New office space is super exciting, but the move has to happen before you get to welcome clients to the new location. Moving between commercial properties can be a very stressful time.
Many devices, private information, expensive furniture, and more have to be made safely from point a to point b. Commercial movers are the first and most important things on your list of must-haves.
So what can you do to help your commercial move go smoother?
Plan
The more people and equipment you have, the earlier you will need to begin planning. The last thing you want to do on the day of the move is’ ‘wing it’’. Why? Well, imagine you have stacked the van, which isn’t big enough, and you have piles of expensive electronics outside the old building – just waiting. It is a nightmare scenario – and one that can be avoided if you simply plan well.
Moving company
Moving a commercial property and moving home are very different things.
When it comes to moving a commercial property, you should look at reviews and have a big enough budget to cover it.
You will likely be moving thousands of dollars worth of equipment in a very short space of time. Hire a removals company with a track record of success and bonus points for moving to a company similar to yours.
Moving manager
Consider if you have the time to move the entire company and run it at the same time? Even if your clients are aware you will be having a few days OOO, there will be things you need to attend to.
A moving manager can be provided by the company you chose, or you might choose someone from within the office. Often office managers are ideal for this role – they are great at organizing the people and what is happening within the office.
The moving manager should be in control of submitting all the change of address items and ordering the new stationery.
Desks
Your team will most likely have a range of personal items on their desk; make sure that well ahead of moving day. Each person should be responsible for anything on their desk that isn’t company property.
Require them to box up everything ahead of the move and unpack in the new location.
This avoids people losing property, breakages and keeps the costs of moving down.
Tech support
Your IT team will need enough time to ensure that the infrastructure will work in the new location.
Data plans, internet, networking – all of this will need to be done by your IT team, and the more notice they have, the better the strategy and plan will be.
You can’t afford to lose valuable business hours because your IT team was not given enough notice to ensure your business had everything it needed.
You’ll need to contact your web manager to update the website address and all other contact details – including Google My Business too.
A commercial move doesn’t have to be stressful; just be sure to plan as far in advance as possible.
Are you moving to your first business premises? Read more: Protecting Your Business Premises.