Especially with a sizable company that operates out of a large office building, moving into a new facility can be quite daunting. Relocating takes a lot of time, effort and money, and your business might not have all of those things to spare. If you’re a facilities manager with a big project on your plate, move management can be a scary thought.
Of course, moves vary in terms of scale. If you’re lucky, you may only need to complete a box move, which consists of picking up boxes of supplies and transporting them from room to room. You might need a furniture move, which involves re-shuffling desks and tables to alter the layout of your workplace. A full-blown relocation process, though, is a bigger deal. If you have to move into a new neighborhood, city or state, you’ve got your work cut out for you.
As a facilities manager, your job is to make sure your company is fully prepared before beginning a moving project. There a lot of moving parts involved, both literally and figuratively, so you don’t want to begin the process before you’ve very carefully drafted a plan of attack.
Moving company US-Moving.com recently released a statement cautioning businesses against acting too hastily when it comes to move management. The business warned that companies who don’t plan carefully run the risk of pouring their productivity down the drain.
“It is difficult to find a company that can move all of the office equipment that a customer wants moved without disrupting the normal running of the business,” the company stated. “This is not easy, unless a customer finds a moving company that is very professional and has experience with office moves. While moving a house can be stressful, moving an office is much more stressful with all the delicate, bulky and awkward office equipment. Then there is the sensitive paperwork that must not get into the wrong hands.”
If you want to make sure your move goes right, you need to see the process through from beginning to end. Here are a few tips to follow along the way.
Choose the right moving company
You’ll definitely want to choose a moving company that fits your business’ needs. Vet your candidates thoroughly, and ask the right questions:
- Do they have experience moving businesses like yours?
- Will they act quickly and efficiently?
- Is the price right?
There are a lot of moving companies out there, and choosing the right one will help you get the job done in a timely, affordable fashion.
Plan ahead
Make sure you have a plan ahead of time for what equipment goes where, and when. Make sure everything is accounted for and every employee knows what to expect. It’s all about communication – you should be engaged in constant dialogues with corporate department heads to make sure you’re meeting all their needs.
Be smart about equipment
Moving an office isn’t just about moving desks – every piece of office equipment is important, too. What if you move one employee’s desk from the old office to the new one, but because of poor planning, you don’t move his computer until a week later? Mistakes like this can be a big blow to productivity. Make sure you know what you’re doing with each piece of equipment.
Manage office stress
Moving can be stressful for employees worried about giving up their old offices. It’s good to meet with any workers who are upset about the process and assuage their concerns. People aren’t always happy to leave their old offices behind, but sometimes an open, honest conversation can help.
Moving is one of the hardest things you’ll have to do as a facilities manager. Following these steps can help make it a little easier.
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