Relocating your office can be a major disruption to your daily grind. Whether you’re moving to a nearby building, across town, or to an entirely new city, here are a few key elements to achieve a successful move to your new workspace.
Create a relocation plan
Every move should start with an organized timeline, especially when moving to a new office with a business that needs to keep up and running during the process. A good plan starts with establishing a general layout of the new office based on office visits and blueprints. By getting an idea of your space and layout before the move, you will be more organized when unpacking and settling in.
This will also give you an opportunity to rethink your current office environment. Could a different layout increase productivity or are their areas that are underutilized? Achieve maximum efficiency in this new space by planning for success beforehand.
Keep employees involved in the move
Your employees should be up-to-date with the business relocation from day one because it will directly affect their work and more importantly, their personal life. Keep them informed of the relocation process and what to expect with the move so that you can address any concerns or questions they may have.
Open communication is key during the moving process. When making the aforementioned plan for your new space, your employees may be able to offer some valuable information to assist in the new layout. Your team can identify problem areas within your current office space that executives at your business may not have experienced. You can even enlist different departments to help with planning or packing their respective areas.
Make the proper change-of-address updates
There are several updates that need to be made when relocating your physical office. First and foremost, if you have clients or partners that visit your company office, or they are required to send anything via mail, you will need to notify them of your move and share with them your updated contact information. This will ensure that nothing vital to your business with your clients or partners gets lost in the transition between the two locations.
Next, update all documents, business cards and mailing envelopes with your new address and contact information. Changing these physical office essentials will make the shift to your new location easier on you and your employees, allowing you to get right back into your daily routine in the new space.
However, don’t forget that your online presence needs to make the move as well.
You’ve covered your bases with notifying the post office, bank and other community partners that you’re making the move, but have you notified all of your online sources of your move?
Some address updates to make digitally include:
- Company website
- Email signatures
- Social media platforms
- Email marketing campaign templates
- Paid digital marketing campaigns that require a targeted location
- Every citation website that may display your location
Packing Up Your Office
Your work space has several different items that need to make it safely and securely to your new location, so it’s important that they’re packed properly.
A few things to keep in mind while packing:
- Mark all boxes for the ease of unpacking at your new place. Label them with the area they’ll be going in your new office or briefly describe the box’s content.
- Remove computer cables one at a time and place them in large Ziploc bags. Label each bag with their respective computer.
- Individually wrap computers and monitors with bubble wrap or moving blankets. Never place them in boxes or on top of each other.
- Tape down or wrap any electronics that have compartments that open. This applies to printers, copiers, scanners, and other electronics with lids and other openings.
To conduct business as usual, it may be a good idea to complete your move outside of business hours.
This will lessen the potential for disruption during the work day for your employees and customers. Another option would be to streamline the packing process with the help from a team of packing professionals. By outsourcing this task, you and your employees will be able to focus on your work, instead of the move. A professional packing company has the experience and equipment necessary to pack your office items in a fast and efficient way, saving you time and money in the long-run.
Making the move to the new office
Some companies opt for a staggered move where both spaces are being utilized as things make their way over to the new place. However, if you hire moving professionals, your office relocation can be completed in no time. At Highland Moving, we’ll have your desks, chairs, and office equipment set up in your new location quickly and efficiently making your transition seamless. Give us a call at 604-581-2300 today to learn more about our office relocation services in Greater Vancouver BC!
