5 Challenges to Office Moving and What You Can Do About It

Is it time to move already? It seems only yesterday that a group of co-founders sat in this room and officially began the journey to financial freedom. With all those difficulties, smiles and frowns, it is finally time to move. For the most part, it is good news – moving to a new place to accommodate business expansion is what every business startup dreams of. It does, however, come with its fair share of challenges.

According to statistics, 38% clientele for the moving industry comprises corporations moving for business reasons. Even though it is the household utilizing moving services for relocation, most of it seems to happen during summer. 20% of the time, movers are entrusted with the relocation of computers, copiers and other office equipment.

Also read: How to Design an Office for Maximizing Employee Happiness

Office relocation is possibly the most challenging move you’ll make. And you need ample pre-planning and thorough management to tackle these challenges effectively. Fortunately, there are lots of reliable moving companies out there that can help you make the transition as smooth as possible.

Here are the top 5 issues you need to keep in mind.

Productivity Losses

Even if you are a team of five, you’ll need at least two days to pack, move, and unpack everything in your office. It is impossible to not have productivity losses before, during, and immediately after the move.

This is one reason most people use weekends for the move. If by a stroke of good luck, you’re able to find a long weekend on your calendar (if a public holiday fatefully falls right before or after the weekend), this should be the ideal time you make the move.

However, keep in mind that this date range might add a few bucks to your budget either because movers don’t usually operate during holidays or because the demand is high and the movers are already booked. Plan and accommodate productivity losses in your schedule. You don’t want to sabotage a good client during the move.

Another thing you can do is allow your employees to work remotely while the office is being shifted. This may come with its fair share of challenges. You don’t want to compromise network security or encourage data breach during this period. You must figure out how employees can work from home while maintaining company privacy. Have your IT expert chalk out a plan for this.

Space Planning

Another important thing you need to do before making a move is space planning. And while you’re at it, you should know where all the electrical and telephone connections are, where you can hang a television, where you’ll create a conference room and how will office files be stored.

You need to chalk out an elaborate blueprint of what the new office will look like once the move is complete. From selecting furniture to placing the water dispenser and the microwave oven, plan every little detail and make sure there’s enough infrastructure at the new office to accommodate operations as intended.

Also, if you plan to make a major change to company operations – for instance, your employees are used to working in cubicles and you’re planning for shared workstations – you need to inform this earlier. Run a poll if you need to. It’s always better to hear employee recommendations beforehand rather than hear their grievances later on.

Setting Realistic Budgets

Just like you can’t execute a move overnight, it is impossible to do so on a slim budget. And if you’re provisioning for a long distance move, you need to be even better at planning and budgeting.

A good place to start is by taking quotes from popular vendors in your area. Make sure you research their reputation well – you don’t want to end up replacing 40% of your office equipment because of manhandling.

Get quotes from as many vendors as possible and compare their features before deciding. If you can get your hands on coupons or discount vouchers of any sort, by all means, use them! Every penny saved will contribute towards the overall goal.

And while you’re setting a budget for the move, don’t forget to factor in the cost of lost productivity. Any number of days that your office will not be functional will cost you money. A financially sound way to compute the cost of your move is to consider every possible expense or lost earning an opportunity during the transition period.

Coordination

Another major challenge you’ll face during the move is the lack of coordination. Keeping everyone on the same page is a difficult job. And if you can afford it, hiring a project manager for the move is highly recommended.

Also read: How To Tell Your Employees You Are Moving Office

Keep all your employees in the loop when you’re planning the move. They need to know when to pack their office desks and how they’ll be expected to arrive at the new location. They should be informed about any major changes that’ll happen. In a best-case scenario, if it is possible, let them tour the new place beforehand to get a feel for it. Be open to suggestions pouring in from the employees’ side. Whether you’re in the office or out for a meeting, your employees are the people who’ll spend the longest hours at work and have to put up with everything.

Communicate the dates of the move and involve your employees as much as possible. Remember, coordination is the key to a smooth, problem-free move.

Setting the Line between Old and New

You can furnish your new office with everything new to mark the change. Or you can take every bit of your old office into the new one. Know the first option costs you a lot of money and the second one creates an unnecessary nuisance. Understand where to draw the line to balance both propositions.

You don’t want to lose the essence of your office space. At the same time, it won’t hurt to replace those old furniture pieces and/or office equipment you’ve been intending to do for a while. Instead of putting these things on the mover’s bill, sell them off or donate them. Purchase fresh equipment to replace the old one. It not only updates your work environment but also takes some burden off the movers.

This doesn’t mean you need to chuck out that executive desk which is in perfect condition. As long as there aren’t any space limitations and/or other reasons you might have to sell off usable office equipment, you can keep them. Even if you have the slightest reason, change it.

Know that moving office will be a stressful chore. There will be uncalled for emergencies and situations. But it will eventually all set in. Have a great moving experience!