Moving your business to a new location has plenty of benefits, like more space for your staff, or a better view, or a more prestigious address. The actual move itself can be complex and stressful, since you likely have a number of staffers and departments to consider as you plan your relocation. Here are seven tips to eliminate stress and make your move as smooth as possible.
7 Tips for a Stress Free Business Move
1. Schedule your move well in advance.
Make sure moving day is on your calendar as early as possible and that all employees are onboard. Early scheduling not only helps your staff get ready for the transition, it gives you time to secure the elevators in your new building (or your old one) for moving day, and let the other businesses you share your space with know you will be disrupting the normal flow of business on a specific date.
2. Notify everyone who needs to know about your move.
From your vendors to your clients, everyone you deal with on a regular and not-so-regular basis needs to know about your move and your new location. That client you hear from once a year may just choose moving day as the time to get in touch, and a busy signal or unanswered phone will not do him much good. Announcing your move and new location is also a great marketing tool, it gives you an easy way to interact with your customers on social media and via print and email, too.
3. Update business materials.
From business cards to brochures to your website, make sure the promotional and everyday materials you pass out to customers reflect the correct information. Depending on how far you move and what other changes you make, you may need to modify more than your street address, so check phone numbers and other relevant information, too.
4. Appoint a moving manager.
Put one person in charge of managing the move and the packing and make sure all departments and areas report to the man or woman in charge. Having a sole manager ensures that all of your information is centralized and that nothing is overlooked because “someone else is doing it.”
5. Special items need special care.
If your office or your executives own expensive artwork or display items, create a team to move just these pieces. Relocating artwork, photographs or one-of-a-kind items is nerve-wracking and needs to be done by a dedicated, knowledgeable team to ensure your items arrive safely.
6. Protect your network.
If you have an in-house information technology team make sure they are aware of all changes and that your network and all components are ready to go. Offer this team extra support as needed; the more quickly your computer network is up and running in the new location, the better. Your organization may not be able to access important software, files or components until they are safely up and running in your new home.
7. Hire a pro.
Moving a business is not like moving a residence. The more complex your setup, the more likely it is that you need professional help. Hiring out your relocation services will allow you to supervise the overall moving process, but not have to deal with the pressure and stress of getting your items out of your old office and into your new one. If you are concerned about downtime, overwhelmed by the idea of moving or simply not sure where to start, a professional team of local movers can take over for you and allow you to focus on what you do best—running your business.