While many businesses try to plan their moves during the warmer months, sometimes cold weather moves are unavoidable. In fact, they can actually be beneficial for certain industries that experience a lul during this time of the year.
If you own a business in the tri-state area, moving during the winter months might be a smart investment into your company’s future.
Planning an Office Move this Winter
Managing an office move is a huge responsibility that requires detailed coordination, budgeting, and people management skills. Needless to say, it can be an overwhelming experience.
Our goal at Clancy Relocation & Logistics is to help office managers plan, organize, and execute large-scale office moves year-round. Let us set you on the right path for a successful office relocation.
Create a Timeline
Without a detailed, written timeline, you may find yourself falling behind on certain tasks or forgetting about them altogether. Before you start packing up furniture, create a timeline of when you want to accomplish major milestones.
Remember that people tend to underestimate how long a task will take, so we suggest giving yourself ample time for each project. Ideally, you should start planning roughly a year before your official “move out” date. Even though you won’t be coordinating plans or physically moving equipment each day, starting this far out will give you plenty of time to create a budget, discuss the move with employees, and secure the right moving company.
If you’re moving between November and February, freezing temperatures and sudden snowstorms can throw a wrench into anyone’s timeline, so it’s important to factor in how weather can affect your move. As you get closer to your moving date, you may need to include tentative backup dates into your plan.
Consider How Your IT Will Be Affected
Even the smallest office or business relies on technology for their day-to-day operations. And because most technologies are so delicate, you can’t treat it the same way you would traditional office furniture. This is why it’s so important to hire a moving company that specializes in moving complex technologies.
When deciding how to go about safely moving your office technology, consider:
- The technology requirements of your new office/what equipment has already been installed.
- Taking inventory of your physical hardware.
- Creating a Business Continuity Plan to safeguard your data and information.
- How equipment will be packed and shipped.
- Which technologies or systems need to be up and running on day one and which can be done at a later date.
Take Precautions Against the Weather
While it’s true that cold weather moves can come with certain advantages, like greater availability among moving companies and more downtime due to the holidays, they can also pose a few challenges. Before moving day arrives, make sure:
- Your sidewalk, walkway, and parking lot are plowed and salted.
- Protective mats are placed on the floor to prevent slip and fall accidents.
- There’s ample room for a moving truck to park and be loaded.
- To never leave sensitive items, like electrical equipment, outside in inclement or cold weather.
Choose the Right Commercial Movers
The moving company you choose to work with will set the tone for your office move, which is why it’s important to choose a team that’s licensed and insured, and can handle unique challenges that might arise throughout the process (i.e. the need for rigging services if large or heavy items need to be moved).
As the go-to moving company for businesses in the tri-state area for more than 100 years, we’ve helped hundreds of businesses prepare for a remodel or move to a new location. If you’re getting ready to move, Clancy can assist with all aspects of your relocation, including packing and unpacking, furniture assembly, storage assistance, and more!