Member Article

10 expert tips for a smooth office move

It is one of the most exciting experiences for successful entrepreneurs - your business is growing,you have to hire more people, you need a bigger office. However, Moving into new office spaces can be stressful, especially since one wrong move can, at the very least, ruin months of pre-planning and cost productivity. This is why I have asked John from Inline Removals, a family-run specialist for office removals in East and North London, for tips on how to make moving easy. Here is what he has come up with:

1. Inform

Let your vendors and clients know of the move well in advance so that you do not miss out on any business ventures. Employees should be told at the earliest. Every effort should be made to familiarise them with the new office beforehand. A good way would be to distribute copies of the plan.

2. Prepare

Many businesses are reluctant to ask their staff helping them with the move due to health and safety concerns. After all, your employees are no removal experts. If you choose to use the help your your employees, have them fill out a questionnaire to prevent potential disruptions. For example, those who are allergic to dust or are unfit should be sent home.

3. Divide the work

Engage a team of office move specialists for the manual removal of the heaviest equipments. The rest can be delegated to groups of employees. Make sure that there is constant supervision to prevent accidents.

4. Packing

Tape cartons carefully. Advise all to use the boxes in a way that space is well utilised and not wasted. Fragile items should be marked and wrapped with bubble wrap.

5. Lifting

Do not lift heavy items suddenly as that may lead to a sprain or worse since you are not used to it. Have a bit of a warm-up before starting with the lighter items. Avoid picking up a heavy-ish items straight from the floor as it will feel heavier than, say, from a tabletop.

6. Instruct with care

You wouldn’t want to damage an expensive device because someone has been clumsy. It is your job to brief everyone about the more delicate equipments that need to be handled with extra care. 7. Deadlines

Taking it easy for the first couple of days can be disastrous financially. A sure-shot way to battle time management woes and ensure that your schedules and budget are on track is by maintaining a timetable.

8. Budgeting

If you are hiring removal specialists, make sure that you have plenty of time to shop around so that you do not exceed your budget. Hiring last minute often means paying a hefty sum because you lose your bargaining power.

9. Expect the unexpected

Situations which rise on the spur of the moment will have to be tackled on the spot. Delays have to be taken in the stride. Stay cool as shifts can be quite chaotic and confusing for everybody.

10. Technical checks

The move is not over until you have checked every detail after the shift. Make sure that you have a team ready to oversee that everything has arrived, and to take notes of any damages. Electricians and plumbers should check their respective departments. All stationary should record the change of location.

You can find more useful tips for your office removal here.(http://www.inlineremovals.co.uk/office-moves/)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Billy Weller .