Don't Forget These Tasks When Moving an Office or Business
By Diane Schmidt, About.com Guide
Preparing to move an office or business can be a lot more complicated than moving a household. Preparing is key and ensuring that everything on your list is complete, is essential. Use this quick checklist as a guide to keeping your move on track.
Checklist to Moving an Office or Business: Things to Do
Determine a time frame and moving schedule
Set-up a communications plan to let customers, suppliers and other pertinent parties know about the move
Make a list of tasks (use this guide and other articles on this site to determine list) and assign tasks to individuals
If moving a larger company, set-up a moving committee to help organize the move and to keep the move on track
Inform employees and get them involved; make sure they know their roles and what is expected of them; for example, do they pack their own office or cubicle?
Determine the new office set-up and look; make sure you know ahead of time where offices will be located and where equipment needs to be installed
Get moving quotes from companies, check references and book movers
Contact current service providers to inform them of the move; make sure that new providers are aware of installation dates, including telephone lines, fax, hydro, Internet access, postal service, couriers, etc…
If you require special technical assistance to move and install equipment such as a photocopier, computer network or specialty telephone service, make sure you book this well in advance so that the service is up and running on your move-in date
Make sure you’ve established a packing schedule; determine what can be packed in advance and what areas are packed last
Purchase packing supplies, including the appropriate boxes
Provide packing instructions to employees or professional packers (if hiring); make sureboxes are properly packed and labeled with office location, importance, and content
Prepare furniture for moving and label each piece so it will be moved to the correct area of the new space; this can be accomplished by numbering or labeling areas of the new office space on a blueprint map; label the furniture accordingly and give the map to the movers so they know where to place items, including packed boxes
Make sure equipment has been properly prepared for moving; this includes removing any liquids and ensuring removable parts are packed and labeled; if you’re don’t know how to pack equipment, hire a technical specialist or call the equipment manufacturer for information and advice
To avoid additional charges, find out in advance where the moving truck can park to load at the old office location and where it can unload at the new location; inform surrounding businesses of your move and if you’ll be blocking entrances or taking additional parking spaces.
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