Office removal
In order to be fully prepared and ready for your office removal, it is advisable that you begin planning roughly 8-12 weeks prior to the scheduled date for the move. By doing this, you will manage to properly prepare your staff and cover all details regarding the company relocation.
It is a major objective for any business to make sure that its employees and office equipment are not disturbed during the office removal process.
Steps towards successful office relocation
– Request a quote and schedule visitation dates with a number of office removal companies for your premises (both the current and new one) in order to get a relevant estimate. Work out a preferred date – the majority of removal companies are going to relocate your company either on a Saturday or Sunday in order to not affect your work process.
– Make sure that your company of choice is confident in the management and moving of all of your equipment etc. Ask as many questions as you want and get references to make sure that there isn’t any doubt in their aptitude regarding the move. Be sure to visit your new office space and to measure any large items in order to make sure that they will fit round the corridors and through the entrances.
– Create a floor plan regarding the desk lay-out as well as equipment
– Be sure to remember when devising your floor plan that large items like chairs, desk filling cabinets, printers etc require contiguous space in order for drawers to open, chairs to move and for you to have access to shelves for example.
– Consult with key employees when it comes to your floor plan and use the moment as an opportunity for reorganizing given members of your staff.
– Make sure you have a proper internet connection upon arrival in order for your employees to be able to continue their work undisturbed.
Before moving office
- When you’ve finished the floor plan, send a copy to all of your staff in order for them to visualize the new surroundings before moving. Do not forget to make a number of copies of the floor plan so that they are available at the new office on the day of the move.
- Provide your relocation company with a lot of photocopies of the new office layout
- Make sure that each piece, that is to be moved, is marked with colored stickers or proper labels (like one color per floor or department) in order for the company to know where to place them when at the new office. The color codes are to be made accessible to everybody.
- Be sure to mark all items that are NOT to be moved to your new office.
- Make your staff members aware of their responsibilities. Are they to pack their own files? Are they responsible for overseeing the process of moving their own workstations? Are they to pack up their drawers by themselves?
- It is essential that you employ a computer specialist to re-establish your network in order to not waste any unnecessary time. Ask your company about this, as some commercial movers offer the services of their very own in-house specialist.
On the day you relocate
Inform your employees on what they should do. You can give them a half-a-day holiday for them not to hang around the office, or you can tell them to wait at the new office, for instance.
- An important fact to remember is that the health and safety of your staff as well as the office removal company is integral.
- Don’t allow your employees to lift any of the heavy equipment or furniture.
- It is important to let your relocation specialists do their job – they excel at taping up filling cabinets, boxing-up equipment and wrapping computers in a safe and efficient fashion before packing them into their lorries.
- Be extremely careful with secure or confidential documents. Make sure all of them are transported in a safe and organized manner. Your removal company might offer you the services of their own specialist contractor for the job.
- Make sure your employees have proper access to a new kettle, lavatories and a sink.
- Inform your staff about the new car parking arrangements and make sure that permits are allocated.
- Be sure to send out your change of address cards.
Don’t forget to mark the occasion and celebrate with your employees – you are after all starting a new chapter for your company!
