Moving your home is one thing. However, relocating your home and your home-based business is another matter entirely.
You’ve got to keep them separate and easy to unpack. These five tips can help simplify it.
1. Make an Inventory
Making an inventory of your business belongings is a great way to start. But, first, you need to know what you have to determine where it will go.
Begin with oversized items, like furniture and equipment. Then, don’t forget things like fixtures, shelves, and racks.
How deep you dive into inventory depends on your time and necessity. For example, you might not need to count every small piece, especially when it can all fit into one small box.
2. Create a Packing Schedule
Packing for your business isn’t quite like packing for your home. You might need access to most of your stuff until a few days before the move.
To make it easier, use your inventory to determine a packing schedule that works for your business. Then, figure out what you can manage without for a few weeks, and put those items at the top of the list.
If you have regular shipments of supplies or materials, factor them into your schedule. The last thing you want is to have a bunch of stuff arriving at the end with no boxes.
3. Label Business Items Clearly
Labeling moving boxes is one of the most important things you can do. For your business, clarity is critical. You have to know what is in which moving carton, and you may not have a lot of time to search.
Label the boxes so that movers can quickly determine what’s in it and where it needs to go. Use color coding and dark, permanent markers.
Avoid oversimplifying or getting sloppy as you pack. No one wants to spend an afternoon sorting through 20 boxes that are all labeled “Inventory.” It may help to include a manifest that you can copy and tape to the top of the box.
4. Make a Business Essentials Box
Every move needs an essentials box. This box includes everything you will need for your last day at your old location and your first day or two at the new one.
A business essentials box is usually reasonably different from the essentials you need for your home. You’ll probably want to put in your computer, spare hardware backups, and anything else you need to interact with clients.
If your business relies on shipping inventory, try to get ahead on orders before moving. That way, you’re not digging through the boxes for the items you need.
5. Stage Business Boxes
As you start to accumulate boxes for your business, you’ll need a place to put them. It’s tempting to stage them in another room of your home, but they need their own space. Otherwise, you risk mixing them.
Dedicate one wall in your office for boxes if you have the room. Otherwise, you might consider renting a storage unit or asking your movers about temporary storage. Finding a different place for the boxes makes it easier to continue packing at home.
Moving your home-based business doesn’t have to be as tricky as it sounds. To schedule your move, contact us for a quote.
