Corporate Relocations: The Paramount Timeline

Moving a business to a new location is a major change that can make or break the success of a company. This process involves much more than just selecting a new building and purchasing new office supplies. Moving an office takes an abundant amount preparation, organization, time, and hard work. The following corporate relocation timeline will help to reduce the amount of stress you may encounter during the moving process. Keep in mind that planning a relocation for a business will likely take longer than a residential relocation; therefore, it is very important to begin this process as soon as possible.

Six Weeks Prior to Moving

Find a new location. The first thing you should do when you need to relocate your business is secure a new site. This is a crucial step in the process. You need to make sure that the area you select is conducive to your company specifically. Failing to choose the proper location can be detrimental to the success of your business.
Hire a professional moving company. Moving your business to a new space will indeed require the assistance of a professional moving company. They will be able to help you navigate your way through this process.
Inform your vendors of your upcoming move. Owning a business means you will likely have a number of vendors who supply you with various necessary supplies to keep your company running smoothly. Therefore, you need to inform them that you are relocating and let them know what your new address is. This way, any future order will be sent to the proper location, and there will not be an interruption in your daily business routine.
Determine future needs. Relocating to a new space may require a few new needs. For example, you may need new furniture to fill your new and improved space. If this is the case, you should select and order your furniture way in advance. This will allow an abundant amount of time to pass in order to receive your furniture before your move.

Four Weeks Prior to moving

Focus on the design of your new office. Your new space will be a blank canvas. This leaves a lot of room for you to turn it into what you desire. Determine the layout of the area, the color scheme, and the overall theme. Once you have figured this out, hire a contractor to execute your plan.
Determine what will and will not be needed in your new space. Take an inventory of everything in your office. Decide what you should take and what should be left behind. Clearing house before your move will help you start fresh in your new location. You may be able to sell some of your unwanted pieces to an office furniture resell store or donate them to charity.
Search for telephone, internet, and cable service quotes. These are all services that you will need in your new office. Compare local companies and find the best price. Once you have selected your service of choice, contact them and schedule a time to have them installed. This should be done before your move to make sure the business is not interrupted.
Change you address. When you move your business, it is vital that you receive all important mail at the right address. In order to make sure this is possible, take a trip to your local post office and fill out a change of address form. You may also change your address online. Keep in mind that your mail will only be forwarded for 12 months. Therefore, you need to make sure that you officially change your address with all important agencies.

Three Weeks Prior to Moving

Inform your employees of the upcoming relocation. Let all of your employees know about the upcoming move. Brief them about what to expect during the process and answer any questions that they may have about the move. Assure them that the move is the best option for the company and that everyone is moving in the right direction.
Order business supplies with your new address. For your business, you likely have cards, letter heads, ink pins and other materials with your address on it. Of course, you will need to update all of these items with your new information. If you order them in advance, you will be prepared to conduct business as usual when you reopen.
Tell your clients about your move. You should let all of your customers know that you will be relocating your business. Give them information such as your new address, phone number, and when you will be back open for business. You do not want to lose contact with your customers during this transition.

Two Weeks Prior to Moving

Begin packing non essentials. This is the time to begin packing up items that you will not need before the move. Old documents, trophies, and office supplies are a few of the items that you should not have use in the couple of weeks before your move.
Schedule a time to have your services shut off. Before you completely move into your new space, make sure that you have made arrangements to shut off all necessary services. Utilities, water, internet, and phone services should all be turned off once you are no longer occupying the area.
Backup all vital information. Let your employees know that they should backup all important information on their computers. This way, if any information is lost during the moving process, you will be able to recover it.

One Week Prior to the Move

Pack up desks and other work spaces. Now that your moving day is right around the corner, it is time to start packing up the rest of the office. It is best to do this as quickly as possible so that you can avoid interrupting the work process.
Take a final walk through of the new office. Visit your new space and make sure everything is up to par and ready for move in day. If anything is not in order, then you will have enough time to fix the situation before you move in.

Moving into a new office space is a major change. How well you execute your move can determine the outcome of your company. This move is one that you want to pay close attention to. By planning ahead, staying organized, and preparing accordingly, you will be well on your way to conducting a successful move.