Article Contributed by James Adam
There is no doubt that moving an entire office can be as time consuming and as stressful as a typical residential move. This is mainly because a business move typically means the business will have to suffer from down time. When a business suffers from down time, that business may lose profits. Many businesses decide to take advantage of professional movers in order to make the move go through smoothly. However, men and women of the office can do a few things in order to make the move more organised and stressful. Staying organised and stress free is a great way to spend less time moving and more time running the business.
1. Empty the Desks
It is important that employees empty all drawers and desktops. Removing all of the items from drawers and desktops can ensure that certain items do not get lost. It also ensures that the desk is not ruined during the move. Once all of the items have been removed, they should be packed into a moving box. You can choose to divide the items and pack them accordingly. You should label all of the boxes. They can be organised by contents, owner, or by where the box is going to go. How you organise the contents of employee desks is up to you.
2. Empty the File Cabinets
You should also make sure that you are able to empty all of your file cabinets. Once they have been emptied, you can pack them into file boxes. Make sure that all of the file boxes have lids. Seal the lids and label them by date and time. You can also have signatures of everyone who is responsible for the files on the box. This raises the security of these documents. In addition, labelling the boxes makes the move easier. Your employees will know where things are and where they need to go.
3. Take Care of Expensive Equipment
It is extremely important that your professional and expensive office equipment is taken care of. For example, all of your electronics, computers, and phone systems should only be disconnected and moved by professionals. You do not want someone to mess up a very important piece of equipment. This is especially the case for your printers and copiers. Make sure that a maintenance representative maintains the equipment. A maintenance representative can make sure that the heads are locked. In addition, the maintenance representative will perform other immobilising techniques so your printers and your copiers do not become damaged during the move.
4. Wrap Paintings, Pictures, and Other Wall Hangings Properly
You may need to wrap all of your paintings and pictures in padding before they are moved. In addition, you should treat canvas items differently. They should be placed in a box in a vertical position. Placing canvas items in such a way makes sure that the frames are not damaged. In addition, smaller items will not damage the canvas.
5. Pack Books Separately
When you are packing a large number of books, you should make sure that all of the books are placed in boxes face down. By placing all of your books flat in their boxes, you are keeping all of the pressure off the bindings of the books. You may also want to consider obtaining special boxes that are designed to keep books safe. The boxes that are designed for books are sturdier than your standard moving box. You need a sturdier box because books are heavier than other office items. In addition, the boxes are smaller than normal moving boxes. This means that you will not be able to pack too many books in one box. This makes things easier to handle while moving.
6. Check All Emergency Systems
Make sure that all smoke detectors, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems are in working order before you move important equipment into the office.
7. Make Sure Your Business Is Not Interrupted
It is important or you to keep all lines of communication open while you are moving your office. You can do this by signing up for a call forwarding service. You can also simply continue your current phone service until the move is complete and all products and services are in working order.
About the Author
This article was written by James Adam who writes for Office Kitten, a UK-based store offering packaging tape and office paper for businesses.