For most offices, there comes a time when relocation becomes a must, whether it’s due to downsizing, expansion, getting closer to customers or simply a cheaper property. Moving offices is an enormous and overwhelming task that can easily become a logistical nightmare, so it’s important to take all your employees into consideration and keep everyone involved and informed.
If moving your offices will ensure your viability and be better for the business down the line, here are several aspects to consider to make it as stress-free as possible.
Proper Planning
The most important part of your planning is creating a schedule or timeline that will cover all the stages of your move. Create it together with your team of supervisors and managers and make sure it’s feasible. For a small business, it’ll take at least 3 months of planning, whereas for medium or large offices, it might take up to 8 months, so the key is in an early start.
Your next move should be getting all the information you can about the new location, such as the floor plan so you can get the idea of how much storage space you’ll have, where all the outlets are and what the actual office layout is. All of this needs to be compared with your current status so you could identify potential problems and issues and solve them in the early phases.
If the floor plan, storage space and layout differ greatly, it might be necessary to hire carpenters and electricians to make changes and get everything ready for your move. Completing all construction work and cosmetic changes before your office removal will ensure the whole process goes much smoother and calmer.
Last but not the least, make sure you have the budget clearly defined before you even pack a box or hire a moving company. Staying within the budget limits and not incurring any additional costs is a major stress reliever that will enable you to start positively at the new location.
Task Assignments
Moving office is a stressful time so it’s important you have a good team. Appoint a person from each department to regulate their particular area and have meetings each week to make sure everyone is informed, concerns are identified and solutions discussed. Keep your employees involved and let everyone know their responsibilities in the moving process.
Once you have your team gathered and a timeline created, ensure all the tasks are clearly outlined and added to the timeline. In addition to this, you still may require professional help such as phone line installers and computer specialists. Have your supervisors report on what is specifically needed for their department and be sure you cover all areas, from the reception desk to the lobby and storage.
When you have all this taken care of, hire professional movers and rely on their experience and expertise. Do your research and find a company that is reliable and has a good reputation. For instance, Inner West Removalists offer a highly trained and experienced team who know how to handle fragile office equipment and other valuable office items. There will be a lot of desks, drawers, screens and shelves to pack and transport safely to the new location, and you’d want to eliminate any risk of damage and higher costs.
Keeping Both Your Clients and Suppliers Informed
It’s of great significance to inform everyone who’s involved with your business that you’re moving. Make sure that your suppliers and clients get the notification of your new location and the way your business will operate during the moving process. This will ensure that you don’t lose your contacts and clients to another business.
Moving office to a new location is an exciting new beginning and a new chapter in your business, so having it all as stress-free as possible is the key to success. With tips outlined here, you’ll be able to do it quickly and with fewer risks and concerns.
