So, you’re getting ready to plan an office move for your business. You know it’s going to be a tough task, and before things get rolling, you want to make sure you’re not forgetting anything important.
Well, above all else, the planning process is the most important part of any move relocation. This, of course, is even truer when there is lots of large furniture, computers, and other equipment involved.
So what are the tips and tricks to making an office move go as smoothly as possible? And what are the things you need to be on the lookout for when planning a move of that size?
If you’re asking yourself these kinds of questions, wonder no longer, because we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll tell you 8 things you should consider when scripting your next office move.
Now then, let’s get started!
1. Start Planning Early
The last thing you want to do is start planning for a big office move at the very last minute. So the moment you realize the move is happening, start the planning process immediately.
Even if it’s just making lists of everything that needs to be done beforehand, and deciding who is in charge of doing what. Start creating a gameplan early on and don’t wait until the last minute to figure everything out.
2. Create Teams and Assign Tasks
It goes without saying, but a big office move isn’t a one-person job. So you’re going to want to establish teams, and tasks for those teams, so that everyone is involved and has a few assignments to complete.
This should be done early on in the process, so people have plenty of time to get prepared. And again, don’t be afraid to ask as many people for help as you can find.
3. Get Address Changes in Place
Another step in the pre-move process, especially early on, is getting your address changes in place. Forwarding your mail, in particular, is a crucial step that needs to be taken before you actually get moved.
If you can, try to reach out to whoever is going to be moving into your old office, too. That way they can contact you if any mail slips through the system, so you don’t miss out on anything important.
4. Don’t Be Afraid to Call a Professional
Even with everyone at the office pitching in, sometimes you need more help to get the job done. This is especially true if you have a lot of heavy office furniture that needs to be moved, which of course requires a lot of muscle to accomplish.
A pro tip? Don’t be afraid to get the professionals involved. The folks at Unishippers, in particular, do a great job for big office moves and can help make the process that much easier for you and your team.
Be sure to check out Unishippers for more info about what it is they can do to help make your move easier.
5. Insist Everyone Packs Their Own Office
It’s important that the space in the moving trucks be reserved for company office furniture and supplies. The last thing you want is everyone trying to load up their office knick-knacks in a moving truck, taking up valuable space in the process.
So make a rule where everyone is responsible for their office and their belongings. Also, make it clear that anything left behind will be trashed, so they know not to leave anything important behind.
6. Label Every Chord and Wire
If there’s one thing that can be a nightmare to deal with post-move, it’s setting up all the IT equipment in your new office. The chords and wires, in particular, can really make the entire move-in process a pain.
Our advice? Label every chord and wire with what device it goes with. And if you want to take it a step further, tape those chords and wires to the piece of equipment they go with.
That way all chords and wires are packed with their respective pieces of equipment, so you don’t get your chords mixed up when moving into your new building.
7. Label Your Boxes Properly
While you’ve got your labeling supplies out, be sure to label all of your boxes by room, so it’s easier to unpack. Try to make color schemes, per room, if you can, so it’s easy to know which box goes where.
Don’t be vague, either. Take the time to write a bit about what is in each box, so when it comes time to unpack, you can do so in an organized fashion.
8. Be Careful and Don’t Overdo it
Moving is hard work. And if you overdo it, you can put yourself and your staff at risk for various repetitive motion injuries, which isn’t a good thing.
That’s why it’s a good idea to take it slow, ask for help, and don’t try and do everything all at once. Even if it takes a few days to move in, it’s better than getting someone hurt trying to rush the process.
8 Tips for a Successful Office Move
Well, there you have it! Those are 8 tips that can help make any office move a successful one.
Remember, above all else, don’t wait until the last minute to start planning. Get on top of things early, be organized, and set yourself up for success.
Get your staff involved and set up teams, assigning each team a different responsibility. With that being said, don’t be afraid to get the professionals involved, too, especially if you’re worried about injury.
Looking for more ways to make your business successful? Check out the rest of our blog!