While relocating your business or warehouse can be a gargantuan undertaking, it doesn’t have to be a stressful process. With the right planning and preparation, you can make your business’ big relocation easy and stress-free. Let’s examine what you need to know about warehouse relocation to help make the process go as smoothly as possible.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
The key to making your warehouse relocation successful is planning ahead. We strongly recommend business owners start planning their business relocation about 3 months in advance so there’s plenty of time to anticipate and research any potential issues or delays. From zoning laws, local traffic patterns, parking regulations, and more, there are quite a few moving parts to consider. Allotting extra time for yourself in advance to dig into the details will give you and your team the wiggle room needed to iron all these details out, which will save you costly fines and delays down the line.
In addition to researching potential issues associated with your new location, you should also consider how this move will affect your current employees and customers. Make sure that your employees are aware of the move in advance and provide clear instructions on how they should handle their tasks during the transition period. We also encourage business owners to inform customers and clients of the changes in advance so they can plan accordingly.
Organization is Key
Once you have developed a timeline for making the move, it’s time to get organized. Start by creating an inventory of all items that need moving so that you can determine which items require special care or attention during transport. Separate these items into categories such as fragile/sensitive materials, hazardous materials, large/bulky items, etc., and create an organized packing system for each item type. This will make it easier for movers to quickly identify what needs special attention or care when loading/unloading items from the truck(s). Additionally, if some items cannot be moved (e.g., large machinery), decide if these items need to be disposed of before moving day arrives or if they can remain at their current location until post-move cleanup has been completed.
Our Business Relocation Checklist is a great resource to use for this step.
Your Partner for Your Next Warehouse Relocation
Going forth with a warehouse relocation project may seem daunting at first glance but with proper preparation and organization, we’re confident the move will go smoothly for you and your team.
However, if you’re still cautious about tackling a warehouse relocation all on your own, rest assured that our experienced team here at Relocation Strategies would be happy to help. Contact us here and one of our representatives will reach out to you shortly.