Planning an office move can be a stressful process. If proper preparation steps are not taken, the day of the move can be incredibly chaotic. Here are seven critical steps for planning a smooth office move from our friends at Cheap Movers DC (cheapmoversdc.com):
1. Create a plan
Before you start the physical move, it is important to have a plan. You will likely have the staff members helping or a moving team, so contemplate which duties will go to which person. Having a point person for certain office items will make it easier to keep track of everything on moving day.
2. Determine your Moving Budget
This is a critical step before proceeding with the moving process. Determine if the move will be taking place with just the people in the office or if you need to hire commercial movers. You may luck out, and someone has a big truck that you can use, but you may still need to rent moving equipment to make moving the larger items onto the truck easier.
3. Make a note of Important Dates.
Take extra care to write down the specific dates you will be moving. Consider devising a moving schedule of when items should start to be packed away all the way up until the actual day of the move. Put this calendar in a shared space in the office so that everyone assisting with the move has access to it.
4. Make a Contact List
Be sure to note important phone numbers. Consider including everyone on the moving team, your own phone number, and any external moving companies you may be using. This will ensure that if you are not available, the team can still access the person they need to get the job done.
5. Take Protective Measures the Day of the Move
This step is one that is easy to forget because you are focused on packing everything that needs to be moved, and you forget that you should probably also bring along supplies including floor and wall covering to avoid damage when moving into your new office space.
If you choose to use a moving company, they may provide this service, or you may be able to add it to your package.
Also be sure to have at least one of your team members at the old and new locations at all times to ensure that things are going as planned.
6. Keep a Positive Attitude
This step is crucial throughout the moving process all the way to move in day. The odds are that something will not go as planned somewhere along the way, but keeping a positive attitude will help the process run smoothly. It will be easier to keep a positive attitude knowing that you did everything in your power to plan ahead for the move!
7. Notify your Clients and Providers of New Location
This step may occur earlier in the process depending on your type of business. Notifying your service providers of your move is crucial so that you will be able to receive these services at the new location.
Notifying your clients of the new location may consist of a flyer in the mail or personal phone calls so that every client is aware of the new location. This will ensure that you do not lose any clients during the move.