Moving an office is markedly different from household moving and requires a modified strategic approach as a result. Understanding how the process works, what steps can be taken to make it more efficient and how to prevent losses from occurring is essential to office moving, when a great deal of financial investments are typically involved.
To prepare an office for a move, all desk drawers and cabinets should first be emptied and packed into well-labeled boxes. The only contents that typically remain inside drawers are the files within file cabinets; most file cabinets can be safely moved while full without risking damage to the contents. In the event that the filing cabinets are to be moved up or down flights of stairs, however, it may be advisable to pack these files into boxes to facilitate a smoother move. Finally, all loose items within the office, including pictures, personal items and small decorations should also be packed into boxes.
Dismantling office furniture is typically required in office moves, especially regarding corner desks, conference tables and cubicle walls. In the event that the cubicle walls are to be moved with the office, extra time should be taken in advance of the move to disassemble the wall sections, making sure to store the hardware in a single box or group of boxes for later use; hardware for desks and tables can be taped inside their drawers or cabinets for easy reassembly. Because the cubicle walls will likely need to be in place before the furniture can be positioned in the new office, a completely separate day may be needed to facilitate this portion of the move, beginning with a written diagram for assemblers to follow and finishing with a measurement check to ensure all cubicles are in their proper locations.
When the work area is prepared, furniture items, such as desks, hutches and cabinets can be covered with furniture pads and moved into a moving van or trailer. This process typically requires the use of four-wheel dollies, which can be rented en masse prior to the move. Each section of large furniture within the office should have at least two four-wheel dollies (one for each end of the item) so when the item is lifted onto the dollies, it can remain there until the end of the move. The furniture should be positioned in the moving truck or trailer so solid furniture items are secured into tight rows, using boxes and load straps to keep them stationary and stacking additional boxes or loose items on top of them. Because these items will bump, vibrate and slide into each other during transit, be sure every item placed into the loading area is completely covered in furniture pads, using tape or moving-style rubber bands to hold them in place, and use load straps on every row of furniture to ensure minimal shifting. During the unloading process, multiple diagrams should be placed throughout the area to ensure each item is delivered to its proper location.
