9 Things to Look Out For When Relocating Your Office

There are various reasons why a business might want to relocate. The size of a company impacts the relocation move. At times an organization expands, and at other times, it shrinks. In such scenarios, businesses choose to relocate because they might need larger or smaller premises depending on their requirement. They might also relocate to other locations to attract customers from different markets or because their previous leases or contracts have ended.

Relocation can be difficult and daunting, but proper planning, preparation, communication, and experienced help are key to success. This article highlights several things you need to consider before you relocate.

Look out for these nine things when relocating to make the process more convenient and efficient.

1. Safety

When moving into a new space, the first thing is to see if the office building provides a secure environment that guarantees the safety of your employees and your company’s assets. Ask the landlord about all the safety measures installed in the building, such as biometric entry, the presence of guards in and around the building, and a metal detector at the entrance.

These factors are important in assessing how much security this new location offers. Apart from this, you need to ensure that the surrounding environment of the office is also safe. Therefore, look for areas with low crime rates.

2. Commercial Cleaning

It is equally important to ensure that the building is clean, the floors have been polished, the carpets have been shampooed, the walls have been scrubbed, and the bathrooms and kitchens have been sanitized before the big move. Ensure that your office’s hygiene standards are exemplary to save your employees from any work-related health problems or injuries.

In cities such as Seattle, workers have complained about a rise in asthma and other respiratory diseases due to poor indoor air quality. These issues can be prevented by regular maintenance, cleaning, and filtration of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. If you want an effective solution to this, the commercial cleaning services Seattle Washington offers are reliable and come with specialists who offer deep cleaning, sanitation, disinfection, drain treatment, and other services safeguarding the health of employees and customers alike.

3. Accessibility

Look for locations that can help make your commute to the office short and quick. The location should be easily accessible for your employees and clients, so look for offices close to bus stops or subway stations and accessible by local transport routes.

You need ample parking space to accommodate the comings and goings of various employees, guests, and clients. The most suitable place for an office is the city’s central area.

4. Amenities for staff

Think about the amenities that are being offered to your staff within the new office and outside it. For example, in some offices, employees use a chat room during their breaks where they can sit back, relax, socialize, and have coffee.

When it comes to amenities outside of the office, you have to ensure that your staff maintains a healthy balance between work and life, so ensure that the office is close to essential service providers like medical stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and grocery stores.

5. Infrastructure

Make sure that the new office space is equipped with the infrastructure for smooth business operations. Your employees need to work with software that may require particular hardware and fast internet access.

Check for the building’s cabling, electricity set up, and backup systems. To check that internet options are fast, you can use various apps to run speed tests.

6. Budget and underlying costs

One of the essential things to do before relocating is to define a budget for yourself. This will help you stay within budget and avoid overspending while looking for potential locations. Also, identify the costs of moving to the new office, such as remodeling, utilities, furnishing, and furniture.

If you do not consider such costs, you could end up overspending. Additional things to keep in mind are:

• Rent
• Security
• Storage fee
• Insurance
• Utilities
• Service charges
• Interior design cost
• Connectivity and communications fee

7. Considering space

This factor plays an essential role in relocating, as the business needs to consider the exact amount of space they need depending upon the size of their workforce. It would be best if you had a clear picture in your mind about the same space that you are looking for.

Does your business need a complete building, multiple floors of a building, or a single floor? How many square feet of covered area are you looking for? How many rooms do you want? All these questions must be addressed before you start your search for an office, let alone move to one.

8. Considering the competition

If you’re a start-up owner, consider looking for places with less competitor presence. This means that when finalizing a specific location, ensure that you find a place where your competitors are not situated.

Renting an office right next to a company that sells a similar product as yours will increase the level of competition and make it more difficult for you to market your products and services. Thus, the best strategy would be to find a place where you do not have a lot of competition.

9. Contingency planning for lease

When finalizing the lease of an office, include a contingency plan in the lease so you are covered in case anything goes wrong. No one likes to relocate very often, but you should be able to switch offices in case of an unforeseen event.

A contingency plan will allow you to move to a different place in case of any natural disaster or structural deficiency without having to bear additional costs.

Final Thoughts

Relocating a whole office is a strenuous task, no doubt. However, the last thing a business wants is to encounter major setbacks during the move. Therefore, it is crucial to plan as much as possible and follow the steps highlighted above for the relocation to be smooth.

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