Packing up your office sounds like an easy task, doesn't it? Especially if you're fairly tidy, it seems like all you'd have to do is put your files in one box, your computer and peripherals in another, load up the furniture, and away you go. Sadly, getting your office from point A to point B is often a lot harder than we tend to think it is. Fortunately, avoiding these simple mistakes when it's time to pack up your office can save you a lot of headaches.
Mistake #1: A Lack of Organization
Whether you are moving yourself or have hired a moving company to assist, the worst thing you can do when it's time to move is to go into it without getting properly organized. You might think you're organized because you wrote a single item designation on the outside of the box, but what you need to do is plan what you're going to pack and in what order you're going to pack it. Then, you need to clearly label what is where. Because by the time you get your boxes loaded up, moved, and to their destination, you're not going to remember which box has your power cords, and which one has your business files in it. So, write a list on each box of what's in it to prevent digging, confusion, and mass hysteria while you get set up again.
Mistake #2: Burying Things You Really Need
If you've ever moved your house, you probably know that feeling of finding the dishes you haven't used in ten years while unpacking, but not being able to uncover the shampoo and fresh clothes you need for tomorrow morning. An office move can have the same problem. That's why you should pack up the things you aren't going to need right away (such as your tax records from six years ago), and make sure they go on the truck first. The things you are going to need (your desk, your computer, your printer, etc.) should all be packed up last so they're the first things you take off the truck. This helps minimize your work interruption, and helps you get right back on task once you reach your destination.
Mistake #3: Not Using a Timeline or a Checklist
Moving an office is something that tends to happen incrementally, which is why it's important to have the proper tools to gauge your progress. You should have a timeline in place for how long it will take to pack up your stuff, how long it will take to move it, how long it will take to unpack, and then how long it will take to finish setting up. The timeline should have some room in it for setbacks, and it should be accompanied by a checklist so you can mark off tasks as they're completed. If you plan to hire a professional moving company, they will help you with this task. Winging it isn't really an option for an office move.
Mistake #4: Bringing Stuff You Don't Need
Moving your office is an opportunity to start over, and to put your best foot forward. However, a lot of people end up just taking everything with them, whether or not they actually need it. That's why, before you even think about packing, you need to go through everything in your office and ask if it needs to come to the new location. That broken shredder that you replaced and were keeping on hand in case you could get it repaired? Don't clutter up your new office with it. The stack of old, but still functional, routers you kept in case of an I.T. emergency? Well, if they are several years old, they are most likely outdated. That pack of musty paper that doesn't fit anyone's printer? Recycle it or give it to an employee for their children to doodle on. The more stuff you can get rid of (including digitizing old records so the physical copies are no longer necessary) the easier your move will be.
Moving your office can be a big job, but with a little bit of planning and organization, downtime can be minimized. A-1 Freeman Moving Group has been the office moving expert for over 40 years. Our experienced staff can make sure that your office move goes smoothly. Contact us today!
