An office relocation is no fun, but at times in a necessary evil in order to move your business forward. Following these 10 tips will make the outcome much better.
1) Select a mover with office relocation experience; do not use firms with only residential or household moving experience. Don’t use a broker, rather contract with the company actually doing the move.
2) Consider the cost and difficulty of assembly and dis-assembly when buying office furniture and modular wall and furniture components
3) Check with the local municipal government of your new location for civil code requiring a permit if your street will be obstructed during the move. If so, you may wish to consider including permit costs into your contract with your moving company.
4) Choose moving cartons no larger than 2 cubic feet in volume, anything larger could cause lifting injuries to employees. The National Safety Council reports that 70% of all workers compensation claims are due to back injuries cause by lifting.
5) Your computer and other technology equipment should be wrapped and secure in bubble wrap as opposed to furniture pads. Rent special crates from your mover to insure your systems are moved safely.
6) Consult with your office equipment vendor regarding the proper method of transport for copiers and laser printers. Often manufacturers require you remove the toner or other specific components before moving.
7) Ask your mover how they will protect your flooring, carpeting and doorways during the move out of your existing location and the move into your new space. Consider purchasing additional liability insurance.
8) Before emptying file cabinets, see if your mover is capable of transporting your file systems intact, without damaging the file system’s structure. Instead of emptying, packing, and unpacking desk contents, consider using special inflatable, non-destructive fillers to immobilize contents during transit.
9) Label ALL items, furniture, boxes, and other packages. Again, label EVERYTHING. Place labels on the top and at least one side of each package. Color coded labels can help with efficiency, and it’s a good idea to mark which end is up on boxes and packages. Appropriately mark FRAGILE items.
10) Consider the location of electrical outlets at your new site and have plenty of appropriately rated extension cords/outlet strips that can be strategically placed before heavy furniture and equipment block the wall outlets. Also keep on hand plenty of extra telephone and cat-5 cable.
If you’re in a commercial setting, it may make sense to hire a company like Three Movers office moving company who can professionally get your items from point A to point B.