Many office owners struggle to figure out how to organise their office move and ensure everything is transported properly, promptly, and SAFELY!
The best approach is to start planning your move at least 6–8 weeks in advance. If you have a larger office filled with numerous items, appliances, tables, chairs, cabinets, and more, consider extending that timeline.
Doing this gives you ample time to prepare your essential office items, create a comprehensive inventory, and choose a reliable office relocation company to assist you in carrying out the move effectively.
Creating an office relocation checklist
Are you considering relocating your workplace to another city? This process involves more than just paperwork; it requires careful planning and methodical execution to ensure everything goes smoothly. Some acquaintances may mistakenly suggest that office relocations are as straightforward as moving a house. If someone offers such advice, it’s best to disregard it—without proper guidelines, things can quickly become chaotic.
The first thing to understand about office relocation is that it’s not a DIY task that you can handle with just the help of colleagues. Moving a business location requires professional assistance if you want to protect your office belongings. Below are the key stages to focus on before and during the move to ensure nothing goes awry.
Organising an office move differs significantly from a residential move. It demands strategic planning and careful execution on your part. Otherwise, you risk wasting valuable business time and getting overwhelmed by paperwork and cardboard boxes. To help you make your move stress-free and seamless, here’s a comprehensive office move checklist to follow.
1) Create a Detailed Floor Plan
Develop a thorough floor plan that includes all large items, such as chairs, tables, desks, filing cabinets, computers, air conditioners, fans, printers, and any other items that require ample space for storage. Additionally, compile a list of items that may be challenging to manoeuvre through tight corridors and tricky entrances.
2) Provide Your Removalist with a Copy of the New Office Floor Plan
Sharing a copy of your new office layout with your chosen relocation company is extremely beneficial. This information will assist them during the unloading and rearranging process. Make sure to inform them about any specific items that require extra attention during the move.
By doing this, you ensure that your relocation specialists are aware of which special or fragile items need additional care. They will take extra precautions by wrapping these items in bubble wrap, securing them with duct tape, and adding cushioning using newspapers or clean cloth pieces.
3) Decide on the move day & time-frame
Develop a Move Plan Including the Following Details:
- Relocation Date
- New Office Location
- Inventory of Items
- Clear Labelling System
- Organised Office Layout
Ensure the floor plan is ready for staff to quickly return to their normal work routine without any delays.
4) Notify All Customers and Suppliers of Your Move
Make sure to inform all your customers and suppliers well in advance of your office relocation date. This includes sharing your new office address and the date when your business will resume operations.
Additionally, if you will have a reduced staff during the relocation or anticipate minor disruptions, be sure to communicate this to your suppliers and clients. Provide comprehensive details about your office move as the date approaches to avoid any communication gaps and minimise disruptions to your operations.
5) Contact Your Leasing Company About the Move
If you have leased equipment in your office, such as photocopiers or printers, reach out to the leasing agency to inform them of your upcoming move. Most Arundel removalist companies will not handle leased items due to insurance reasons, so it’s important to notify the leasing company and request their assistance in organising the move for those specific items.
6) Coordinate with the New Building Manager
To ensure that our removalists have convenient parking access at the building entrance, speak with the building manager. This can save a significant amount of time. If on-site parking is unavailable, you’ll also need to arrange for permits for safe on-street parking.
Additionally, communicate with your property manager to ensure that our removalists have proper access to the lift on moving day. The last thing you want is for your movers to wait for the lift when handling your valuable office equipment.
7) Make Necessary Backups
During the move, you’ll need to unplug your devices, which are likely filled with important office data. Have you thought about creating a backup plan to protect your office information?
As recommended by our local Gold Coast office removalists, it’s crucial to start backing up your data. While it’s rare for office data to be irretrievable after a move, taking precautions is always wise.
Consider creating a moving binder for important files. For effective management, gather all legal documents, official papers, agreements, tax records, and other essential materials in this binder to keep everything organised during the transition.
8) Prepare Everything at the New Location
Is the new site ready for your arrival? Ensure that the new location has all the cubicles set up and the necessary local network connections in place.
This preparation will help minimise any disruption to your work. If everything is organised on the other end, you can expect minimal interruption. Printers, PCs, laptops, and scanners will be moved to the new location, and technicians will ensure they are connected as quickly as possible.
9) Notify Your Clients About the Move
As you prepare for the office relocation, you may need to go offline temporarily. If you don’t inform your clients promptly, they might continue reaching out without knowing about your current situation. Therefore, make sure to notify all your clients and suppliers about the move as soon as possible.
10) Keep Your Employees Informed
Whether you have 10 employees or 100, it's essential to involve them in the office relocation plan. Keep them updated on schedules and dates, and encourage their input in the planning process if needed. Your employees will likely appreciate being part of the transition.
11) Establish a Budget Before Moving
Many Coomera moving companies may have hidden costs associated with their services, unlike us! Therefore, it’s crucial to be cautious when selecting the right movers.
Ensure that the company you choose is transparent and does not have any hidden fees. Trust us; we guarantee it!
Above all, set a budget for your move. Moving expenses can accumulate quickly and come in various forms. For instance, your blinds might not fit the windows in the new office, requiring resizing or replacement. The same could apply to your carpets.
Additionally, there’s always a chance of items getting damaged during transit (which is why it’s essential to choose a reputable company!). Unexpected expenses can arise, so it's wise to have a buffer in your budget. In summary, establish a budget and keep some extra funds available just in case.
12) Establish a Clear Packing Schedule
Set a specific and balanced timeline for packing well in advance. This will prevent you from scrambling at the last minute.
Once you’ve organised your packing options, it becomes much easier for the moving company to assist you. Consider the essential packing supplies you’ll need to pack your belongings and proceed accordingly.
13) Ensure Team Members Are Available During the Move
Office relocations are typically scheduled for evenings or weekends, which means time for the move is limited. You must ensure that employees are not working during the relocation process. If they are available, they can help supervise and assist in moving various items, ensuring a smoother transition. Conversely, if they are preoccupied with unrelated tasks, it may lead to unnecessary delays.
14) Check the Functionality of Elevators and Backup Generators
Elevators play a crucial role during an office move, especially if your office is on a higher floor. The moving crew will rely on them to transport items to the new location. Additionally, it’s essential to confirm that the backup generator is operational in case of a power outage.
Heavy electronic equipment, office furniture, and machinery can be challenging to move without an elevator. Ensuring that both the elevators and backup generators are functioning properly will facilitate a hassle-free and smooth office relocation.
15) Prevent Security Checks from Delaying the Process
All office premises have security personnel responsible for inspecting everything that enters the building. However, conducting security checks on each item being moved into your new office can be a time-consuming process. To minimize delays, it’s essential to inform the security team about the move in advance to reduce the time needed for inspections.
If possible, provide the security officers with a list of items being transported. This is a crucial aspect of your office relocation plan. Additionally, notify them about the moving crew so they can easily verify the movers and allow them to bring the items inside.
16) Prioritise Essential Items for Moving
Start by prioritising the items that need to be moved first. Essential equipment like computers, routers, and UPS systems should be relocated ahead of everything else. Moving these necessary items first will facilitate office setup and allow employees to work with minimal disruption. This approach will also help ensure smooth business operations.
These steps outline how to prepare for an office move. Furthermore, when hiring an office removalist, be sure to choose a company with ample experience.
Once you have dealt with all these aspects, you can call us; “Richards Gold Coast Removals”– your premier Gold Coast office removalists to offer you end-to-end solutions.
Checklist for Before Your Office Relocation
Once you’ve consulted with the professionals and established a schedule, don’t relax just yet. It’s important to stay organised and double-check your belongings multiple times before the moving day arrives. Your agenda for the moving day will be much smoother if you have the support of a reputable company with qualified, licenced Labrador removalists and insurance coverage.
Ensure that representatives from your office are present at the new location. Appoint someone to coordinate with the removalists upon arrival with your valuables, as they will also supervise the unpacking process.
While you remain at the old location, oversee the loading of your items onto the trucks. Although the professionals are trained to handle packages with care, your oversight will help ensure everything is safe.
Once everything arrives at the new location and the electronic devices are set up, verify that everything is in working order. If there are any issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professional interstate removalists to explain the problems. They will work to find the best solution quickly to prevent any disruptions to your office operations.
Keep in mind that office relocation is not an easy task. Even if the primary challenges are managed efficiently by the professionals, you still need to pay attention to every detail.
Make life easier for staff at your new office location
Once everything is organised at your new workplace, as the boss, you should create personalised desk labels featuring each employee's name, title, and photo. This will provide a warm and welcoming greeting for everyone.
Additionally, consider putting up directional signs to help employees navigate the premises and locate important areas such as restrooms, the kitchen, cafes, gas stations, and nearby amenities.
Now that you have a clear idea of how to ensure a smooth office relocation without any hassle, don't hesitate to request a quote today!