The decision to relocate to a new Vancouver office can be an exciting one. It might mean your business is expanding and reaching new heights. Or it may be a long overdue opportunity to modernize your office space. An office move is a significant milestone worth celebrating — but without the proper resources or movers, the stress of the move can often outweigh these celebratory feelings.
Moving offices is a big job that involves meticulous planning, communication, and organization. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, it can be easy to make mistakes that could negatively impact your business and employees. As an established Vancouver office moving company, the team here at DLO Move Support Services know all the ins and outs of corporate moving. Our team of professional movers can help provide the knowledge and services you might be missing, so your move can be as seamless as possible.
Straight from our expert Vancouver office movers — here are five common mistakes to avoid during your office move:
1. Not having a detailed move plan
Just as in residential moves, it’s not uncommon to underestimate the amount of planning needed for a smooth office moving experience. Failing to create a well-thought-out and detailed move plan is a recipe for increased stress and can be overwhelming for you and your employees. Things can easily get missed and questions can go unanswered without a written record of all the things that need to be accomplished before the big day.
It’s useful to assign a team member as the official office Move Coordinator. Make sure this person has the bandwidth to take on the role. Ensure you’re also able to provide them with the resources they need to craft a proper office move plan. If this initial planning stage feels daunting, it may be worthwhile to look into Vancouver office moving companies, like DLO, that offer move consultant services to assist with this task.
2. Failing to communicate with employees
Another mistake our Vancouver office movers see frequently is a lack of communication around the move itself. Positive team morale is important. This can be negatively impacted when companies don’t properly inform their employees about an upcoming relocation. If the goal is to complete an office move with minimal disruption to your business, staff need to be in the loop.
It’s a good idea to communicate the change of office as far in advance as possible. Your Move Coordinator can share the office move plan, and even designate one member of each team as a move captain. This is an excellent way to make sure every team’s needs are heard, and your staff feel included in the process.
3. Underestimating preparation time needed
Office moves take time to prepare for. Leaving things until the last minute will make your move much more stressful than it needs to be. It also creates room for errors and an increased chance of your employees falling behind on their work. Most Vancouver office moving companies will suggest staff be given the proper supplies to begin packing up their workspace up to two weeks prior.
When it comes to the common areas of the office, it’s a good idea to start organizing them right away and purge any unneeded items. If you’ve brought on a move consultant, this is sure to be included in your plan of action. Don’t hesitate to look for extra support if needed. If you’re utilizing Vancouver office movers like the DLO team, they will typically offer packing assistance.
4. Neglecting to repurpose or recycle office furniture
Your company can make the moving process easier by deciding in advance what will happen with any office furniture you’ll no longer be needing. If you can have the furniture removed before the move, it will help speed the operation along. While junk removal companies offer services that accomplish this task, it can be costly and the items will likely end up in the landfill.
Reputable Vancouver office moving companies will be able to ensure your old furniture gets repurposed, donated, or recycled. Neglecting to properly dispose of your office furniture items can negatively impact the environment. The right office movers will always do their best to avoid that.
5. Not hiring an office moving company with professional movers
The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to planning your office move is not enlisting the help of expert movers. Professional Vancouver office moving companies know how to avoid all the common mistakes listed above. This will ease the stress and pressure of planning and executing an office move by yourself.
DLO Move Support Services has all the corporate relocation solutions your company needs to get your move accomplished quickly and easily. We offer everything from moving and packing services, to move coordination and consulting, to storage management. Our Vancouver office movers are true experts at what they do and will be able to support you and your team as much or as little as you need. Your office move should be stress-free, so you can get back to work in your new space.
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If you need corporate relocation support or are looking for more information about our movers or services, you can get in touch with the DLO Move Support Services team by giving us a call at 604-254-0135 or filling out our contact form. If you’re located outside of Vancouver, our team can still help with all your office move needs. We service all areas of Vancouver in addition to West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey, Langley and the Fraser Valley.