[This article was originally published in July 2017 and has been revised and updated.]

Spring is a good time to relocate to a bigger and better office or shop, but summer is often better. However, office relocation can be a challenge anytime.

No matter how much you plan, organize, and prepare, office relocation is still stressful. Aside from the phone and Internet changeover, there’s all the junk, trash, and unwanted equipment that has to be hauled off and moved. And no one really wants to deal with the heavy pieces.

New Location, New Opportunities! And Old Junk To be Removed

The fact is that almost any workplace relocation – or even simply upgrading and replacing existing furniture and equipment – is a challenge.

Those will be the days when your employees are largely unproductive because of disorganization, the clutter, the misplaced documents, the missing pieces of office equipment and supplies, and other mishaps that come with office relocation or "upgrading."

Fortunately, much of this can be avoided by planning ahead and documenting your various relocation steps and processes to be carried out. 

The larger the move, the more preparation and planning is required. A single office with three or four workers might be a relatively simple move that can be accomplished in a day or two, along with a few days before and after to pack and then to unpack, and so on. 

However, a large firm may have several offices and other facilities which makes a relocation a major undertaking. But the principle is still the same:  Plan your move, document it, move per your plan.

First Things First: Getting Ready For Your Office Relocation

In order to help make this process smoother for you, here are some fundamental tips for preparing for your office relocation:

1. Sort out your office equipment

The first step in reducing the stress created by office relocation is sorting. Sorting helps you determine which items need priority to be productive during office relocation. Sort the items into three categories such as “must have”, “need soon”, and junk. By getting rid of the junk first, you can optimize office relocation and get back to work faster.

Once you have sorted everything you should evaluate your office equipment and furniture. For example:

• Do you need to keep the old sofa?
• Will you need to replace the printers and computers?
• Should you need to replace the tables?

Oftentimes, it is best to get rid of much the office supplies and equipment that are old becoming obsolete. Office relocation is usually a great time to update and upgrade!

2. Re-Organize your office layout and workflow

Office relocation is also the ideal time to start implementing office reorganization. In addition to sorting and determining which furniture and equipment stays or goes, you should also determine where each item is placed and how you want to lay out the cubicles and furniture for a more efficient and comfortable office layout.

3. Label boxes that contain smaller office items

Anything that you plan on getting rid of or donating should be set to one side and labeled accordingly. Any items that you plan on storing for future use should also be labeled as such and put in another location. This staging of boxes will streamline the moving process later. Keep your necessary office supplies in one place, update the filing system of your documents, and create a separate bin for documents that need an immediate decision.

4. Hire a professional junk hauling firm

To facilitate and expedite your office relocation it can be a strategic move to hire a professional junk removal firm. Because you are probably losing productivity during an office move or relocation it pays to have a company to handle the office furniture removal and large office equipment removal.

Of course, this is just what you need to do in preparation for your actual relocation project. You still need know what you'll be doing during the big move.

Have  a Relocation Plan

The details and needs of your office move can vary widely from those of other businesses.

For example, if you are a manufacturer with stocks of  inventory, machinery and raw materials, you will have a far different set of priorities and needs than, say, a real estate brokerage with little in the way of equipment to move.

But, regardless of the business type,  every business has some common considerations. The following is a suggested checklist for relocating businesses or planning a move: 

As we've noted here already, relocating your office space can be a stressful and time-consuming task. Here are some additional tips to help make the moving process smoother:

1. Plan ahead: Start planning your move at least two to three months in advance, and create a detailed timeline with specific tasks and deadlines. This will help you stay organized and ensure that everything is done on time and that nothing is overlooked.

2. Communicate with your employees:  It is crucial to keep your team informed about the move, including the reasons for it and about the new location. This will cause  them to feel more involved and help make the transition easier.

3. Hire a reputable moving company: Research moving companies in your area and choose one with good reviews and one that has specific experience in office relocations. Make sure they are bonded, have insurance, and any necessary licenses.

4. Declutter and organize: Before the move, take time to declutter and get rid of items you no longer need. This will allow you to dispose of unwanted or unneeded items, and reduce the amount of items that need to be packed and moved to the new space.

5. Label everything: Label every container with its contents and where it should go in the new location. This will help you and the moving company know where everything should be placed.

6. Update your address: Update your address with clients, vendors, and service providers well in advance of your move. This will help ensure a smooth transition and prevent any interruption of service. It's also a great reason to promote your business to prospects. 

7. Test the new space: Before moving in, test your new workspace for working Internet connections, phone lines, and other essential services. This will help you identify and resolve any issues before your team must start working in the new space.

By following these tips, you can help ensure a successful and stress-free office relocation.

Update Your Online Business Information

Not only do you need to inform all your vendors and clients about your new address, you will want to change your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information on your Google My Business page. Simply updating address information in your Google My Business listing won’t be sufficient, however.

You should take steps to update your business data on all of the directories and review sites you can think of including Yelp!, Yellow Pages, City Search, Local.com and Acxiom. Moz recommends visiting Infogroup, Localeze and Acxiom to check for out-of-date information as well as creating accounts on all major search engines to update your old listings.

In addition, you can use Google Map Maker to directly edit Google’s maps. Once your edit is approved, the new information will show up on all subsequent Google map searches.

Remember: you want to ensure that once you've relocated you can still be found easily!

Cost-Effective Furniture Removal for Your Business

Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly furniture removal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of the debris after your office relocation project is complete.

Whether you need our services several times during a cleaning project or just once after it is complete, our hauling professionals will ensure that the junk and debris is out of your way so that you can get on with the job of running your business.

Our team specializes in commercial junk removal. And we can be at your business in minutes, so call us today! You can be assured that our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion. 

One of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle a much of the material we pick-up. We do this as part of our genuine commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service.

If you have questions about what we do for your business needs, give us a call at (707) 744-4254