There’s a lot that goes into moving a business. Just like with a residential move, you have to set up a realistic budget, determine where you want to relocate, and decide what to bring with you. But you also need to figure out how to get everything done without interfering with your work.
Keep in mind these helpful commercial moving tips as you embark on this stressful, but exciting, new chapter of your business, including:
- 1. Plan ahead. You would never go into a meeting with an important client unprepared, right? Whenever you're tasked with a major project, you need to come up with a sensible plan that takes you through the entire process from start to finish. When moving an office building, your plan should include your desired moving date because then you’ll know how early you should get pre-approved for a commercial mortgage loan. You may also want to consider preferred area(s) where you’re interested in moving and how much square-footage the office buildings have.
- 2. Go with a trusted mortgage lender. Similar to residential moving, commercial moving typically involves getting a mortgage loan—unless you’re planning on renting. Contacting a lender is one of the first things you should do. As soon as you officially decide to move your business, learn more about your financing options. This way, you’ll know what you can afford, which will help narrow down your choices of location and property type.
- 3. Communicate with your employees. The decision to move offices doesn’t just affect you—it affects your employees as well. Make sure you explain what your plans are for the company. Maybe your moving is a sign that the organization is growing, which means that you’re going to need everyone focused, all hands on deck, for this next phase. Also, letting them know ahead of time where the new office is and when the business is moving is a very good idea.
- 4. Clean out as you go. Whether you’ve been in your office building for one year or 10, it’s likely that your company has accumulated a lot of stuff. So, as you pack, consciously assess each item and determine if it needs to move with you, too. This will save you time later when you unpack, and it will also give you a fresh start in your new office.
- 5. Choose a reliable moving company. The last thing you want is to start unpacking after a stressful day of moving only to find out that some of your personal belongings weren’t handled with the right care. Unless you’ve gone through the commercial-moving process before, you may not know how to pick a moving company. Be sure to do some research online, read a ton of customer reviews, and talk to people you know for any advice.
Read more about commercial mortgage rates and Contour’s mortgage services.