and a whole host of other moving cogs to pull it off smoothly.
Even small office moves can take three months to complete, let alone plan. Start planning the move six months in advance at least, eight to ten if you have a larger business. Giving yourself enough time will give people an opportunity to do a thorough job of cleaning and packing and will reduce your stress.
- Communicate with your employees
Don’t leave everything up to the movers. When you’re moving, it is absolutely essential to keep open communication between you and your employees. Everything from the timeline of the move to what they will be responsible for- this information is important.
It is advisable to give them information both verbally and through written reminders. Keeping track of which employee is doing what will help you break down the move into manageable tasks and not leave anything unfinished.
- Deep clean
There is a lot of clutter that builds up over years of being in an office. If you are moving, especially into a brand new office space the last thing you want to do is to bring all the dust-bunnies and mess from the previous office.
Take the opportunity to clean everything you own. Get rid of loose papers, re-organize file cabinets and scrub all the furniture. You’ll be thankful you did when you show up on the first morning to a pristine new work space.
- Take inventory
A company often accumulates lots of technology and furniture over time. As you plan your move, make the time to take a full inventory of your equipment. Everything from lamps to printers- make sure you record how old your technology is.
Depending on the layout of your new space, you might realize that it is really time to update your computers or other technology. An office move presents a perfect opportunity to get rid of defunct technology and start afresh.
- Do the paperwork in advance
The most tedious part of the move is also one of the most important for your business- updating all your paperwork and contact information in advance. All your utility bills, websites, internet providers, phone numbers, banks, etc. will have to be updated.
Get this part done well in advance so the companies have time to set up in your new office. It will speed up the process of settling down into the new space if you have everything properly installed from day one.
- Construct a detailed plan
After you’ve taken inventory and done all your paperwork, it is a good idea to construct a detailed layout of your new space. If you figure out small things like desk configurations and ideal spots for break areas, you’ll have a clear plan of what to move first and where to put it.
This will be helpful to the movers and mean that you’ll waste less time in the future while you’re settling in trying to optimize the layout.
- Get professional help
If it is even a question in your mind- hire professional movers. Even if you have hundreds of employees, most moving companies have special equipment to move heavy objects and they will be more efficient.
Hopefully, this article gave you some idea of how to start your move- good luck!
