Moving day is stressful at the best of times. Even when you’re going through it for a new family home, it can be tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You and partner will likely fall out at some stage, and there’s every chance the kids will be unhappy by the time you’re in. Such is the nature of moving your life from place to another.
Sadly, the stress doesn’t get any less when moving into a commercial property. In fact, given that your company is at stake, things can feel even tenser. While your antique furniture might be at risk during a personal move, your whole life hangs in the balance where business is involved. As such, you can rest pretty easy your heart will be in your throat for the duration.
That said, you don’t have to go into this like a bull in a china shop. By stepping back and thinking about how you approach matters, you can at least make attempts to reduce the stress. That’s not to say, of course, that your heartbeat won’t raise at certain stages. But, it will at least leave you less at risk of a heart attack along the way. And, to help you develop a plan for just such a stress-free day, we’ve put together a list of things you might want to consider.
Get rid of what you don’t need
If you’re moving from one office to another, you might want to think about taking this time for a clear out. The more you take with you, the harder your day is sure to be. So, as you’re packing your office, make sure to get rid of old files and documents you no longer need. Given that most business storage is on computers now, it’s likely many of your files are unnecessary. For confidentiality, make sure to shred them rather than throwing them straight out. Just like that, you can save a substantial amount of space in your moving van. And, that’s sure to make your life easier from the off.
Get organised
As the owner of a business, it’s likely you’re good at getting things done using organisation. Apply that to your moving day to ensure you finish without wasting unnecessary time. For the most part, this will involve writing a checklist for the day, and making sure you tick every task on there. Make sure, too, that you stick to your deadline. You can achieve that by delegating jobs, much like you would during a typical workday. At least, you can if you…
Get the whole team on board
The more people you have on board to help you, the better. Lucky for you, you won’t need to worry about hiring a moving company. You already have a team behind you who can get the job done. Admittedly, you’ll still have to pay them. But, you would be doing that anyway, so you may as well get them to help. Bear in mind that you will want to keep at least one team member at their desk for the duration. Shutting up shop altogether could leave a severe dent in your profits. But, with that person taking care of business, the rest of you can get down to work. It might be worth carrying the heaviest pieces yourself to avoid injury. But, you can be sure there will still be plenty of things for your staff to carry.
Know which equipment needs to go first
Given that it’s crucial to get your company running again as soon as possible, it’s essential you think about which equipment you need first. If you still have time on your lease in the old office, leaving the odd stapler around the place isn’t the end of the world. Instead, focus on getting the essentials across before anything. In most cases, that means computers and desks. After all, it won’t be much of a business without those.
Take time out for utilities
Speaking of getting up and running, it’s essential you sort your utilities the moment you set foot in your new space. Rushing to get everything moved won’t do much good unless you’re wired up to the internet with heating to boot. Luckily, you’re on much more familiar ground here. It’s necessary to do the same thing when you move into private property. All you need is your address, your moving date, and the message that it’s crucial to get set up as soon as possible.
