Moving your business to a new office isn’t always easy. You’ll have to disassemble and reassemble furniture, pack boxes, handle information technology (IT) equipment and perform countless other tasks. You can minimize downtime and get your business back up and running, however, by planning ahead. As one of the top moving companies in Washington DC, we put together the following checklist when moving your business to a new office.
Obtain Floor Plans
It’s recommended that you obtain a floor plan of both your current office as well as your future office prior to moving. This will give you a better understanding of the logistics required for your office relocation. Using these floor plans, for instance, you can choose the shortest, most convenient routes; thus, saving time and energy. Assuming you hire a professional moving company, you can provide them with the floor plans.
Boxes and Moving Supplies
You’ll also need to acquire plenty of boxes, tape and other moving supplies. While you can always buy new boxes from a retail office supply stores, there are other, cheaper ways to get them. Many grocery stores and retail stores, for instance, will gladly provide you with used boxes. Additionally, other companies and business owners will list their used boxes for free on Craigslist after moving. Check out these sources before spending money on new boxes. After all, used boxes are just as good as new ones.
Don’t Overload Boxes
When packing boxes, don’t make the mistake of overfilling them with too much stuff. Some office managers try to squeeze as much stuff as possible into their boxes, believing this will expedite their relocation process. In doing so, however, they place themselves and other movers at risk for injury.
According to Liberty Mutual, boxes should weigh no more than 25 pounds each. This allows most individuals to easily carry them while minimizing the risk of injury.
Label Your Boxes and Furniture
According to an article published by Harvard University, all boxes, chairs and other furniture should be labeled when moving to a new office. There are different ways to label your items, however. For boxes, you can write the room or area to which they belong on the outside with a marker. For chairs and furniture, you can use color-coded stickers. Regardless of your preferred labeling method, make sure everything that you intend to move is clearly labeled.
Prepare Computers and IT Equipment
Perhaps the biggest challenge of moving to a new office is handling the computers and IT equipment. Simply unplugging everything and tossing it in boxes is a recipe for disaster. You must keep all related cables and cords bundled with the respective device to which they belong. Depending on the scope of your relocation, you may want to hire an IT specialist to help move and set up your business’s equipment.
Take Inventory
Finally, take inventory of everything in your office before moving. From computers and fax machines to chairs and file cabinets, every item you intend to move should be documented. With this list in hand, you’ll know if anything is lost or otherwise missing.
Thousands of businesses move their office each year in the United States. While often viewed as a tedious and painstakingly difficult task, there are ways to reduce the stress of relocation. By using the checklist here, you’ll have an easier time moving your business to a new office.
If you need help moving your business in the DC area, contact us at: cheapmoversdc.com and rest assured you’re hiring the best DC Movers!