Start out with an excited and positive introduction that explains why your company is moving and how it will benefit your team in the long run. Address all changes with optimism, but be honest about what is happening. If you are downsizing, it’s important to say so.

Next, lay out the plan! You should include:

• A general timeline with all milestone dates in bold or highlight,
• A targeted moving date,
• A list of responsibilities for your staff, and
• A meeting date to answer any and all questions your employees may have.

Your employees will appreciate having a letter that covers all the basic questions, as well as having a meeting scheduled for them to get answers on any other questions they have have.

Be sure to make this an official letter and make everything as specific as possible! It can be stressful to deal with gossip and employee fear, so be transparent during this time.

If you are looking for assistance during your office move, be sure to call the professionals at Washington Express Movers! We would be happy to do the heavy lifting for you and your team as you embark on this exciting new adventure.

The post Sending an Internal Office Relocation Letter first appeared on Washington Express Movers.

Hidden Costs

While this new office space looks totally perfect except for that one little thing, be careful. Some people choose to purchase a building that isn’t in great condition for a low price with the intention of fixing the place up. This may make sense financially, as you can spread out the renovations as you need. However, it’s important to note that updates can get a little overwhelming and expensive. Any obvious repair work is going to be noticeable upon walking in: the roof, the paint, the floor quality, etc. However, beware of what you cannot see. How is the electrical system holding up? How old are the pipes? Is the place up to code? Pay close attention to building codes and zoning restrictions. You could end up paying quite a bit of money to fix up a place that, in the end, may not be worth it. If you really fall in love with a place, consider hiring an engineer or contractor to make sure everything you want to do with the place is possible.

The Butterfly Effect

This new building looks like a great option for your office, but it’s about 30 minutes from your current location. Yikes! If you need to move far away from where you are right now, it’s important to consider the repercussions. Can your key employees come with? If not, are you willing to take the time to find replacements? Can business take that much of a hit? If not, you should probably wait out the search just a bit longer. Consider rearranging your current office structure if need be. If you absolutely must move to this new place, that’s fine—just be ready to plan for employee relocation and recruitment costs. Also, your employees will likely have some fear and stress rise up during this process. Be ready to address this with them, as for some, it will likely mean that they will look for employment elsewhere.

Adjusting Business Plans

If you are still finalizing your business plan, then it may not be time to purchase a new office space. Making an office move is expensive, and it can eat up a lot of time. If you will need to sell your business or break your lease for whatever reason, the resulting fees could be detrimental. What are your plans for your business in the next few years? Do you want to help your employees with training, purchase better technology, or invest in a new marketing program? If you need your new office to meet your goals, then you should absolutely move. If not, it may be time to consider putting those funds elsewhere.

Timeline Goals

If you are for sure going to move, then make sure to give your employees as much of a head’s up as you can! Some might have increased commute times while others will have to consider moving altogether if they want to stay at your business. We highly recommend offering time-off allowances for employees to find housing and relocate, if that is part of their plan. Also, try your best to make any moves after your busy time of year. Otherwise, you will find it much harder to meet your deadlines. With that said, if you can sacrifice just a few hours of productivity, then you can hire office movers to handle the lifting for you. That means minimal downtime!

Contact Washington Express Movers

If you are looking for a team to handle your office moving project, it’s time to call Washington Express Movers. We proudly serve the Washington, D.C. metro area. Our project managers work closely with you to develop the best strategy for your move. That means that you can decide when you move with confidence—the date, the time, the place, you name it. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to learn more! We look forward to helping your office pick up and set up a permanent residence someplace else. Encourage your company; feel stronger with Washington Express Movers.

The post Beware Before You Move! first appeared on Washington Express Movers.

You are in a Poor Location Right Now

Perhaps you opened your office in the most affordable spot as you were getting started—but now you’re having a hard time attracting the talent you need to thrive. Maybe your customer base is having a challenging time finding you. Whatever the reason may be, your location is not ideal. If you know that your business can do well somewhere else, then it’s time to consider a business move!

You are Losing Business

If your current location is losing clients and other business, it’s time to go! While your one-office rental room in a communal space may have worked well for the first three months, now you and your crew are running out of space to meet with clients. Just as a non-profit located in the ritziest location will probably receive some criticism, your company may receive similar eyebrow raises if you are not located somewhere that reflects your brand.

Your Facilities are Old

When your facilities are old, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they aren’t working properly, but pay attention. If your facilities are not reliable, then this can be annoying at best and dangerous at worst. Make sure your business’ building is up to code, and if there is any violation, fix the problem—or move someplace else that is safer to employees and visitors.

The Market has Changed

Nothing lasts forever! Perhaps you started your business in a new neighborhood, and now, time has made that investment worth much more than what you initially paid. Feel free to sell and turn a profit in order to expand your business even more! Other companies may have started their business in one place, yet increasing rent prices have made it financially irresponsible to renew the lease. Even if you want to stay, make sure to do what is best for your business, and consider moving somewhere the rent is more affordable.

Your Employees are Unhappy

It’s essential to keep your employees happy. You want to retain knowledgeable workers and encourage them to grow in their skills and their productivity. However, the bottom line is simple: If they are unhappy about their work environment, then something needs to change. Maybe it’s time for your employees to actually have some desk space instead of sharing all the desks. Perhaps they are tired of paying for parking. Whatever the reason, consider a move to improve your employees’ moods and attitudes.

Your Contract Means You Can’t Remodel

While a bunch of changes can usually improve a space and make it work better for your needs, some contracts don’t allow this. If your business really demands a larger kitchen, or perhaps an additional office space for a new employee, yet your landlord will not allow a remodel, it is time to take a look at new business locations.

You Don’t Fit

When we say you don’t fit, that doesn’t mean that there are too many of you—it could be that there are too few of you. If your office space doesn’t work, it’s time to move on. Overcrowded offices can hurt productivity levels, and too much empty space can cause just as many issues. This is especially the case if you have had to downsize and lower your number of employees. The empty space can damage morale. Consider moving somewhere you will have just enough room for growth, but not so much room that the place feels empty.

Your Infrastructure is Changing

If you are adding a new department to your company, that is going to demand a little more than just basic shuffling. Depending on the new team, you may need new equipment, a new floor plan, or even a whole new building. Opening a new location might mean moving staff, furniture, or equipment across the city.

Office Movers You Can Trust!

At Washington Express Movers, we want you to know that your move is going to be fully taken care of. We look forward to working with you and your team to set you up for success. Whether you are moving just down the block or to the other side of D.C., we have you covered. Reach out to us today to get started!

The post Top Reasons for an Office Move first appeared on Washington Express Movers.

The post Top Signs Your Business is Growing Successfully first appeared on Washington Express Movers.

Plan Ahead

Nothing can ruin a move quite like not being prepared for it. What day are you moving? Will the office be conducting business as usual that day, or will you be dismissing your employees early? Knowing these things ahead of time will help you keep things running with as little downtime as possible. Many business relocations are planned anywhere from six months to a year in advance, and larger moves can take ever longer to plan. Keep that in mind as you prepare.

Hire Professional Office Movers

As easy as you might think it is to just get a truck and move everything from point A to point B on a budget, this is a terrible mistake. Items may get lost or broken, and you might even have an issue with an employee getting injured in the process. When you hire professional office movers, such as Washington Express Movers, you can be sure that we have the experience, resources, and manpower needed to move everything quickly and efficiently. Also, we have insurance. If something goes wrong, you won’t be the one footing the fill.

Check Your New Building’s Requirements

Some properties can be a bit more stringent than others when it comes to hours of operation, parking lot requirements, and elevator reservations. Check with your new building manager before your move to ensure that everything is in place. You don’t want to have everything packed up and arriving at the new building only to find that the building is locked outside of normal operating hours.

Update Your Printed Material

If your business cards, letterhead, envelopes, and other distributed materials have your old address, make sure to update these! The last thing you want is for a client to send something of importance to the wrong location. Even if you do forward your mail, this can increase the amount of time it takes for it to arrive at your new location. Having these items printed ahead of time sets you up to distribute these items to your employees after the move with no in-between time to worry about.

Take Inventory

Make sure that all your items are accounted for. If you have a larger company, put your supervisors in charge of their own department’s inventory. That way, you can stay focused on the office move as a whole instead of worrying about smaller items that could go missing along the way.

Be Properly Staffed

It’s a good idea to have two managers there during the move. You can keep one at the old office to oversee things being packed up, while you can put another manager at the new location to guide the office movers as they drop off the items. However, don’t have too many managers on hand – otherwise, they might get in the way of our office movers and slow them down!

Keep Your Electronic Needs in Mind

If you are a largely electronically based company – many companies are, these days – then make sure that these items get moved quickly. You will want to ensure that all data cabling has been installed and tested before the IT team gets there to set up your network and equipment. Keep an IT professional in the new location to assist anyone who needs help setting up their new workspace and electronic devices.

Contact Our Team of Office Movers

If your office is ready to make the transition from one space to another, then it’s time to contact the professionals at Washington Express Movers. We are proud to serve businesses like yours in the Washington D.C. area, and we would be happy to help you in any way we can. Contact us today to get started and tell us about your moving project!

The post Tips to Make Your Office Move Smooth first appeared on Washington Express Movers.