When it comes to executing large-scale moves, none is as stressful as moving your business or company. With multiple factors to consider, such as each employee’s needs, as well as how to keep the business running smoothly during the move, every decision counts. The following tips and tricks offer you some insight into how to best approach moving your company from one location to another. Try these to alleviate some of the stress of juggling two high-stakes activities: moving and running your business.
Evaluate what your company truly needs
A company move can be a time to reevaluate what your business truly needs and what it can do without. If you have a little time before your company is moving, encourage your employees and all those involved with your company to take stock of what is necessary for your business to succeed. If you have materials, equipment, or furniture that you feel doesn’t need to travel with your company, consider donating it to charity for a tax break or recycle the items. Getting rid of unwanted items that your company is no longer using is a great way to ensure that if you hire movers, they are moving only things that truly need to be saved. Besides saving money, it simply makes sense.
Schedule your movers ahead of time
Calling ahead a month or two before you need professional moving assistance is always a wise idea for a homeowner, and it’s no less true for a large-scale move like that of a business. When you talk to a moving company in advance, you can get all of your questions answered without the urgency of last-minute planning. This allows you to confirm important details such as pricing, how many movers and trucks you will need, and that they have proof of insurance. Doing this ahead of time saves you a headache later in your move and ensures that you get a better deal at the same time.
Label your boxes and have a system for unpacking
One of the most frustrating things during moves of any size is when things get misplaced or unpacked in the wrong area. Creating a system for packing and unpacking ahead of time can help you avoid some of this frustration, and is imperative in larger moves such as a company’s relocation. If possible, obtain a ground plan or blueprint of your current space and your new location and label each room and office with a number or letter. As you pack, clearly label each box with the proper room identifier as well as some other details about the box’s contents, such as “A – File Cabinet Contents” or “1 – Books for Conference Room.” From there, you can share your game plan with the rest of your employees and your moving company to ensure a smooth transition from one location to the next.
Moving common office electronics
Moving electronics such as computers and printers can also be a headache without a clear system that protects these important items. Some of the best advice is to pack the computer as a manufacturer would. Start by packing up all computer cables in individual ziplock bags that you can label with permanent marker. This will ensure that each employee’s computer has all its necessary cables upon unpacking. From there, move on to packing each computer and its monitor. Computers are expensive and fragile, so care must be taken when wrapping them with bubble wrap for the move. Computer monitors shouldn’t get tape placed directly on the monitor, but it is still important to protect the screens with bubble wrap, cloth, or blankets. While it’s important to protect the exteriors of your computer, the interior is equally important, especially the hard drive. Back up your data before a large move just to be safe. When packing other electronics, like printers, copiers, and fax machines, it’s important to remove all internal components before packing them up. Things such as cartridges, toner, and paper should not stay inside these kinds of machines during a move.
Don’t forget to tell your customers!
In all of the hustle and bustle that surrounds a move, it can be easy to forget things that seem like common sense. One of the most embarrassing mistakes you can make during a company move is forgetting to update your customers about the exciting news. Whenever you’re changing locations, it’s important to update any place your old address may appear. This means combing through stationary, business cards, your website, listings on other online databases, and other advertising collateral to make sure that you can update each item to reflect your new address. Communicating the change to your customers through a variety of channels — from signage at your business to communication pieces like mail, email, and social media — is also important to confirm the continued success of your business.
Especially for small- or mid-sized businesses with budget-conscious managers and CEOs, you may be tempted to cut corners by performing the move yourself. Such a decision is ill-advised, though, especially if you’re trying to keep the business open and active while you move. Professional help can offer you peace of mind during your company’s move, and move your company faster and more efficiently. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can make your move stress-free and successful.