This is a collaborative post: Moving or relocating your office is stressful. There we said it! You need to plan, keep logistics in mind, figure out how you are going to move everything from one place to another and while that’s all going on, keep up company morale.
Costs versus efficiency often come into play in any office move. Not only do you need to ensure you have hit all the major must-haves on your moving list, from setting up everything from your wireless network to hiring the best removals team in town, but you need to work within a budget.
Not quite sure where to start? Here are 5 cost-effective ways to manage your office move:
It’s all in the preparation
Regardless of how big or small your business is or how far you are moving, planning ahead is your greatest tool. Yes, some moves require months and sometimes even years of planning before they come to fruition. But without an action plan in place, you are more likely to hit several time-consuming barriers along the way.
Things to consider:
- Budget: creating a workable budget will ensure you keep your move as affordable as possible
- Decide early on who is going to be a part of the planning and coordination process
- Assign a moving manager: they need to be excellent at communication, work well under pressure, can stick to a budget and liaise with outside agencies where necessary
- Consider outsourcing: if no one within your team is up to the task of managing your move, there are plenty of experienced moving specialists out there that can make your office move more manageable
Keep everyone in the loop
Without clear communication, there’s a chance your office move will have a far bigger impact on your staff’s morale and wellbeing. The simple solution is to keep your whole team well informed along the way. Honesty really is the best policy, and if you plan to move 10 miles or 200 miles down the road, your employees need to know this well in advance so they can make their own plans too.
The closer you get to your office move, the more open the conversation needs to be with your staff. Everyone needs to know what their responsibilities are and what part they have to play between moving from A to B. For instance, if your tech-minded staff need to set up a workable network before the rest of your employees move in, they need to know what is expected of them and the time constraints they have to work with.
Relocating can be incredibly unsettling. It can slow down productivity for one thing, but it can also make staff feel undervalued and unappreciated if not handled well. So allow time for mental preparation and for packing up personal workstations and belongings.
Celebrate each of your team members’ efforts along the way, and keep the moving conversation open. There’s nothing worse than getting to moving day and the removal van not turning up! So keep talking!
Don’t forget your clients and customers
Keeping all your staff happy is one of your highest priorities, but you can’t neglect your clients and customers. So minimise disruptions to your business operations by telling everyone about your move in advance:
- Set up a skeleton operation at your new location before you shut down the old site
- Use social media to communicate your intentions to new and current customers effectively
- Speak to your line rental company about keeping your phone line the same or redirecting phone calls to your new number until things settle down
- Be transparent in your emails and highlight when your office move will take place and new contact details
- Update your information on Google
- Mention your move in person to your clients – word of mouth is still a powerful tool in business!
Have a clear-out
It’s surprising how much paperwork, old furniture and general office debris builds up over the years, and moving out is the perfect opportunity to have a good sort out. But like moving house, it can be incredibly time-consuming, especially when you are still trying to operate at full pelt.
Hiring a professional rubbish removal company in London not only takes the weight off of your shoulders, but they will take all the necessary precautions of disposing of all your unwanted stuff responsibly. Whether you want to shred confidential information or ensure all your waste is recycled correctly, then hiring in the pros will ensure your time is not wasted worrying.
What’s more, only moving with all the essentials will make sure that you and your team get off to the best start in your new office space. After all, clutter is detrimental to any working space, so cutting it out ahead of your move will help things run more smoothly in your new office.
Avoid too many disruptions
Relocating your office can take a massive financial hit on your business. Stress levels are heightened amongst staff; you might face teething problems with your phone lines or internet, and all your customers have just fallen off the face of the Earth!
But that’s where careful forward planning and organisation comes in.
One of the best ways to minimise disruption to your employees and clients is to carry out most of the relocation tasks outside of office hours. That way, your business can continue to operate as usual, and there are fewer distractions for your workforce throughout the day.
Whether you have a dedicated “moving team” or hire in a professional removals company, your aim as a business owner is to keep your day to day activities as normal as possible. Furthermore, professional removal teams can work around you. They can simply slot around your working hours and get the bulk of the packing and moving done in the background.
Time, money and morale are the big three when it comes to office relocations. Not only do you want to keep your whole team happy and on board, but your business needs to run as smoothly as possible throughout the process. Are you ready to make your move?