Shop Around
Although you may be in a hurry to book a professional business moving company right away, don’t just take the first quote you get. Ask around for recommendations, do your research online and call up several companies to get on-site estimates. Going over all your move requirements over the phone just won’t do for an office move – there are too many variables. That’s why it’s best to talk to multiple moving companies and see which one is the best fit for you.
Start Early
As soon as you know you’ll be relocating your business, you’ll want to start preparing for your move. Even getting started several months ahead of time isn’t uncommon, especially if you have entire rooms full of miscellaneous filing cabinets that need to be cleaned out, dozens of offices with furniture and equipment to be packed up, and hundreds of employees to coordinate.
All of this can start to feel overwhelming, which is how we come to point #2:
Use A Checklist
The number one thing you can do to help your busy business move go off without a hitch is to create and use a checklist from day one. Make a list of everything that needs to get done, by whom, and by which dates, will help keep everyone in your office organized and on task. Designate one employee per department or per floor to be the lead on moving related tasks. Have weekly check ups with your team leads to make sure everything is going according to schedule.
Donate
If you are starting to feel daunted over just how much there is to pack up for your office move, don’t fret. There is one simple way to cut down on your work: Donate!
Moving is a great time to get rid of older furniture or equipment that needs to be upgraded. There are many donation centers that will gladly take gently used items as long as they are still in good condition.
Label, Label, Label
However you decide to organize your packing, making sure the system is organized with consistent labeling is key. One good idea is to label every box with the floor number or department where it needs to be delivered to, along with the employee’s name and a list of the contents. This not only helps your mover know where to bring the box, which cuts down on moving time and saves your business money, but will also keep your employees from getting frustrated when they try to unpack and find out that all of John’s boxes ended up on Jane’s desk three floors away.
Protect Your Electronics
Always use pink anti-static bubble wrap when packing up your electronics. This is the best way to keep them safe from any static charges – and from getting bumped and jostled in the moving truck.
Inform Your Customers
Whether you put a sign up on your business doors, send postcards in the mail, or blast out an e-newsletter to all your customers, it is a good idea to inform them ahead of time that your business will be moving. This is especially important if your business relies on a lot of foot traffic, or if you have a lot of on-site visitors.