Making the move to a new office space can be done for a multitude of reasons, but no matter the reason, completing such a move can seem daunting. Between files, books, desks, electronics, furniture and personal affects, moving your office and employees can really add up to a mountainous job. That’s why 1-800-PACK-RAT is on hand to assist with portable storage containers. They are perfect for an office move and we have a few quick tips to make it even more efficient. Check out our tips for moving your office to a new space!
Plan early: If you have ever made a personal move with your family, you know how stressful it can be to move a family from one home to another. Moving an entire office and everything associated with it can potentially be more stressful, which is why planning ahead is crucial. Begin planning what you want/can pack first and what you will need to unpack once you get to your new office space. Every business is different and will require different ways to move, so find what works best for you and your employees. Get a moving budget ready at least several months in advance and go from there in terms of planning.
Assign someone as your move coordinator: Choose someone with the great management skills and an ability to communicate well. Sure, you’ll have lots of help to conquer the move, but it’s super helpful to have someone spearhead the effort. Having a single point of contact when it comes to coordinating the overall move will streamline the entire process and make it easier to manage.
Label, label, label and label some more: Keeping things organized is critical to an office move. You have important files and you don’t want to be screaming “Where’s the printer ink?” when you arrive. You may want to have your moving coordinator prepare a log, so you can label offices and boxes by number. This way you can easily unload and unpack knowing where your key office supplies are located.
Have everyone pitch in: The easiest way to get everyone involved is to assign your employees with the basic task of getting their desk area packed and ready. Be sure to give your staff a deadline far enough in advance they can plan and prepared to clean out their work space. This way you can get buy in from your employees while also assisting in the overall moving effort.
Ready your IT department: Technology can be finicky, especially when making a move. Make sure your IT situation is fully aware of the moving timeline and on top of deadlines to ensure your company is ready to hit the ground running once the move is complete. This includes making sure that internet and telephone connectivity will be live the moment you need it to be, as well as having all owned technology ready to be installed and used once employees settle into the new building.
Make your customers aware: With an office move, it’s imperative to get things done very quickly. Even though you may be moving over the weekend, you will still want to communicate with your clients that your office may experience some downtime. Emails, phones and deliveries will all be affected when changing locations. This kind of customer outreach will depend on how your company normally conducts business, but if you don’t have a set plan for this consider calling or emailing your customers about the change.
Consider using portable storage: 1-800-PACK-RAT portable storage containers are ideal for on-site storage. Our containers may be rented on a monthly basis and you can have them delivered to your new office location or put them in storage in one of our nationwide storage facilities until you’re ready to move in. Keep in mind that portable storage containers are also a great idea when you are relocating inventory. It's a good way to expand warehouse volume, transfer inventory, and store furniture while you are moving to the new office space.
Give 1-800-PACK-RAT a call if we can help you with your company’s relocation effort. In addition to portable storage, we can also provide local and long-distance moving services. 1-800-PACK-RAT is perfect for any of your company’s moving and storage needs, so give us a call today to see how we can assist you!