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Moving your business is serious business!!!
Take it lightly and you will have to suffer severe losses in terms of money and productivity. Get it right and everything keeps moving smoothly and your company can transition very easily. So, if you are planning to move your business, continue reading to make sure you and your team moves and settles in the new environment smoothly and business continues as usual.
Here are some expert moving tips for a successful business move:
Don’t Move Things You No Longer Need
As you get set for moving your business, don’t make the mistake of moving office items or equipment you no longer need. You may donate such items to schools, local community, charity organizations, hospitals or even prisons. Items such as old printers, copiers, office supplies, office furniture, PCs and any other equipment you no longer need should be donated. You can cut your moving estimate and any extra charges by not moving items you don’t need. Why pay to move what you don’t need?
Start Packing Early
Don’t wait until few days to the move before you start packing. You can start by packing items you rarely use first. Use boxes, and label them so you can easily reach for anything you may need. If you intend to do the move all by yourself, start packing early too, and prepare well ahead for the move. Last minute preparation for a business move often turns out poorly.
Mark All Your Boxes
Make sure you mark all your moving boxes at the tops and sides. Since it’s a business move, you may need to quickly
take out some things for use. At the point of origin or at the final destination, you may need to unpack in a hurry in order to attend to a customer or an important business partner. Marked boxes will make it easier to find any of your items or office equipment. Also, you should have an inventory of all your boxes with the contents it contained. If the moving company lose any of your boxes, it will be easier to track and make claim. Make sure you get all other essential packing supplies to make your packing easier.
Packing computers
Start packing your computers by unplugging all cables. Keep the cables in a big zip locked baggies and indicate on each baggies what computer system each cable belongs to. Unplug the cables carefully and avoid damaging ports and bending pins.
Wrap each computer monitor in bubble wraps or thick moving blanket and tape them. Place the monitors in appropriate size boxes, and avoid contact between the monitors and tapes. Don’t place any other items on top of the monitors and position them in a contained space in the truck or van to prevent them from shifting during transit.
One of the safest ways to back up data on your hard drive is via cloud storage or an external hard drive. You can move the external hard drive on your personal car, and download saved data on cloud at your destination.
Packing Electronics
You need to detach any parts of the electronics and pack them separately. Printers, FAX machines, scanners, copiers and any other electronics you use should be packed separately and taped. Label their containers accordingly and indicate what part is the top and bottom.
Find the Right Moving Company
If you intend to hire a moving company for your move, start your research early. Call two to three movers and ask for quotes. Compare quotes and ask relevant questions such as registration numbers, moving policies, extra charges, and any other thing you’re concerned about your move. You can obtain absolutely free moving quotes from licensed and BBB rated moving companies.
If you want the moving company to do the packing for you, make sure you have a list of what you want them to pack. Movers won’t make any packing decision for you. Movers will pack anything you intend to move, so give them a list.
Obtain Insurance
If you intend to hire a moving company, find out about their insurance coverage. Ask if the movers’ insurance cover damages to your cars and specific fragile valuable items. It’s important to know if you will need to purchase extra insurance for your business items or goods. Also, request for proof of the mover’s insurance coverage before you opt for it. You can learn more about moving insurance and license regulations to make sure you are covered.
Inform Clients Customers and Prospects about Your Move
Before moving your business, inform all your clients, customers and the public about your move. Change the address on your website, business cards, stationery etc. Let your clients and customers know about your moving schedule and the new address.
Also, inform customers, clients, and business partners when the old place will be closed for business, and when the new place will be set for business. If it’s possible, send emails to all your customers, clients and business partners to notify them when you arrive at your new destination. Update all your contact information online and offline.
Make a Checklist
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In order to make moving your business easier, make a checklist of all the tasks involved in the move. You can split your checklist into three: before the move, during the move and after the move. List all the tasks you intend to complete on each of the moving stages.
Since it’s a business move, show the list to some of your colleagues to ensure no crucial item is missing from the list. Pay attention to each stage of your checklist from start to finish and tick each item as the task is completed.
