Published on Tuesday, 08 May 2012
Relocating your office is that stressful time which every business owner dreads and most employees hate. One of the biggest issues is that each employee has lots of personal belongings, which need to be moved too. It's not just the heavy furniture, computers and kitchen appliances - it is everything your business owns. The whole process of moving has to be done as fast as possible to save time and money. No business can afford to waste valuable time relocating for days. That is why good preparation is everything. The bigger the move, the more planning it requires. There are a few tips which can help you speed up the moving and lower the levels of stress in the team. One of the essential parts is communication. It is common sense to talk to your team about the relocation, but surprisingly many employees actually hide the fact that they are facing relocation and wait until the last possible moment to announce that. Have enough respect to tell your team as soon as possible, even if it's not 100% sure it is happening. Everyone prefers to be prepared for that, than to be informed and pack their belongings in a hurry. Holding a company meeting is the best way to inform everyone and tell your team what they need to do. When the moving date approaches it's good to set some deadlines - each employee needs to pack their belongings, label their boxes and make a list of their items. A good idea is to move some members of the team before the rest - this way they can start setting up the new space or even start working straight away. You cannot afford to involve your whole team and stop working. If the relocation would take longer, think of ways to let your team work from home. Relocating is a hard process and office equipment needs extra care. Choose a reputable moving company. Good companies offer help from the initial stage (packing, labeling boxes) to loading the truck and unpacking and arranging the office. Moving experts can do more than you imagine - unpack and unwrap, clean the new office space and furniture, arrange equipment, set electric appliances, hang posters and pictures, hang blinds and curtains and remove all the rubbish after the moving is done. A way to find a good moving company is through word of mouth recommendations - talk to other business owners, especially those who have moved recently. If you don't know any, simply browse local companies online and read their reviews. Relocation including full service within a day is not cheap, but is worth every penny. This is the fastest and easiest way to move everything and start working without hindering the whole business process. Make sure you don't forget to carefully pack your kitchen items, stationery and keep all business documentation in one place. If you don't trust the truck, simply load the folders in your own car. Follow the instructions of the moving team and their manager - they are trained to successfully and damage-free move everything. Trust the company - they will secure you a stress-free relocation while you concentrate on your business tasks. After the moving is complete, bear in mind that your team need time to adjust to the new place and perhaps conditions. It usually takes between a week and two to get used to the new space and start working with the same speed. The bigger the change, the more time people need. Be understanding and make the relocation stress-free for everyone.
