You can plan a perfect move but there’s nothing you can do to completely avoid an office move during bad weather.
On second thought, we take that back. If you aren’t making plans ahead of time to handle an office move during bad weather, your office move plan is far from perfect. So while you can’t say for certain all of your employees will emerge from office move entirely dry, you can at least make sure your belongings are intact and ready for your new facility.
It’s not difficult to prepare for an office move during bad weather, either. Here are a few easy tips to help your team tackle any move, regardless of whether the forecast calls for snow, sleet or rain.
1. Arrange All of Your Rain and Snow Gear Ahead of Time
If the forecast on the day of your company’s office move looks gloomy, just follow the same practices you would before a day at the park: Lay everything out in advance.
From plastic boxes to hold your company belongings to ponchos for your employees, make sure everything is laid out and counted at least a week in advance of the move. For personal items, in particular, it is important to make sure there is at least one per employee along with plenty of extras.
Be sure to have the following items on hand and accounted for in advance of your move:
- Umbrellas
- Ponchos
- Plastic Bags and Boxes
- Plastic Gloves
- Tarps
- Towels
2. Pack Purposefully
The potential for damaged belongings is arguably the most headache-inducing aspect of an office move. It can often feel as though there’s nothing in your power to prevent all breakage.
Unfortunately, it gets worse. Rain and snow can damage a number of your office belongings. Furniture and electronics are usually the two most affected by inclimate weather conditions. Wet fabric can quickly develop mold, making it unusable for any company. And everyone is well aware of the damage water can cause to computers and other electronic devices.
Avoiding damage to your electronics brought on by the weather starts with tightly packing your devices in waterproof containers. That means cardboard boxes should not be used if rain is in the forecast for the area surrounding your office. Pack your laptops and other devices in plastic boxes and then seal them tightly with waterproof tape. Then, once you arrive at the new facility, carefully remove the tap to prevent water from seeping into the box.
For your furniture, it’s a good idea to tightly wrap each chair, sofa and loveseat in plastic wrap. Be sure to use multiple layers and, similarly to your electronics, seal the edges with tape. After arriving at your new office, allow the plastic to dry rather than removing it and potentially exposing it to rainwater.
Before deciding on a moving vendor, check to see if they can handle wrapping your furniture and packing your electronics in waterproof casing. If they expect you to do it on your own, you might want to consider evaluating other office moving companies.
3. Get the New Facility Ready Before Moving Day
It’s important to make your new office as welcoming as possible for your employees. Muddy floors wet surfaces certainly won’t help you accomplish that.
Before making the move, have members of your team visit the office and lay out plastic wrap on the carpet to avoid the prospect of your moving vendor and teammates tracking mud into the new space.
You’ll also want to make sure there are plenty of towels available so those arriving at the new office can dry off before. Be sure to alert your teammates in advance of the availability of towels at the new office and encourage your team to use them upon arrival, if needed.
If you need an office moving team capable of taking on any move, regardless of the weather, we’re here to help.
Contact us today for a free office move estimate!
