Moving house can seem pretty daunting…but moving a business? It’s a decision likely to send a shiver down the spine of many an office manager. But it doesn’t need to if you have the right removal company holding your hand!
With a move to hybrid and remote working post-pandemic, many companies are considering their office space. Some are downsizing, as fewer people will be in the office day-to-day, whilst others are looking for different types of space, so they can use their office for more creative, social and teamwork-led activities.
Here at McCarthy’s, we’re an expert in Leeds’ office removals, along with those in the wider Yorkshire region. So, we thought we’d pull together some top tips around important things to consider if you’re planning a business move.
- Give yourself time to plan. An office move is going to take time to get organised. You ideally want to approach removals companies around three months in advance to get everything booked in.
- Choose the right removal firm. Make sure the firm you choose has a great reputation (check online reviews and ask your contacts) and importantly, is a member of the British Association of Removers. Will they provide a dedicated manager for your move? You don’t want to end up having to micro-manage things yourself. What insurance do they have in place?
- It’s a team thing. When it comes to packing up, involve the team. Something you don’t think is important may be vital to someone else. Ask people to pack up their own desks and either take things home (if you’re moving to remote working), pack them up for the new office or chuck it!
- It’s the perfect time to declutter. There’s zero point taking anything you don’t need to the new office – particularly if you’re downsizing. Be ruthless, but also consider any legal obligations to hold on to anything like paperwork. Remember we can offer a document management service if needed – storing your paperwork for you.
- Be careful with the confidential. Every office is likely to have confidential paperwork. From a GDPR perspective you need to ensure it’s either transported accordingly, or properly disposed of. We can help with industrial scale shredding – providing sacks or bins for you to fill, so we can destroy it for you. It will then be recycled into paper towels, so it’s good for the environment too!
- Disposing of the no-longer-needed. If you need to get rid of office furniture or electronic equipment, consider how best to do that. Charitable donations and staff or general sales are better options than landfill! We can help with the disposal of any hard drives or electronic equipment you’re concerned may have confidential data on it.
- Label, and then label some more. Speak to your removal company about a specific plan for your business. For example, at McCarthy’s we would look at sequential packing of files and stock, labelling systems and room planners so documents and furniture find their rightful home in the new office. But, as a general rule of thumb, you can’t label too much!
- Prioritise IT. Technology can be one of the biggest sources of stress in an office move. Again, speak to your removal firm about a specific plan, but individual component parts should be carefully labelled and packaged, and transported with maximum protection. Getting things back up and running is usually the number one priority at the new office.
- Park it. Parking can always be a cause of concern, so make sure your removal firm has any necessary permits and permissions.
If you’re planning office removals in Leeds, why not get in touch?
