Although business professionals possess time management skills, relocating the entire company may prove challenging. Moving is a one-off event, unlike the systems you have in place to increase productivity and workflow. That means there won’t necessarily be a post-project review to help streamline the process.
But the good news is an abundance of resources are available to minimize disruption. Reaching out to experienced moving professionals and creating a detailed timeline can make your business transition relatively seamless. These are things decision-makers need to know when planning a move.
Begin Planning
Industry leaders often plan their next product or service rollout months in advance. Moving timelines require long-term planning as well. Consider primary organizational efforts at least several months before you anticipate transporting office furniture and equipment.
These typically involve contacting experienced moving companies and establishing a ballpark budget. Then, company leaders can gauge what services are available. It’s not unusual for business leaders to have professionals handle all the logistics so they can focus on establishing a new footprint.
Make Crucial Decisions
Eight weeks out, completing a moving budget, negotiating a deal, and securing a date with an experienced office mover is critical. Although this may seem too far in advance, given the logistical issues your team members may be grappling with, top companies can be booked months in advance.
That generally means companies seek end-of-the-month dates to reduce financial waste. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to secure a top-flight moving company. The essential point is to make decisions about professional moving services.
Identify Non-Essential Items
Consider tapping office personnel or department leaders to itemize things that won’t be making the trip. For example, storerooms sometimes become dumping grounds for outdated equipment and old files. Your relocation may also involve new office furniture and electronics waiting on the other end, rendering equipment non-essential.
Once a list of this property has been created, have the lead person craft a plan to sell, donate, house it in a storage unit, or recycle it. A full-service moving company can transport items where they need to go at a reasonable time.
Start Packing
Gather moving supplies and start packing items unnecessary to daily operations. By boxing and labeling these items and placing them securely, supervisors better understand how long it takes to pack. Consider setting a meeting with team leaders after you complete this phase. One of the critical questions to consider is how long employees need to pack items they use every day. If you feel having non-professional packers will result in an unnecessary operational delay, contact your full-service mover promptly.
Tidy Up Loose Ends
In the final few weeks, the minutia can seem overwhelming. Updating items such as subscriptions for the waiting area, post office change of address forms, and memberships to professional organizations must be handled. IT technicians must download your digital assets into backup drives as the clock ticks. This strategy holds even if you’re a Cloud-based organization. If you have not converted to a VoIP system, phone lines may also need to be transferred.
Final Days Before Moving Trucks Arrive
One strategy that typically helps reduce moving stress is establishing a packing completion deadline of at least two days before the trucks arrive. This provides a buffer in the event unforeseen obstacles cause delays. There’s no reason for concern if your team doesn’t meet the deadline as long as everything is ready to roll when the movers arrive. But if the process is too far behind, don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
Contact a professional office mover today for a business relocation consultation.