Change always has an impact on your business. Whether it’s the introduction of a new client or losing a valued employee, it’s important for your organization to roll with the punches. If your office is in the process of relocating, it can be a sign that your business is growing and a milestone of your success, but a move can also be a big disruption. You want to make certain your office relocation is as organized as possible so you can shut down your old location and get things going in your new location without a hitch. At A.B. Richards, we’re experts at helping you get organized. While we’re not a moving company and we can’t move your portable storage containers when they’re full, they’re perfect for your storage needs before or after any move. We can deliver your empty storage units to wherever you need them. We want your move to be smooth so we want to offer you some tips on packing for relocation.
Getting Ready for the Office Move
According to the online publication Small Business Trends, the best way to move with the least amount of disruption is to create a plan right at the start of the process. You can begin by taking a visual inventory and figuring out what needs to go to the new location. Determine what product and inventory have to be moved and what furniture and equipment need to go. Cubicles may need to be broken down to be reassembled later, while personal belongings, files, and records also need to be packed.
Small Business Trends says you should strongly consider using the planned move as a time to declutter. This is the time to throw out what’s not needed, plan upgrades to equipment that should be modernized and give your new office a shiny, fresh look. Your next step is to come up with a timeline and schedule and to create spreadsheets, accounting for what items will be moved.
What You Should Do On Moving Day
Once all the pre-move preparation is done, it’s time to pack for the relocation. The St. Joseph, Mo. Chamber of Commerce recommends using recyclable plastic crates for office packing. When you’re packing desks, it’s strongly advised that you empty the desks completely. Keep pens, pencils and markers and other loose items in sealed plastic bags or envelopes, which should be taped inside the desk draws. Papers and files should be packed in a crate.
Bookcases should be packed in crates or book boxes and shelves should be taped to gather with packing tape. Tape any shelf pins to the back of the bookcase.
Machines such as printers and scanners which are small, should not be packed into crates. Leave them on top of desks or stands. Power cords and cables should go into plastic bags and tape to the machine. Any copying machines containing liquid should be drained,
Tall upright filing cabinets are usually moved with the contents intact, while lateral filing cabinets are not. Lock the tall cabinets if you can or tighten internal drawers to hold the contents in place. The contents of lateral filing cabinets should be packed in crates, and the cabinet ought to be locked if possible. Supply and storage containers should be emptied with the contents packed into crates. Lock the drawers or tape them together.
A.B. Richards Can Help You Organize for Your Move
A little organization combined with smart planning can make your move seamless. If you need some extra space to organize or if the new location needs work before the move can be completed, A.B. Richards can help. We rent 20ft storage containers for smaller jobs and 40ft storage containers or 40ft Jumbo Storage Containers with an extra foot of headroom for bigger jobs. A.B. Richards is the place to go for all your storage needs. Contact us today!