Month: September 2020

Of all the types of businesses, small businesses tend to relocate more than others. Whether it is transitioning to a better building, a better part of town, or something else, every relocation can be challenging for a smaller company. Too much downtime, and you can face significant interruptions in incoming profits and problems with loss of clientele or customers. 

Check out five must-know tips for getting your operation from point A to point B with as little interruption as possible.

1. Plan, Plan, and Plan Some More

When it comes to moving your business to a new location as seamlessly as possible, your prior planning can mean everything. You should have detailed plans covering:

• A timeline of how and when everything will take place
• A moving budget with a breakdown of each cost involved
• A detailed writeup of what employees will be responsible for what tasks
• What loose ends must be tied up by the time you get to the new place
• A plan of when and how you will notify customers and clients

2. Find a Moving Company for Help

Sourcing a moving company early is good because you can lock in specific dates on a calendar and know precisely what you will spend. Plus, having professional movers to help means the transition will happen much faster. Speed means less downtime for your small business, which is ideal.

3. Create an Inventory Spreadsheet

Everything in your building should be treated as inventory because every asset is valuable. The more detailed you are about everything within your business that has to be moved, the easier it will be to plan and pack as time goes on. Therefore, the less likely it will be that you run into issues due to forgotten items that have to be handled. Your inventory should include:

• All equipment pieces used in your operation, such as printers, laptops, or machinery
• Furniture, such as shelves, tables, and desks
• Filing cabinets, documents, files, data CDs, etcetera

4. Consider Replacing What Is Logical

Replacing some things during a move can be logical. For one, you won’t have to move what is being replaced; it can be sold or donated. Two, what you are replacing can be up, running, and ready at the new place, so when you get there, at least that much is ready for business. If you have some equipment that can be replaced because it is nearing the end of its life span, it is now an excellent time to do it.

5. Know Your Moving Timeline and How It Will Affect Business

Your moving timeline, hopefully, created early on in the planning phase, is your roadmap for everything during the move. You will need to look at:

• How much of the business can continue to function during the move
• If there will be specific times when no operation will be possible
• How long it will take you to open for business once everything is in place at the new building
• What employees will be at the current location packing vs. who will need to be at the new location

In some cases, if you plan to remain open with as little downtime as possible, a gradual move makes more sense. However, it is common to have to be down or entirely closed for a few days.

Work with a Pro Moving Company for a Seamless Transition

Moving a business will always bring about unique challenges and more stress than a typical residential move. However, when you have a good team of professional movers to help you through, things can be easier to handle. Reach out to get a free quote from professional movers today.

It’s never easy to downsize when making a household move. You accumulate possessions throughout your life that matter to you in many ways. You don’t really want to part with any of them. Unfortunately, the nature of life is change. There may come a time when you need to make a move into a smaller home, and that requires you to say goodbye to many of your possessions.

Look for Opportunities to Gift Possessions

Now is the time to share precious memories with loved ones by gifting possessions that will matter to them. It allows you to pass along these items without a sense of guilt or pain because you know they are going to someone who will appreciate them as much as you do. The more things you gift to friends and family, the fewer things you have to pack to move! It’s a win on all counts.

Keep What’s Most Important to You

While there are many things you’ll need to get rid of to accommodate a smaller living space, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep the things that matter most to you. Just remember to prioritize when deciding what to keep so that everything isn’t something you feel you must keep. You will ultimately need to get rid of things, so choose wisely when deciding which items are most precious to you.

Be Realistic About You’re Available Space

Take measurements of your new home before the move. This way, you’ll have specific dimensions in front of you to work with while you plan the new space. Downsizing isn’t easy to do, especially if you have a lifetime of possessions you’ve worked hard to accumulate – many of which have sentimental value. However, knowing the workable space will make it easier to choose which items are essential and which ones you can live without.

Allow Yourself Moments of Grace

Sorting through a lifetime of possessions is hard. The more things you must eliminate, the more difficult it can be to do so. There’s a lot of pressure to eliminate these things that matter so much to you. Allow yourself a moment to grieve for the things you must sacrifice and remind yourself why you’re making the move and how much richer your life will be once you’ve made the move. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling these losses so profoundly. Extend the same grace you would offer others in similar circumstances.

Be Strict About Weeding Out Possessions

Once you’ve had your moments of grace, though, you must embrace the more ruthless side of your nature. You must be your strictest taskmaster when it comes to relieving yourself of possessions that your new home simply cannot accommodate. It won’t be easy — there’s no denying that. But it can also be healthy and almost cathartic.

Make it Profitable

Before you head off to donate your possessions to your favorite charity, look for ways to perhaps turn a little profit from them. Consider working with an estate sales team to determine items that may carry value from estate sales. Then have a garage sale to get rid of what’s left. You might have things you can sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace for added profit. Take the money and do a little something nice for yourself as a reward for all your hard work and sacrifice.

Moving to Your Next Chapter

Downsizing isn’t easy. But most people have few regrets down the road for giving up possessions and making the move to a smaller home. Just make sure, when the time for your moving day comes along that you have the right team to help you with the details and the heavy lifting.We can help with your move to a smaller home. Contact us for a free quote.