Month: November 2015

Here’s What to Know When You’re Looking for a New Office Space

Posted on November 24, 2015 by - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

It’s time. You’ve outgrown your current office space and are in the market for a new one. There’s a lot to do and a lot to plan for, but don’t worry, as your commercial move experts; we’re here to give you some guidance to help you along the way.

High rise buildingTouring new office spaces can be time consuming, so it’s best to prepare in advance, map out where you want to visit and get all of your questions in order. After all, this is a big step for your business and you need to make sure all of your bases are covered.

First things first: research. Look online, drive around or talk to a commercial real estate agent to help you find your new business’ home. You need to think about several things while you research. How much space do you need? How much do you want to spend? And, where do you want your new location to be? Ask these questions, and more so that you can be sure you’re making the correct decision for your business’ move.

After you figure out your requirements for your new office building, you’ll need to go on tours of the potential spaces.  Before the tours, make a list of must-haves and keep track of them as you tour each building, that way you can easily weigh your options when your day is complete. While on the tours, whether you’re with the current owner of the building, the landlord or a commercial real estate agent, it’s important to have questions ready.

It’s also important to keep in mind the price of the building that you were originally told. While on your tour of the building, take note of anything that might need constant maintenance and ask about the maintenance charge you’ll incur each month. You don’t want to end up paying more than you originally intended.

You also need to have an open mind as you tour. You don’t want to completely shut out a building just because it doesn’t have exactly what you’re looking for.  Remember, not everything is permanent. Paint and décor can be changed, and if you’re up to it and the cost is right, you might even be able to knock out some walls to make it the perfect space. The options are endless; so don’t immediately rule anything out. Explore your options because you never know how perfect the space might turn out to be for your business.

Moving is an exciting time for your business, but it can also be a little stressful. Our best advice is for you to plan ahead, do your research and keep an open mind.

 

How to Create an Office Moving Plan

Posted on November 17, 2015 by - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

In office relocations, there are a lot of moving parts, literally. How do you keep track of them? The truth is, it’s tough and you’re going to need all hands on deck, but with these few small suggestions, moving can be a little easier.

A ruler sitting on a blue printTo ensure a safe, smooth and overall excellent move, you’ll need to have a plan of action. This plan should help you map out your goals for the move, help you prioritize what needs to get done and also help you delegate tasks to your employees. Having an action plan will also help you critically think about your move and problem solve ahead of time.

To begin your moving plan, look at what your big goal for the relocation is. What’s your budget and timeline? And although you don’t want to think about this, you need to ask yourself what problems could potentially occur. That way, you’ll be better prepared if and when problems arise. Figure these things out so you have them in writing and can stick to them, and not forget what you originally intended.

Once you have your big goals planned out, it’s time to get down to smaller more detail-oriented goals. These are small tasks that need to get done at any point during the move. It could be cleaning out the break room fridge or creating an email to blast out to customers notifying them about your move. Whatever the tasks may be, and no matter how small, write them down so you can make sure even the tiniest details are covered.

A man presenting in an officeThe next part of your move plan should be to assign tasks to various employees. Whether you break the tasks up for teams of employees, or individuals, make sure to delegate all tasks with a timeframe in which they are to be done. If you give more than one task to a group of employees, make sure to tell them the order of importance the tasks should be completed, that way your move can be streamlined and everything gets done on time.

This move action plan will take some time and thought, but at the end of the day, and at the end of your move, you’ll be happy you did it. It forces you to think about every last detail and every potential problem, that way nothing that comes your way will surprise you.

You’re Moving. Here’s How to Break the News to Your Customers:

Posted on November 10, 2015 by - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

Your business has the best regulars. They come in at the same time every week and you get to small talk with them. You feel like they’re a part of your business’ family, and well, they are. Loyal customers like that are hard to come by, and once you have them, you don’t want to let them go. That’s why you’re nervous about telling your customers about your business’ move coming up in a few months. You’re worried they won’t want to make the drive out to your new location. We have some tips on how to deal with this situation, so you won’t have to worry about losing your regulars.

A woman typing on a laptopFirst, tell your customers. Don’t avoid it. It’s better to get it out in the open as soon as you can. Who knows, they might love that you’re moving somewhere new because a new space could mean more perks for them. New services, new technologies, new menu, and a whole new space could be just as exciting for your regulars as it is for you. Moving means you’re growing, and that should make your loyal customers, especially those close to you, happy for you.

It’s also important to keep them in the loop of your move. Keep them updated throughout your moving process. If the office will have different hours one day because your touring your new building, tell them, don’t let them show up and figure that out for themselves. Create a weekly or monthly email blast to go out to a list of your customers. Let them know the schedule of moving events and give them your contact information in case they need to get in touch with you when you’re not in your office.

These customers aren’t just any customers. They’re part of your business’ family, and some of them may have been with you since the very beginning. Thank them for that by sending a hand-written thank you note with a coupon for their next purchase at your brand new location. Not only will they appreciate the kind gesture, you’ll be sure your loyal customers will be in line to come see you at your business’ new home.

Breaking the news about your move should be one of the last things on your mind that you’re worried about. Follow these simple tips so you can ease your mind, and get back to planning your office relocation.

Designing an Office Lobby Your Customers Will Love

Posted on November 3, 2015 by - Facility Installation, Office Furniture

As soon as a new client walks through your business’ door, the evaluation of your company begins. Wandering eyes will carefully examine the lobby looking for clues as to what you and your business might be like. This room is where your company gets its first impression, so you want it to be a good one. Here are some tips on how to make a positive lasting impression on everyone that walks through your business’ front door.

Office lobby with check-in deskBefore you design your perfect office lobby, you need to think about a few things. Will there be a lot of people in your waiting area? Will there be a check-in desk? And, how much space do you have to work with? These questions are important so you know how to effectively design your space.

After you figure out the answers to those questions, you’ll know what kind of furniture to work with so that you can adequately accommodate your guests. Make sure to plan for enough seating for the maximum amount of people that you think will be waiting at a given time. You don’t want any of your guests uncomfortably standing.

If you have a check-in desk, it’s important to make sure this desk is not too high. If it is, it can cause guests to feel intimidated. So, just be sure when planning your check-in area, that the desk is a suitable height for your guests.

Now it’s time to talk décor. Bottom line, you want the décor in your lobby to be aesthetically pleasing to your guests. This starts with having a lot of natural light streaming through the room because it makes the room appear bigger and brighter. Also, you should not paint your lobby a “loud” color like neon green, hot pink or bright purple. Having an accent wall is one thing, but painting the entire room a loud color is not recommended.

To add some sophistication to your décor, add some art, your company’s logo and some of your business’ prestigious awards to a few walls or shelves. Spice up your company’s logo by adding spot lighting to shine on it. Not only will this be an impressive touch, but it will also reinforce your brand, and what company doesn’t want that? As for art on the walls, frame a piece or two to add a little something about your company’s personality. It could be a framed quote, or a nice picture that preaches determination and the will to never give up. Whatever it might be, make sure it will convey something your brand does or believes in.

For some small impressive accents, we suggest putting some of your branded promotional materials out for visitors to take. Whether it’s a bowl of branded candies, pens, or business cards, these materials will add some pizzazz and a professional feel. Another added bonus to having these promotional materials out for grabs is that your company is more likely to stay at the forefront of your clients’ minds even after they leave. Next time they go to write their “to-do list,” they may just grab that pen they got from you to write it.

Magazines stacked on tableNobody likes to wait, so it’s important to keep your guests happy while they’re waiting. Have some industry-related reading materials out on the table to help clients pass the time. We also suggest having a TV in the waiting room with a news station on. Not only will this keep your visitors occupied, but it will also show to them that you’re staying current with today’s news and trends. For your guests’ enjoyment, we also suggest having a coffee, tea and water station in the lobby area in case guests need some refreshments.

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and in most cases, this impression begins in the lobby. By putting a little extra effort into the design of your lobby, you can be sure that your guests will wait happy and have a positive lasting impression about you and your company.