Moving Office Furniture: What is your favorite job? The one you want to come to. And a good leader will always make sure that the workplace of his employee is as comfortable as possible. Do you want to come to a cramped, dark, or outdated office? Hardly. But in a spacious, freshly renovated, cozy office, you want to come early and have a cup of coffee before work. If this is not the case for you, consider improving your working comfort.
It is for this reason that some businesses move several times: the company grows, so the comfort and space must grow to maintain high-quality working conditions. This is normal, but with such changes, questions immediately arise: how to move? It is usually necessary to transport not only office furniture, but also office equipment, archives, related household items, and even corny – indoor plants, a coffee machine, etc.
Today we will figure out how to properly transport office furniture so that the move is quick and easy, and the company’s employees can return to work as quickly as possible.
When is it necessary to transport office furniture?
As we said above, the transportation of office furniture most often occurs during an office move to a new location. But there are also other situations when transportation is required:
- First of all, this is the purchase of new furniture (at the same time, the old one also needs to be attached somewhere, sold, or taken away);
- Buying furniture “from hand” – in this case, delivery is not provided and you have to carry it out yourself;
- Office renovation (furniture needs to be moved somewhere for a while).
The procedure and rules for the transportation of office furniture
1. Create an office furniture catalog
It doesn’t matter if your office is small or large – absolutely everything needs to be cataloged. Accounting is needed not only so that nothing is lost, but so that you can draw up a plan for arranging furniture and seating staff in advance. Such a plan will save you a lot of time when you arrive at a new place – you will immediately arrange the furniture in its place.
2. Fixing furniture for the office and workplace of each employee
When each piece of furniture has its number, it can be assigned to the workplace of each employee. Typically, a workplace is a table, chair, and computer (monitor, system unit, mouse, keyboard), but various bedside tables, shelves, and cabinets can also be added. All this is marked either with an alphabetic cipher (which is usually the name of the employee), or you can stick a marker of a certain color – this method is suitable if there are very few employees in the company.
3. Clear the Path
Make sure the path is clear of any obstacles or tripping hazards. Remove any small objects, such as rugs or toys, that could cause you to trip or slip while moving furniture. If you have pets, it’s a good idea to keep them in a separate room or have someone watch them to prevent any accidents.
4. Dismantling furniture into its parts
Dismantling of office furniture is advisable when it is needed (if we are talking about large-sized furniture, and not just a small office table or chair). It is very difficult to transport large-sized furniture in assembled form since it takes up a lot of space, it is difficult to lift it, and most often it will not fit through doorways or into a regular (non-cargo) elevator. To avoid these problems, disassemble all large furniture sets as much as possible. Each element can be packed separately, and the accessories can be assembled in special ziplock bags so that nothing spills out or gets lost. Packed disassembled furniture is the safest way to transport it as it is lighter, more compact, and more secure (furniture won’t hit corners, etc.).
5. Proper packing of office furniture
Not all furniture needs to be packed – especially if the move takes place during the summer. But some things need special packaging, such as glass doors for office cabinets. They need bubble wrap. For the legs of sofas and cabinets, you should purchase special protective caps in advance (so as not to damage them during loading and unloading). The soft upholstery of office chairs should also be protected with a film. At the same time, before packing, all hard office furniture should be wiped with a rag.
6. Get Help
Moving heavy furniture on your own can be dangerous and difficult. It’s important to get help from a friend or family member to assist you in lifting and carrying large items. This not only makes the process easier but also reduces the risk of injury.
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7. Accurate loading and placement in the car
The best loading is slow. Think in advance about how to place office furniture so that it is as stable as possible in the car, and also that boxes of things do not stand on top of each other. Start with the largest pieces of furniture and things, and load the small and fragile items last.
8. Careful transportation
When transporting, avoid bad roads (it is better to plan a route), choose a time without traffic jams, and also do not exceed a speed of more than 75-80 km/h. Take your choice of transport seriously. The car must correspond to the volume of transported furniture and things. It is better if it is a large truck, where you will have the opportunity not to pile boxes and furniture on top of each other.
9. Unloading and assembly at a new location
Unload the boxes and immediately arrange the furniture in its place (this is why you made a plan for arranging furniture and seating for employees in advance). Do not “dump” all the furniture in one place, but gradually distribute it to the new room as it is unloaded.
Conclusion
Moving furniture can be a daunting task, but with these tips, you can make the process much easier and safer. Remember to plan, clear the path, get help, use proper lifting techniques, and utilize moving equipment. Disassembling large items and labeling boxes can also help to make the move smoother. By following these steps, you’ll be able to move your furniture quickly and efficiently without any stress or injury.
FAQs
1. Is it necessary to use moving equipment like dollies and furniture sliders?
Using moving equipment can make the process much easier and protect your furniture and floors from damage.
2. Should I disassemble large items before moving?
Disassembling large items like beds or desks can make them easier to move and reduce the risk of damage during the move.
3. Can I move furniture on my own?
Moving heavy furniture on your own can be dangerous and difficult. It’s important to get help from a friend or family member to assist you in lifting and carrying large items.
4. How should I label my boxes when moving small items?
Label each box with the contents and the room it belongs to. This makes it easy to unpack and saves time during the move.