For years, a number of people across the world have worked from home. Naturally, this style of work usually depends on the type of job, but now, because of the COVID-19 situation, many companies have had to change the way they do business. Have you also switched from going to the office to doing your job at home? If, on top of that, you’re planning to move soon, you will need some tips to do it right.
The Challenges of Moving a Home Office
Putting together a decent workstation and moving it as soon as possible is no easy feat. Reliable devices and consistent internet access are essential so you can function wherever you are. Depending on the nature of your job, you might not have the luxury of taking your sweet time with packing and moving – you’ll have to maintain open channels to contact customers and coworkers.
Ensuring that the communication infrastructure continues to function to the fullest degree possible throughout the move is the most critical aspect of the preparation process. Here is some helpful advice on how to tackle these challenges while minimizing productivity loss.
Start Planning Now
If you’re a home-office owner, you’ve built skills to make money without leaving the house, so you certainly have good organizational skills, as well. Furthermore, you probably know that planning is the essential step in doing, well, anything. It will be much easier to bring your things in and put them precisely where they need to be once you have a viable plan and schedule, instead of sorting everything after you have unloaded your equipment and other belongings. Create a moving to-do checklist, which will help you stay focused and do tasks on time.
Hire Professionals to Help You
Getting a reliable professional mover in Seattle to help you with your move is definitely an option you should consider, but keep in mind that you have to contact them on time. Getting the best possible relocation date is likely crucial for you. If you call your chosen movers ahead of time, you’ll have a higher chance of being able to book a day that fits your schedule.
Declutter and Protect Your Data
Before you pack up all of your paperwork, take the opportunity to go through it. There are certainly some documents that you no longer need, so there is no reason to take them with you. Of course, in that case, take the time to recycle them or shred them if they contain sensitive information.
No matter how many precautionary steps you take, there is no way to know what may happen to your documents and electronics during the moving process. You may end up losing valuable information to damaged computers or hard drives. The hardware of a computer is very delicate. If you accidentally drop it, or if it gets exposed to high temperatures, you could permanently destroy your computer and delete all the data you’ve saved. Backup all your data to a cloud service before the move to ensure that you have access to all your valuable information.
Pack Devices and Wires and Label Them Correctly
Disconnecting electrical devices is probably the most annoying part of the packing process. Before unplugging them, take a photo of the wires behind the computer tower. This will make your life easier when the time comes to reconnect everything. After that, dust and clean it, so it is ready for the move. Wrap all the wires and pack them in plastic ziplock bags. Don’t forget to put labels on them so you know which device they correspond to. The box containing the device itself should also be labeled and marked as fragile on at least three sides of the box.
Reschedule Meetings With Clients and Plan Your New Office Space
Give yourself some time to unpack – at least a couple of days. When the unpacking day comes, nobody wants to run around the house to find a proper place to hold a meeting. When setting your relocation date, write it down and postpone any meetings with clients you have scheduled during that period.
Now that you have some time on your hands, start planning your new space. This is an essential step to take as this is where you’ll spend a good part of your every weekday. Think of a reasonable office space layout and whether you want to update old designs or do everything from scratch. If you do not need to change anything and want to carry your old furniture with you, make sure to measure everything. Check out the exact dimensions of your new home office space to see if your stuff fits in there.
If You Follow These Easy Steps, You Will Relocate in No Time
It’s not that exhausting to move your home office if you start on time. If you use these office moving tips – from process preparation, interaction with clients and workers, to data backup – you will be able to relocate seamlessly to your new workplace and home, as well. Of course, if DIY is not your thing, the ultimate tip is to hire professional movers and enjoy your free time doing something else.
About the author: Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced freelance writer. He’s a regular contributor to numerous online publications, where he writes about business, finance, technology, and management.
