On the one hand, kudos on expanding your business so much that you need to move it to a bigger office in Brooklyn. Kings County is considered a great place for start-up companies and it was only a matter of time when you would overcome your expectations. But now comes a complex undertaking that is moving your business to Brooklyn, i.e., or any bigger and better place. Unlike your typical household relocation, this is three times harder due to a number of supplies and people that need moving. Not to mention finding a new office space. So let’s see if Brooklyn Movers New York can help you get through this project with as less stress as possible.

Tips on moving your business and office Brooklyn-style

Moving your business to Brooklyn is a fantastic opportunity for re-examination. You can determine whether your current office space is suitable for anticipated/future growth or if it is adaptable to the constant shift in job requirements. As we previously mentioned, moving your business or office requires a bit more preparation than moving a household. And since good preparation is key to success, you need to ensure that you follow through. So let us offer this quick-step list of steps that you need to follow through to ensure a proper commercial relocation.

Planning out the project of moving your business to Brooklyn

The very first step should be setting you final move out date, thus giving you a time frame. Once you have that, you can proceed with creating a timeline for all the stages of your move. For starters, do an estimate of the size of the office you are moving to:

• small office – preparation process takes up to three months
• medium/large office – preparation will last six to eight months at least

Next stage of moving your business would be getting familiar with the new space. You’ll need to know where you are moving before actually planning out the move. Acquiring blueprints of the new space would be a good way to start. It’ll help determine your new office layout.

This would also be your chance to resolve any logistical issues that were present in your current office. You can make a list of potential problems with the floor layout you have. This might include things such as a smaller reception area or less storage area or perhaps a larger open space. Basically, whatever comes to mind – you might even want to get feedback from the rest of the co-workers. It is a great way to incorporate other viewpoints and to achieve consensus on the move if some are not quite excited about the change.

Schedule a team meeting to discuss your Brooklyn business relocation

When it comes to larger office moves, we recommend having someone in charge of each department. That person can then coordinate their part and make things a whole lot easier for you. As an example, you can give this task to the department heads and have them make sure that each employee packs up their desk and lockers. If we are talking about a small office move, then you can handle this supervising task.

Set regular meetings and make sure that employees are notified of meeting details. Ensure that everyone knows what their role is in this project. Relocation is stressful for everyone involved, especially if decisions are not being communicated properly. This is why it is important to keep everyone well informed, to limit any worries or concerns.

It might be a good idea to set up two separate communication plans:

1. Internal – ensuring that your employees are informed during the entire office moving process
2. External – letting clients and suppliers know that you are moving your business to Brooklyn, so as not to lose any contracts or opportunities.

Make a budget assessment for the whole project of business relocation to Brooklyn

As is with every larger undergoing, you need to have a budget planned out. This will significantly help later on, when deciding on a professional mover, packed, decorator etc. So get into the numbers with financial and set out a figure for the office move.

Consider the hires you’ll need to make for your relocation

A need might arise for special services, such as telephone line installers or computer network specialists. Ask each department manager or supervisor what is required from their area. Make sure common areas such as the reception area and lobby are covered first.

One of the most critical tasks is to hire the movers. There are moving companies that specialize in office moves. Just make sure you do your research, ask the right questions, and have the company come to your office to assess your move. Like any household move, you need to make sure the company is reliable and that you are receiving the best service for the cost.

Have a staff member develop a list of at least five moving companies, then ensure you investigate them thoroughly before you hire. Determine the budget, get quotes, and compare services across moving companies to decide which one to hire.

If you have the budget for it, consider hiring professional packers.  This will not only save you time, but it will reduce stress for your employees as well.  Areas of the office that are common, and often the most difficult spaces to pack and move, will be packed in a quick and professional manner.

Make a Contact List

Once you’ve set a moving date, you need to make sure that your vendors and clients are informed of this. Notifying customers and clients requires specific communication. Insurance needs to be provided about where you’re moving to and how the business will operate during the business relocation to Brooklyn. Such information is essential to ensure keeping your loyal customers.

Create a New Office Plan and Layout

It is at this step that a staff meeting would prove quite helpful.  It’s always difficult to move into a new space but when you have to figure out where everything and everyone goes, that takes a lot of time.  Make sure you know where each piece of furniture will be placed and every employee will sit.  The more detailed the plan, the better. After all, moving your business to Brooklyn isn’t easy, don’t make it harder with a mess!

Here’s a simple checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind or overlooked:

• Desk empty?
• Supply cabinets cleared?
• File cabinets cleared?
• File drawers locked?
• Wall items taken down?
• Breakable items properly packed?
• Computers and other machines disconnected?
• “Do Not Move” tags placed?
• Liquids drained from equipment?
• Everything labeled?
• Have a set of spare keys available.
• Ensure that your Internet connection is ready to go and that the phones and fax machines are working.
• Confirm that the electricity works.
• Make sure the bathrooms work.
• Don’t forget to throw away (or use as scratch paper) any old stationary (or business cards) that has your old address on it and create new stationary with the new address on it.