Moving offices is a part of life for construction workers and companies. Once a job ends, it’s time to close down the shop and move to the location of a new project as soon as possible (and without spending too much on this endeavor, if possible).
But moving is not an easy job.
Plus, in construction, you’re not just relocating offices. You often have other worries, like having to relocate entire teams and finding accommodation for everyone. Plus, you may have to move equipment, materials, and so on.
Still, there is a way to keep track of everything without wasting precious resources like time or money. To help you out, we collected several recommendations and tips from well-seasoned construction companies that went through a move or two down the line.
1. Plan, Plan, Plan
The best thing you can do to ensure the relocating of your construction office will be successful is to start planning your office relocation well in advance. This includes creating a checklist (or several), setting a timeline, and establishing a budget.
You also need to create a moving team that will include reliable members of your staff who have excellent organization and planning skills. This way, the move will become less stressful since there will be more people handling the important tasks.
For instance, some construction companies also have to worry about moving heavy equipment from one location to another. If this is your case, ask the team to decide between hiring an additional moving company specialized in this kind of task and handling the task in-house. If you decide to outsource the project, you may have to reconsider the moving budget.
2. Hire A Professional
While some construction companies have the means and people to handle the relocation themselves, it’s best to work with a professional mover.
Plus, a professional moving company with experience in office relocations can provide you with extra services, like packing and unpacking, help with disassembling and reassembling furniture, and offer advice on how to minimize downtime during the move.
The secret is to find a professional moving company with corporate relocation experience, like 9Kilo. If you’re interested, find out what 9Kilo can do for you by reaching out and asking for a quote.
3. Label Everything Clearly
One of the reasons why relocating is so stressful for many offices in construction companies is that it’s easy to lose or misplace important files, documents, and equipment. This is especially true in the case of a construction company, where you constantly have to deal with blueprints, construction plans, and more.
So, create a bullet-proof labeling system and make sure the entire moving team is aware of it. For instance, it helps to label boxes with their contents and the room they belong in. This can save time during unpacking and help prevent items from getting lost or misplaced.
It also helps to create a tracking sheet, where you make a note of each label (or tag), the box it’s attached to, and the contents of the box. Also, add the person(s) in charge of handling each box and its intended location at the new office. This way, in case something goes missing, you know who to ask about it.
4. Notify Clients and Suppliers
Yes, you may have just completed a project, but you still want to make sure former and existing clients can reach out to you. The same is true for suppliers – you don’t want any shipments to be sent by mistake to your old location.
So, before you leave your old location for good, inform suppliers and clients of your move. Also, don’t forget to update your website, business cards, and other marketing materials to reflect your new location.
Wrap Up
Moving can be easy if you prepare for it. However, don’t expect that anything will go to plan – there’s always something that doesn’t want to fit your carefully designed system, so stay flexible and be prepared for the unexpected.
