If you have an upcoming office move, keep in mind that moving office furniture is not a task for your employees. Even if a person knows how to safely lift and move heavy objects, attempting to move your office furniture could result in a strained muscle or back injury. Professional movers have the training and equipment needed to safely move heavy office furniture without injuring themselves or others, and without damaging the furniture, offices and entryways.
In addition to eliminating the risk of (and liability for) an injury to one of your employees, hiring a professional to move your office furniture helps protect your investment and ensures your furniture will look and function as well in the new location as it does in your current one. Office movers employ highly-trained technicians who can disassemble and reassemble modular furniture systems to manufacturer recommendations.
The professional movers also know the importance of careful planning in an office move. For instance, reconfiguration of cubicles and office furniture systems will likely be required, depending on the space and layout of your current and new office as well as the location of existing electrical, network and phone outlets. Discuss this with the mover you hire.
Make safety a priority and avoid the risk of added costs and lost production by hiring professional office furniture movers. Even when hiring professionals, you and your employees will still have lots to do in preparation of and after the move. The following tips will help with that:
A day or two before moving day, provide each employee with a carton to pack his or her desk or cubicle contents. Your employees should remove all contents from their desks and pack them in the moving cartons, carefully wrapping any fragile items. If possible, they can consolidate office belongings with those of other employees being relocated in the immediate area at the new location to conserve carton space. Place small items such as pens and paper clips in envelops and put the envelopes in the carton. Tell your employees to take any personal possessions with them rather than include them in the office move.
In most cases, upright file cabinets can be moved with contents intact, but someone should remove contents of lateral cabinets and pack in cartons designed for files. Unbolt any file cabinets that are gang bolted together. Files will be moved in an upright position and can be locked if unbolting is completed.
Remove and pack all contents from supply cabinets. Lock, tape, or tie cabinet doors closed.
Remove all books from bookcases and pack the books in a carton, standing on their ends.
Complete all packing before moving day. Only personnel directly involved with the move should be present on moving day.