Office Space
Tips for relocating your business facilities
As businesses grow, they often outgrow their surroundings and must move on to bigger and better things. If you need to relocate your business to a new office, there are a few things you should keep in mind:
- Transportation costs far outweigh storage costs. If you’re looking for a new place to keep your inventory, be sure to think about where you’ll be shipping it. You may be offered what appears to be a great deal on some real estate, but make sure you factor in any additional shipping costs. Is it still such a great deal?
- Plan the move in detail. Don’t expect to pack up and move all your office equipment and files in a day. A business relocation should be planned months in advance. Develop a detailed roadmap for exactly how the pre-move, move and post-move will work. Remember, checklists are your friend. Take an inventory of everything in your current office, including all computer equipment and furniture. Be sure you know exactly where everything will go once it arrives at the new office, and get rid of anything you won’t need anymore.
- Budget accordingly. There are many costs associated with moving, so be sure to include them in your budget. In addition to a moving crew, you may need to pay for things like construction, new computer equipment, new furniture, new phones, security, new locks and a lot more.
- Leave things the way you left them. This advice may sound like it’s right out of kindergarten, but it’s still just as valid as it was back when you were a kid. Even if you had to negotiate hard to get out of your lease, that doesn’t mean you have the right to leave your old office in bad shape. Remember, your former landlord may be friends with your new landlord.
- Get excited. You’re moving up in the world, so you should celebrate! Moving isn’t always fun, but it’s a lot more tolerable if it feels more like a team-building exercise than a chore. Communicate these ideas to your staff, and get them involved and excited.
