4 Steps to Planning a Successful Office Move

Moving your office to a new location is very different from planning a residential move. Office moves involve multiple stakeholders and require thorough planning. Furthermore, you may need to consider the logistics of moving heavy equipment or even confidential documents.

While moving to a new office is exciting, planning the move itself can be stressful. Here are four steps to ensuring a smooth and stress-free office move.

1. Develop a Moving Timeline 

Delays while moving could translate into heavy losses for your business. Therefore, develop a moving timeline to avoid negatively impacting your bottom line. Start several months in advance and consider your lease expiration date, the number of days you'll have available to move, and an estimated budget for covering moving expenses.

As you develop a timeline, share ideas and maintain communication with your employees, customers, and other stakeholders.

Your employees can also be a great resource when planning an office move. They can help you draft a detailed checklist and even share perspectives on arranging the new office space.

2. Decide How to Pack Sensitive Documents

The next step is to develop a storage and transportation plan for your confidential documents. A common mistake many people make is to leave sensitive documents in their current shelves or cabinets while moving. Even if your shelves are lockable, they may not be weatherproof. And if you have dozens of similar-looking cabinets, you may have difficulty identifying the documents you need at your new location.

A better idea is to store sensitive documents in sealed, labeled, and lockable boxes. Pack your documents in advance so they're ready for transportation on moving day. You can also leave specific instructions to your movers on how to handle these boxes. And because they're sealed and labeled, you'll have a much easier time unpacking at your new office. 

3. Create an Inventory of Office Furniture

Depending on the size of your office, you may struggle to keep track of all the desks, chairs, phones, and printers that need moving. Start by creating a detailed inventory of your items before moving day. If you have large or awkwardly shaped equipment, contact your moving company in advance to develop a customized plan for transporting these items.

Another clever idea is to assign barcodes to mundane office furniture such as desks and chairs. Then, have your movers pack these items according to the room where they came from. For example, you can group all furniture from the customer service department and move them on the same day. This approach makes unpacking much easier and your items are less likely to be misplaced. 

4. Develop a Floor Plan for Your New Office

As you finalize the move from your old office, don't forget to develop a floor plan for your new space. Consider your current office layout and the changes that are necessary after moving.

For example, do you have enough access to sockets and Ethernet ports? Will you need to purchase new furniture? Are you planning to assign employees to new offices? With a floor plan in place, you can provide clear instructions to the movers on where your items will go.

Also, don't forget to schedule electricity, internet, and phone services before moving day. Having essential services in place will get your team up and running soon after completing the move.

The services of a reliable and trustworthy moving company are essential when planning an office move. Christofferson Moving & Storage offers full-service moving, whether you're relocating locally or across the country. As an experienced moving company, we'll work with you to plan a smooth, stress-free, and successful office relocation. Contact us today.