Moving to a bigger office is a sure-fire sign that your business is moving up in the world, but it is not without its own challenges. It is important to do your research before you start launching into new offices, particularly if you are Specialist Company and you need certain equipment in order to function properly. Careful research is essential, otherwise you may end up worse off than you started because you overlooked a key detail.
When moving premises, take a look at these 5 simple steps to make sure you are fully prepared for your business expansion. If done at the right time and in the right place, your new office expansion could really help bring an expert boost to your business!
- Room for Expansion
Is there room for further expansion in the new building? It is important to look to the future if you are a constantly expanding business, and you don’t want to be moving offices every 6 months as the process can be long and tedious. By making sure that a new office has sufficient space for new employees (exact number depending on the size of your business) you can safely settle in the new office for a good period of time.
However you don’t want to be too ambitious, as too much space can look as cluttered as too little space. You want room for expansion but you don’t want to be shouting at employees from across an empty room. Try to go for a healthy balance.
- Check for Parking and Travel Arrangements
Some employees might not be able to catch a bus or a train to your new location, so you’ll need to check whether or not they will be able to use a carpool or drive themselves. Not everybody has access to a working car or even has a driver’s license, so you need to listen to the needs of your employees when considering an office expansion. A carpool normally solves any problems, so see if this is possible or look at alternative locations.
- Utilities and Furnishings
Does the new building have all the furnishings and utilities you need? You might choose to move to a fantastically spacious building that doesn’t have enough plug sockets available for your business and so the whole floor may need rewiring in order to suit your requirements. Checking the amount of plug sockets, local internet strength and the central heating facilities are essential. It may be summer now but if you move to an office with poor central heating, there are going to be some unhappy employees come the winter time.
- Moving Step 1 – Ensure all Physical Documents are Safe
When you have decided on a new location and you are starting to pack up, make sure that all your physical documentation is kept safe and together during the move. Nothing is more painstaking than having to sort out piles and piles of documents that have been misplaced or organised incorrectly. The truth of the matter may be that you haven’t sorted through those documents in months, so by organising them correctly you will be able to gain a good understanding of what needs to go with you to the new building and what can be left behind or destroyed.
- Moving Step 2 – Take only what you need
Sometimes old desks don’t quite make the trip and new desks need purchasing. Take only what you need during the office move and try not to be sentimental. There can be excessive paper documents or worthless paperweights that can be chucked and an office move is the perfect opportunity for getting rid of old hardware that the office has been collecting over a period of time. Be ruthless! New office, new look!
If you are unsure about moving premises, or the fee for renting a building seems too large in comparison to what you are paying now, you can always postpone it for now. Unless you are in desperate need of more space and you are crammed elbow to elbow, as most businesses are online nowadays, there can be potential for some employees to work from home while you arrange something more suitable. Try not to rush the process as a move is a big risk on the part of a business, particularly a small business. Take care and good luck in your expansion!
This article was supplied by Tabby James of www.gowers.co.uk, a chartered surveyor based in Peterborough and Stamford providing a wide range of survey and valuations.