There are millions of businesses in the United Kingdom. Inevitably, circumstances arise that require moving. However, it makes sense to put as much thought into your move as you do in running your business.

Office relocation is very time-consuming. Even worse, it can strain employee and customer relationships, if not done correctly. With a plan, however, you can mitigate risks and make your move as smooth as possible.

Before you start your move, get rid of things that are no longer needed. There’s no need for moving garbage to a new location. Next, organise everything as much as possible, then inventory the things that you’ll need to move.

Now you have an idea of the scope of your move. You can start putting together a plan for moving success.

The following are ten more offices moving tips to help you reduce office relocation stress.

1. Give Yourself Time to Plan

Planning an office move takes more time than you think. If you understand the full scope of the project, you’ll have a better chance of success.

Without a plan, however, you leave everything to chance. You could lose essential office items or have things delivered at the wrong time.

2. Develop a Budget for Your Office Relocation

Of course, budgeting for your move is a top priority. You need to include the cost of storage, for example, if your old lease expires before the new one begins.

You also need to include labour costs for workers who will help with the move. Also, don’t forget costs such as deposits.

3. Scout Ahead

Before you begin, inform your present landlord about the move. Next, obtain a floor plan of your new office space.

It would be best if you had the new floor plan so that you can figure out where everything’s going to go. Also, you need to see if you’ll have to purchase additional equipment for the new location.

4. Organize Your Move

To keep your business units in order, colour code the boxes for each department. Also, label each employees’ office items before the move.

You also need to inform your information technology department about the move ahead of time. Most importantly, however, you need to acquire any licenses and permits required to complete the move legally. You should consult your company attorney about this matter.

5. Ask for Assistance

Once you’ve solidified your plans, call for a staff meeting to talk about the office move. If possible, put together a committee and assign leaders responsible for each department.

At the meeting, you can talk about packing practices and share the new office plans with workers. Also, you can give employees directions to the new location as well as helpful tips about public transport if applicable.

6. Hope for the Best

Every move comes with challenges. Stress is a natural reaction to a problem. There’s no way to avoid it. Acknowledging that you’re taking on a challenge is the first step in preventing stress.

7. Hire Experts

Fortunately, you remembered to budget for a professional office relocation service. Professional movers have experience and knowledge that will make your move go easier.

In addition to lifting heavy items, they can also pack your office goods adequately so that they’ll arrive at the new destination safely. However, it’s essential to hire a company with a proven reputation for providing successful office relocations.

8. Mind Your Health

It’s easy to forget about your health when you’re under pressure. However, you need your rest to think clearly during an office move.

There are many things that you must manage. Make sure you get as much sleep as possible before, during and especially after the move. This is where calling in the professionals will help with having less stress.

9. Communicate with the Team

Even if you were unable to arrange a meeting, you must share important information with your coworkers. Also, you need to make sure that your customers know when and where you’re moving offices.

It’s also essential that your new location can support your business. For example, the internet service providers that deliver service to your new site must have the ability to provide enough bandwidth for your company.

10. Prep to Return to Work

Don’t put so much effort into planning your move that you forget the plan to resume business. Make sure that you have the equipment that you need to return to work activity with as little interruption as possible. A professional moving service will ensure that you have everything set up where you want it to go.

Your new equipment includes, for example, cabling and power supplies that can reach the connections in the new office.

Also, mind the small things such as cutlery for the office kitchen. Missing tea or lunch won’t help workers settle into the new space. With all the big decisions that you must make, it’s easy to forget about the little things.

Work Smart, Not Hard

Every company is unique, and so is every move. What worked one time may not work the next. Still, it would be best if you thought things through. Whatever you do, formulate a plan.

Most importantly, don’t try to complete the entire office relocation by yourself. Choose peers that you trust to share responsibilities. Write things down. You can’t keep everything in your head. Use checklists and check them often.

What’s more, share that information as changes arise. By developing a full plan in communicating with your coworkers, you will have a successful move with as little stress as possible.

Finally, enlist the help of moving professionals. Just as you would seek counsel for areas where your business lacks knowledge, it’s smart to seek advice for your move.

Do you want to plan the best office relocation possible? Contact Company Moves and Storage today to find out how.

The post Struggling With Office Relocation Stress? 10 Tips to Relieve the Pressure appeared first on Company Moves.

So how do you cut down on the stress and make sure that you have a successful office move?

Well, the short answer is by staying organised.

Most anxieties arise from not feeling in control of the process. But if you plan and stay organised you will reduce stress and make it a far more efficient project.

Read on to find out how you should organise your office relocation and what you should have on your office moving checklist.

Planning The Move

Long before you start packing up your desk, you need to plan your office move in as much detail as you can.

There are going to be a lot of people involved in the move, including your employees, the removal firm and the property company. Having a written plan will make it a lot easier for everyone involved to check their role and see what should be happening next.

Fixing A Schedule

If you are moving to a different building, you will have a firm deadline to adhere to. You will start paying rent in the new office and stop paying for your old office. So this is the date that you can start working back from.

It is helpful to create a series of deadlines throughout your schedule to complete various tasks. This will allow you to monitor progress and make sure that everything is not left to the last minute.

Communicate With Your Team

Once you have finalised the moving schedule, you should start communicating with your team. Everyone in your office needs to be on the same page when it comes to relocating, so it is vital that everyone knows what is happening and when.

It’s possible that some members of your team will be nervous about the move, or they do not understand why it is happening. It is your job to reassure your employees and make sure they have all the information they need about the relocation.

Create a contact sheet so that everyone in the office knows who to direct questions to, and make it clear that you are available to discuss the move.

Make An Office Moving Checklist

So, you have worked out the dates, and talked to your team. Now you need to draw up a proper checklist outlining all the tasks that you need to do before the moving deadline.

With the help of your team make a list of each individual task and who will perform it. Then you should make a checklist of all of the furniture and equipment that needs moving.

Hire A Professional Moving Service

Once you have drawn up a task list and a moving checklist, it’s time to choose an office relocation company. This will be a lot easier if you have done your research and planning.

The relocation company will be able to give you more idea on how long the various stages will take and of course, how much it will all cost.

This is a good point to ask them for any advice or put any concerns to them. As professionals, there’s nothing they won’t have already seen before.

Packing Up The Office

Next comes the physical bit: packing up the office.

Much like when you move house, when you come to move office you may well find it surprising that you have accumulated so much stuff. So why not use the office move as a good time to have a sort-out and get rid of items that you no longer use or need.

Pack In The Right Order

When you are packing up your office, it’s important that you think about which order you are packing things.

Leave the items that you use every day until last, and pack up things like old files first. If you put important paperwork or useful tools in containers too early you could have to unpack them again in order to carry on working.

Your professional moving company may offer a document storage service allowing them to store your paperwork securely either short or long term.

Safety First

Health and safety in the office is never more important than when you are relocating. If you haven’t already given safety training to your staff, you should do so before you start packing. Health and safety training should include how to:

• Lift heavy objects
• Handle electrical equipment
• Deal with  hazardous substances
• Avoid trip hazards

With the right training and awareness, all of your team should be able to complete the move without any accidents or injuries.

However with the rightoffice move company, your staff may not have to do any lifting at all! They can offer a full service saving your staff and keeping them focused on their role at your company.

Unpacking The Office

When you finally reach your new office location, don’t start opening the packing containers straight away. Work out a plan and which order you should start unpacking.

There’s no point unpacking containers of files if you have nowhere to put them. You also don’t want to start filling up bookcases only to realise they are not in their proper position. So makes sure all of the furniture is in the correct place first.

With the right office removal company you could walk into a ready to go office with everything unpacked and ready to go.

Commercial Removals You Can Trust

So those are some tips for creating an office moving checklist. The main things to remember are to stay calm, and stay organised. Make sure you have communicated the plan with your team, and always put safety first.

If you found this guide useful, check out more information on our office and factory removal services right here.

The post Stay On Top Of Your Move With This Office Moving Checklist appeared first on Company Moves.

Some small businesses move because they outgrow their original space. Others move so that they’re closer to their primary customer base. And there are even a few businesses that move every so often simply to shake things up.

Regardless of the reason, moving from one office space to another can be challenging. It’s why you’ll need to hire an office moving company to help you do it.

The good news is that there are lots of moving companies throughout the UK that can lend a hand. But the bad news is that the sheer number of moving companies can make it hard to find the best one.

Here are some tips that should help you do it.

Plan Ahead

It’s not all that uncommon for a homeowner to decide to move on a whim. In some cases, homeowners don’t have a whole lot of time to plan ahead for their move because it takes place so quickly.

It’s rare for a business to just pick up and move out of an office on a whim, though. Logistically, it’s not always possible for companies to pack up all their belongings and relocate without planning ahead.

More often than not, you’re going to have at least a few months to plan for a move. So use that time to your advantage!

Start planning for a move as early in advance as you can so that you can find the right moving company for the job rather than settling for whoever you can find at the last minute.

Ask For Recommendations

Are you friendly with some of the other small business owners that operate in your area? If so, don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help when you’re trying to track down the best moving company in the city.

Since most companies will move at least once or twice, you can probably find some local business owners that would happily recommend the company they used during a move. This will give you a great opportunity to ask each business owner about what kind of experience they had with a specific company.

You don’t necessarily want to rely on the recommendations of just one or two fellow business owners. But if you speak to a bunch of business owners and keep hearing the same moving company’s name over and over again, that likely means that company might be a good fit for you.

Read Online Reviews

If you aren’t able to get any good recommendations from your fellow business owners or if you aren’t friendly enough with your fellow business owners to ask for recommendations in the first place, you might not know where else to turn for help. The internet will supply you with exactly what you need.

These days, companies operating in just about every industry have online reviews that their customers can read through. These reviews can provide you with a good overview of what different moving companies are all about.

Read through a combination of positive and negative reviews for different companies to get a better sense of how they do business. You can usually use online reviews to narrow down your moving company search in a hurry.

Check Credentials

Outside of taking a long look at online reviews for moving companies in your area, one of the other good ways to narrow down your search is by checking the credentials for companies.

Specifically, you should try to find out if each of the companies that you’re considering is a member of the British Association of Removers. BAR is the so-called “recognised voice of the professional moving industry” in the UK and it’s members are inspected manually to ensure the standard of service required to join the BAR are maintained.

You shouldn’t automatically agree to work with a BAR member simply because they’re associated with the organisation. You still need to make sure they offer the right moving services as well as the best prices. But you’ll feel better about your decision when you go with a BAR member such as Company Moves and Storage Ltd.

Interview Moving Companies

Once you have a short list of moving companies that you’re considering to help you move, call around to each one and set up interviews with either the owners of these companies or their general managers.

Ask questions like:

• “How long has your moving company been around?”
• “How many businesses have you helped move?”
• “What are some of the specific moving services you offer businesses?”
• “What precautions do you take to ensure nothing valuable is broken during a move?”
• “Do you have insurance to cover any damage done during a move?”
• “What sets your company apart from all the rest?”
• “Are you available to help my business move on the day or days I will need your assistance?”

A good company should be prepared to answer any questions you might have. They should also provide you with excellent customer service from the moment they pick up the phone and take your call.

Consider Cost

When you’re hiring a company to help you move, the absolute last thing you want to do is just hire whoever offers you the lowest price. You’re going to get what you pay for if you hire cheap movers who don’t know what they’re doing.

But you should, at some point, consider the cost of hiring different professional movers to avoid overspending. Look for a company that will set you up with a fair and affordable price without tacking on a bunch of extra fees later.

Hire the Best Office Moving Company Now

Hiring the best office moving company in your area will take a lot of stress out of the moving process. It’ll also protect your company’s belongings and make sure everything is still in one piece when it arrives at your new commercial property.

Do your homework before you bring a company on board to assist you with your move. By following the steps outlined here, you’ll help your move go off without a hitch.

Contact us today to hear about the office moving services we can provide to your business.

The post How to choose the best office relocation company. appeared first on Company Moves.

You’ve found the perfect spot, and now it’s time to get moving. Professional movers can make the process so much easier and way less stressful. Here are 7 reasons you should hire professional movers for your business relocation.

1. They Make Packing Easy

Packing up all the equipment and office furniture takes up a lot of time and resources. This time could be better spent doing other things, and you run the risk or doing it wrong.

You may end up using the wrong boxes or not enough wrapping to secure your items. This could lead to items getting damaged as they’re moved.

Professional movers are trained to pack everything well and in an efficient way. They know how to do a proper job of packing in a fast time frame. It will take way less time and everything will be more secure.

2. Nothing Gets Missed

When you have to move so much stuff from one location to another, you run the risk of losing things. It’s so easy to overlook the small things like cables or small office items, but it can hinder your progress.

Without these small things, you may not be able to set up the new office. This can delay you from resuming normal business which could cost you money.

Professional movers put more hands on deck and pack everything you need. They can decrease the chance of missing important items as a result. They can help you get everything you need to the new location and make sure it’s easy to find when it comes to unpacking.

3. Get Up and Running ASAP

When you have everything ready to unpack at your new location, it means you can get up and running faster. Professional movers make sure you have everything you need and ready to go.

Their efficient packing methods and fast pace can help you find everything you need. This means you can set up the office in no time and get back to business as soon as possible.

Professionals are better commercial movers since they’re trained to do it fast. This means you lose less money and can get back to business almost in an instant.

4. Belongings Have Insurance

Your office equipment is valuable not only in cost but it helps you run your business well. Without it, you can’t get much done.

The main job for the professionals is to keep all your items safe and secure. Accidents happen, but you can rest assured that all your belongings are insured.

5. Less Stress on Employees

Moving offices is a stressful process for everyone involved, including your employees. They’ve gotten used to a certain environment and moving everything can cause stress. Stress can have terrible effects on your employees and reduce productivity.

Professional movers can help take this stress away from you and your employees. Everyone can rest assured that their belongings and equipment is well cared for.

6. They Can Handle the Heavy Stuff

Speaking of the heavier stuff, that’s one of the main reasons to hire professional movers. When you or your employees try to move these items, you run the risk of damage or injury.

Big items like machinery or computers are heavy and can be dangerous to handle. Professionals know how to do this without injuring themselves.

Not only do they handle them well, but they transport everything too. Don’t worry about the big stuff, leave it to the professionals.

7. They Know What They’re Doing

They’re called professionals for a reason, and that’s because they’re the best at what they do. These people have the training and certification to pack and move your equipment. ISO 9001 for Quality Management, OHSAS 18001 for H&S, BS5454 for storage and more.

They know the right way to move everything with care and they make it look easy too. They use professional equipment such as hoisting straps, dollies, ramps and more. This means they’ve got all the tools for the job to ensure a safe move.

Professional Movers Will Make Your Office Relocation So Easy

Relocating your business doesn’t need to be a stressful or challenging situation. Hiring professional movers gives you peace of mind knowing that your items are safe. They take the strain off you and your employees. They get all your equipment to the new location fast so you can get up and running again.

Need professional help when moving office? Get in touch to see how we can help you with it.

The post 7 Reasons to Hire Professional Movers for Your Commercial Business Relocation appeared first on Company Moves.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed when moving offices. Moving an office can be a lot more complicated and take a lot more planning than moving a household.

And, we all know how complicated moving a household can be! Therefore, it is very important that you take the right steps before moving day comes around. Proper planning and preparation will help your transition go as smoothly as possible.

That way, you can focus on the excitement of switching offices instead of the stress.

So, what do you need to do prepare yourself and your employees for an office move? Read on to find out.

Determine a Time Frame

Determining a time from for your move is one of the first things you should do.

You’ll want to set a final move out date, in which everyone’s stuff needs to be out of the office. Plus, there will obviously be things you need to do in the weeks and days leading up to the move. Therefore, you will need to set dates for these tasks as well.

Making a checklist is the best way to keep track of what you need to do week by week. Your checklist should look something like this:

2 Months Before the Move

• Research and hire the best movers
• Set a moving date and determine a timeframe for the move
• Communicate dates and info to your property manager
• Inform those involved in the moving process about the details of the move. This includes employees, movers, and suppliers
• If you have a large business, get a list of all the employees who will be involved in the move, and give them specific instructions about the timeline as well as what responsibilities they have leading up to the move and on moving day

1 Month Before the Move

• Notify clients, suppliers, and others you deem important of your change of address and phone number
• Order new marketing materials with updated contact information (business cards, promo products, stationery, etc)
• Create an inventory of all items that need to be moved to the new location
• Clean out, recycle and donate unnecessary items such as papers, furniture, office equipment, etc
• Find a reputable charity for the items you are donating so you can get a tax deduction

3 Weeks Before the Move

• Inform service providers about your move (electric, phone, gas, and waste management companies)
• Make sure there is an access spot for the moving truck to park. If your building is downtown, you may need to obtain a parking permit
• Notify any surrounding businesses in the event your move will obstruct a shared entryway
• Reserve elevators in your building with your property manager for moving day

2 Weeks Before a Move

• If moving sensitive items, arrange for a security guard to stand by the moving truck on moving day
• Figure out where you want furniture, desks, and other large items to go in your new office. This will expedite the unloading process.
• Get the cell phone numbers of every employee involved in the move

The Week of the Move to Moving Day

• Make a list of authorised personnel who will be in your new space and old space on move-in day
• If your new office is in a large building, install direction signs so movers and employees can easily find it
• Label all furniture, equipment, and other items that will be moved

Are You Ready for Your Office Move Day?

By following these guidelines, you will be extremely well prepared for your office move.

As we said, staying organised and getting help from employees is key to a smooth transition. But, there’s something even more important than both of those things: choosing the right movers.

Contact us to learn how our movers can help you with your office move.

The post How to Prepare Yourself and Your Employees For an Office Move appeared first on Company Moves.