During the life of your business, a move to a new location is often necessary. There are many reasons you might want to move locations for your business. Maybe it’s that you have two buildings you’d like to combine, you’ve outgrown your current space, or maybe you even want to downsize slightly.
The reality of moving does take time, but can be incredibly rewarding. In this article, we will cover some things you should consider during the main steps of the moving process. Finally, we will cover how our team at Rose Removals can help you.
Finding a New Location
Whatever the reason for your move, finding a new location doesn’t need to be difficult. There are a few things to consider when searching for a new space. We have listed a few in this section of the article to help you find that perfect new location.
Size
Arguably, the most important part of a new office site is its size. Whether it’s expansive or compact, your office space doesn’t need to be isolated. You can often find floors of existing spaces too, meaning you get the amount of space you need without renting out a whole building.
Being part of a larger building can often be beneficial for security reasons too, as most office blocks will have external and internal security measures. Some will even have a reception area with security guards, who will help screen those trying to enter your office while presenting a professional environment for any welcome visitors you may have.
Distance
Knowing the distance between your two office locations is also important. If you’re moving far from your previous workplace, it’s good to be aware of how that will affect your employees. Moving locations farther away may encourage your employees to quit, making it an important thing to think about. Alternatively, moving closer to the city centre may be better for your staff, with public transport links. Weigh up the positives and disadvantages of the distance of any potential location to get the most out of your new property.
Previous Use
It’s always good to know what a potential office space has been used for previously before choosing it. Whatever the previous owners did with the space can be a good indication of whether the space will be suitable for you. For example, if a space was previously used as a restaurant, you know that the space will require a lot of construction before it becomes suitable for your business.
Packing and Preparation
Before going ahead with your move into your new office, there are a few things you should consider. In this section, we will cover what things you ought to think about in preparation for the transportation of your office furniture.
Brief your employees
One good way to ensure the happiness of your staff during a move is to let them know of the new plans. By letting them know early, arrangements can be made by your staff about how they will commute to the new location. They can prepare for the move itself too by removing their decorations from their desks ready for a new space.
Know what to take
After exploring your new space, you should get a good sense of what you need to take with you into the new location. Some office spaces will have built-in storage solutions and front desks, while others will need a whole variety of items. Similar to renting a home, it’s good to get an itemised list of what is included in your new space.
There may be items you would like to purchase specifically for your new office too, so knowing what you need to bring beforehand will help. If you are expanding your business and hiring new employees, you might need to purchase more equipment. Take a look at your current equipment list, and go from there.
Packing materials
When it comes to packing up the items you’d like to keep from your previous office, it’s important to use the right materials. When delicate items like computer monitors are not protected properly, they run the risk of breaking. Broken equipment can be expensive to fix, and you would not want to spend money on repairs and replacements after an intense move. Seek the advice of a packing company to learn how to properly wrap and store your items before transporting them.
If packing up individual items yourself is unrealistic in your current office, consider hiring a packing service. Certain removal companies that perform the service for you will provide packaging supplies included.
Moving
The move into your new office may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. We’ve listed a few tips and tricks to help you make the transition as seamless as possible.
Find specialist office movers
When moving office furniture, it can be tempting to get just any removal company. Instead, finding a specialist company can be very beneficial. These companies are talented and experienced in transporting your furniture and equipment, which results in your office belongings arriving safely in their new location.
Organise an end-of-tenancy clean
Office furniture and equipment can hide a whole variety of sins. Once you have moved your furniture, you might notice stains and dust where the cleaning hasn’t quite reached. It’s good to arrange a deep end-of-tenancy clean, which will ensure you manage to get any deposit you may have paid returned.
Opt for a professional cleaning service to scrub your office down. These cleaners can ensure the cleaning is done to a high standard and will save you the hassle of doing it yourself.
Self-storage units
Maybe you have furniture you don’t need to use anymore, but feel as though you may need it at a later date. Self-storage units can be a fantastic solution for this occasion. By considering this early in your moving process, you can usually have items stored before or as you move.
Settling In
The final and arguably most important step of moving is the settling-in process. This can be tough for employees especially, as they need to get comfortable working within a new space. Read on for a few things to consider before making that move.
Security
Any good office building should be kept secure. Depending on the type of security a building has, however, it may inadvertently keep your employees out, particularly when first settling into a new office. It’s good to know beforehand what sort of security procedures are used on any building before choosing one to help you set up the measures your employees need to know about.
Keycards are great methods of keeping unwanted visitors out, for example, however, you’ll need to arrange for keycards to be made for your employees before starting. It’s great to get a jump on this early in your moving process, to prevent any delays and issues adjusting to your new workplace.
What to set up first
It’s important to know what to set up first when moving into your new workplace. Depending on your chosen industry, you might have different priorities when it comes to your office. A good rule of thumb for any office is to set up your IT equipment first, as this is likely to be most needed.
Keep your team involved
To help the transition become easier on your employees, get them involved in the setting up process. Ask for their opinions on where they would like their desks to be set up, and what they would like to decorate the new office. You could also get their opinions on appliances, such as coffee machines.
Setting up a relaxing area for your staff is important, to give them the space they need for breaks. Depending on your budget, you could even add activities for your staff to bond over, such as a ping pong table. Make your new space even better for your staff, even if it’s a smaller space.
How We Can Help
At Rose Removals, we can use our 50 years of experience to make your move as easy as possible. Furniture removals are our speciality, from
commercial to
domestic moves. We can take care of all steps in your process, using our
high-quality packaging supplies to protect your equipment first and foremost.
Not only are our
office removals great for transporting but we can also store your leftover office supplies in self-storage units, safely tucked away until you next need them.
Visit our website to learn more about our services. Alternatively,
contact us directly to find out what we can do for you.
