If you run a business, you spend as much time in the office as you do in your own home. So when it comes to organising an office relocation, it can be every bit as stressful as moving house.
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.
