Dustin Staiger
When Scott Langdon was moving his company from one location to another, he learned a lot of lessons about office moving. Unfortunately, the owner and managing partner of HigherVisibility had to learn these lessons the hard way.
Even an organized and efficient systems-obsessed executive can overlook several not-so-obvious best practices. In his contributing story to Entrepreneur magazine, Langdon laid out several mistakes to avoid when first entering the world of office moving.
Avoid Office Moving Experts that Aren’t Experts
The decision to outsource your office moving process is a good one. However, it should be said that the money you spend on office moving experts should actually be spent on experts. Rather than hiring the wrong “experts” by looking to save on moving costs, make sure you partner with an office relocation company that has a proven track record.
Make sure you find the right relocation partners or you may end up with more of a hassle than if you hadn’t hired anyone at all
“Many people will search online for local moving companies, take a look at the website, talk with someone on the phone and set up a moving date,” said Langdon, but “this won’t let you know whether or not a moving company is actually reputable.” It’s unlikely that you’ll have plenty of free time available, but making sure you find the right relocation partners may end up saving you time (not to mention, hassle) in the long run!
Don’t Lump Heavy Items Together
It may seem instinctual to simply put all your files and paperwork together in the same box, or perhaps you grab all the books from your office bookshelf and place them in the same package for moving. According to Langdon’s experience moving his marketing company, this may actually make your office move more difficult.
Even if you’ve hired office movers who are prepared for heavy lifting, balancing out your items according to weight as best you can will save time and decrease the likelihood of an injury to your movers or employees.
Your Website is Moving Too
This last office moving mistake to avoid is perhaps the least obvious. You most likely know the importance of prioritizing the IT department and their equipment as your company must be up and running online if it’s going to be up and running at all. But moving your equipment and setting up Internet in your new office location isn’t enough.
For the sake of your online presence remaining consistent, address your SEO before you move
“Something I wish I’d known before I moved,” Langdon says, is that “local SEO [Search Engine Optimization] success requires that your business maintains a consistent presence across the web, which means having multiple listed addresses and phone numbers will hurt you on search.” Don’t neglect moving your IT department’s equipment and setting it back up in your new location, but also ensure your website consistently represents your company’s updated address, phone number, etc.
In the case with HigherVisibility, Langdon and his team waited until after their move to execute this step. This, according to Langdon, is something you should actually do first. “Make these changes before you move so that when you get to your new location, you’re ready to go.”
Key Takeaways
- Don’t hire a moving company that lacks an established, impressive track record.
- Don’t pack inefficiently by lumping too many heavy things (such as books/paper into the same box).
- Don’t forget to adjust your online presence, your SEO will thank you.