Moving to a New Office? Keep These Six Considerations in Mind

Moving your business into a new workspace is an exciting, if complicated, process. This is why we felt it would be useful if we discussed a few of the many factors that you need to plan for next time you consider shifting to a different office space. If you are currently in the process of finding and transferring to a new location, here are six steps that you should follow.

Prepare Proactively

Just as with any move, strategizing the day that you are supposed to shift to your new location isn’t an option. You need to take everything into account ahead of time, and adapt your plan as new information becomes available and circumstances change. You should also keep in mind that the moving process is going to be a lengthy one, and that it will require investments of both time and capital. Therefore, you need to prepare yourself and your organization for all of these considerations ahead of time.

Deciding On A Space

Of course, if you plan to move, you need someplace to move to. This means that you have to make quite a few decisions concerning where your new space should be and how it will be financed. You have the option to rent out space in a business park or purchase a new building for yourself. You could also lease space, if you don’t want to purchase property but plan to stay in the same area for some time. Your budget and your business plan will dictate which option is the best for you.

Understanding Any Rules

If you do elect to rent or lease space, you also need to know what your host building requires of its tenants as they move in. You may only be allowed to move in after normal business hours, or need to request access to a service elevator. Understanding these rules will allow you to better plan for your move.

Determining The Floor Plan

Once you have decided upon a space, you will have to decide how your employees and their resources will be distributed in your new office. How will your workspace be laid out? Will you use an open plan that encourages collaboration, a closed plan that provides increased privacy, or a modular plan that serves as a hybrid of the two? Do you need private conference rooms and other meeting areas? What about a break room, a server room? Your particular industry could easily impact these needs and your priorities as well.

Determining Your ISP

Nowadays, Internet service is essential for a business’ operations, so you need to make sure that you sign up for a service plan that fits your needs--both current, and projected. Investigate your available providers and compare what they have to offer to get your business the best deal.

Planning Your IT and Office Communication Systems

As soon as you have established when your move is to take place, you need to begin preparing your organization’s IT for your move. In doing so, you should keep a comprehensive inventory of your hardware and software, and what the plan for each component is to be. This will cover all workstations, storage solutions, and communication tools, like VoIP solutions.

Moving into a new space is a big process, so why not let someone else take care of a few parts of it? Walsh IT Group can help you with your move where your technology is concerned. To learn more about our many IT services, give us a call at (832) 295-1445.