Moving your office is an important change for you and your employees. The reason for the relocation can be to expand your business and relocate to a good location, and also for an extra need. When it comes to moving your office, one thing that comes to mind is how long it takes for an office move. If the same question comes to your mind, then do not worry about it. In this guide, we have covered all the important aspects that can impact the time of moving office.
At Ausafe Removals, we have helped numerous businesses move safely and quickly. In this blog, we will outline a guide on how long it could take to move an office, what contributes to the timing, and how you can make an office relocation easier and faster.
What Influences How Long an Office Move Takes
1. Office Size and Number of Employees
The large office and employees need more time to shift to another location. For example, a small office can pack its things easily and it can move to another location in one day. But the large office needs a couple of days to shift to a new location.
2. Furniture and Equipment
An office has large furniture items, technology, and documents that need to be moved with special care. Basic office furniture, computer monitors, printers, and filing cabinets should be packed carefully; the fragile computers need additional care throughout the moving process. This aspect of packing can take some extra time to do with care.
3. Distance Between Locations
If you are moving from one building to another building then it will take less time to shift your things. But if you are moving to another city, you need some time to shift properly. This type of shift may take extra travel time and can take a full day or more.
4. Proactive for the Move
Being proactive can be helpful. If you have packaged everything well, labeled the boxes, and separated files, the movers can move quickly through the packing stage. Inadequate prep work can add time.
5. Building Access and Restrictions
Many commercial buildings have a small parking space, which makes it difficult for a truck to enter the parking area. If they are also sharing an elevator or loading dock with other tenants. If there is a similar situation for them, the movers have to wait, and it can slow things down and stretch out the timeframe.
6. Weather and Timing
Bad weather or heavy rain, and heatwaves can also impact how long a move takes to complete. And moving at peak hours in the highest traffic, or in the middle of the work week, can also detract from the timeframe due to accessing buildings or traffic.
What Are the Phases of Office Relocation and Timeframes?
1. Pre-Relocation Planning and Organizing (2-4 Weeks Before Relocation)
Before the actual relocation, it is necessary to plan for the work. You should:
- Determine the date of the relocation
- Notify employees and clients
- Engage a moving company
- Create a checklist for the relocation
- Plan the footprint of your final place of business
2. Packing (1-5 Days)
Packing could take anywhere from a single day to an entire week, depending on your office. Packing consists of packing office furniture, documents, electronics, and personal items.
To save time, you might also consider Ausafe Removals’ professional packing service, where we will take care of everything for you with quality packing materials to protect your things.
3. Loading the Truck (2-6 Hours)
The packing process has now concluded, and your movers will start loading the truck. A small office takes only 2-3 hours, and on the other hand, a large office needs a full day or more to pack the things. The movers take their time to make sure nothing is damaged during this stage.
4. Transport to the New Destination (1-6 Hours)
The amount of time taken will vary depending on how far away the new office is. Local office moves will generally be quicker, while moving longer distances may take several hours, or one whole day if moving to another state.
5. Unpacking and Setting Up (3-8 Hours)
The movers have to upload everything and place the things according to each department after you have arrived at the new office. If everything has been labeled clearly, this will go quickly. Furniture assembly, as well as getting computers set up, may require additional time – depending on how the office is designed.
Tips to Make Your Office Move Quicker and Simpler
We have mentioned some easy tips to help you to move your things easily and smoothly. If you follow these tips you can save your time during the office move.
1. Begin the Planning Process Early
You have to start planning your things a few weeks ago. This makes the moving process easy and simple. Start by determining what you want to move and what can be donated or thrown away.
2. Clean Your Office Before You Pack Up Your Office
Get rid of old papers, broken equipment, and furniture that you’re not using. This will help you have fewer things to move, therefore saving you time and money.
3. Copy Data
You have to take a backup of all your office data. This can reduce the risk of damaging your business information and protect against accidental damage.
4. Hire a Moving Company That Knows Its Stuff
Hire a trustworthy and experienced moving company such as Ausafe Removals. Our team takes care of your office items, reduces downtime, and completes the move on time.
Final Thoughts
So, how long does an office move really take? The simple answer is it depends. A small office can move in one day, but larger companies may take a couple of days to finish it all.
A smooth and efficient move is all about the preparation and hiring a professional team that knows what they’re doing. At Ausafe Removals, we have a team that will take care of every single detail and you can focus on running your business.
FAQS
1. How should I plan my office move?
You should start planning your office more before 4-6 weeks before your moving day. . You need this amount of time to ensure that you plan your move properly.
2. Do you move IT and electronic equipment?
Yes! Our team can handle almost any type of office electronics, from computers to printers, and even servers while considering electronic device safety.
3. Can you move my office after hours?
Definitely! We can work with your schedule to arrange a move that minimizes interruption to your business, including after hours and weekends.
4. Do you help with assembly?
Yes! Our team can disassemble and reassemble office furniture, desks, and workstations at the new office.
