Changing to a new office space can be exciting and challenging. If you are upgrading from a smaller space to a bigger one, you will be excited about the better space and the new environs. However, you also have to worry about the employees and clients and whether they will take the transition as well as you would like them to. With these issues in mind, you need to make sure that the moving process in itself goes as smoothly as possible. These business moving tips will prove useful as you relocate your office.
1. Get an internal team to coordinate the move
Once you have decided moving is best for your business, the first step is getting an internal team to help you coordinate the move. Even before you get to the logistics of the move, you need to have sat down with your team and told them why you are thinking about relocating. Note that most employees readjust their life to make commuting to and from work more convenient for them. You, therefore, cannot just up and relocate without giving them a fair warning. When you are on the same page about the benefits that will come from getting another office space, get one person and designate a project champion. This should be someone who has worked at the office long enough to know the inventory of office furniture and appliances well. They will liaise with the external team to make the move smooth.
2. Check out the credibility of the moving company
Office furniture and appliances cost an arm and a leg to install. When planning to relocate, you do not want someone to disappear with your entire office appliances and leave you wondering where to start. When hiring a moving expert, ask about:
- The credentials of the moving team’s members
- The work experience of the team members
- Whether the project manager is a permanent employee or a subcontracted person
- Testimonials of moving projects that they have done in the past
- Reviews on Yelp, YP, Google, and Facebook
- Copies of driver’s license and other important personal details.
3. Establish a budget for the move
Invite the movers to visit the office and assess the furniture. They will weigh this information against the distance that the furniture has to travel so they can determine moving costs. Some things that you can do to minimize the amount you will spend on the move include packing your own things as opposed to getting the movers to do it for you, using remanufactured furniture as opposed to new pieces, and having the employees help with the reorganizing when you get to the new office.
The last step of the process is setting a date for the move and making sure that everyone knows about the move. Start planning for a move as long as possible before the designated date because this will help you look into all aspects of it and will minimize the possible losses. Lastly, always make sure the moving company is insured because you do not want to have important furniture or electronics ruined and not replaced.