Top tips for a smooth office move

As the New Year begins, many businesses are often looking into or considering moving office. In many cases, an office move can be as difficult, if not more, than a traditional house move. However, it doesn't have to be!

So, here are our top tips for office relocation!

Planning and Preparation

We can’t stress how important planning and preparation is, especially when it comes to a large office move. It’s important to have a clear idea about where you’re moving to and when, well in advance. This way you’ll avoid last minute rushing and panic, as well as the stresses that accompany it.

Resources

Although you can save money, by using AnyVan for your office move, it’s still a costly and time consuming process to undertake. There are a lot of variables to consider; therefore it is important to think about what resources you’ll need. For example, what size vehicle and how many men. You may also benefit from asking a few employees to muck in.

Organise your removal company in advance

It’s all well and good organising where you’re going months prior, but if you leave it to the last minute to sort out who’s taking all your belongings, you’ll find stress levels increasing rapidly. With AnyVan, once you know where you’re going you can book your movers months ahead, saving you money and preventing stress.

Back up your computers

Be sure to back up all computers beforehand just to be sure. Computer hard drives are very delicate and even though 99.9% of the time they’ll be fine during transport, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Packing

Make life easier for yourself by labelling and organising boxes beforehand. If you’re getting your movers to pack, it’ll be best to supervise them and keep a checklist handy so you know what’s been packed up, and where it’s going. Storage cabinets may have to be emptied and their contents transported in separate boxes.

Employees

It’s vital to keep employees informed throughout the whole process. To make things even smoother, you could distribute an ‘office moving guide’, to ensure all workstations are packed up in a convenient, easy to move manner.

Get rid of things you don’t need

A lot of businesses are guilty of accumulating mounds of paperwork and not throwing things, like old computers, out over time. If you’re moving, there’s no better opportunity to have a good clear out. You can donate anything that’s still in good condition, whilst also taking special care when disposing of sensitive documents.

Visit your new premises beforehand and plan

Knowing exactly where everything will go once it arrives will make the whole move much quicker. Draw out a floor plan and show your movers and any employees who may be helping.

Storage

If you’re downsizing office, or simply have items you don’t require on a day-to-day basis, you should consider putting some in storage. This way you’ll have less stuff to haul to your new place, and you’ll also find that you have more space to work with.

Security

To make things easier on moving day, you’ll find that doors are left open, which can leave an opportunity for people to come snooping. Make sure belongings aren’t left unattended, especially if your office is located in a very busy area.

Parking Permits

By informing the local council well in advance, you’ll be able to avoid parking fines by securing permits, allowing your removal company to park on the street outside the building. If necessary, you should do this at both your old and new office buildings.

We hope that these tips will help your office move run as smoothly as possible. Remember, if you are moving, you can list your office removal requirements on AnyVan as soon as you know where you’re going!