Once I’d found my dream commercial property in Suffolk, I wanted to rush and move in right away. And who could blame me? I was anxious to move my Cambridge marketing agency into a new branch and excited for what the future would hold. When people expand their businesses, it’s only natural that they can’t wait to get in and start their new adventure. But you do need to take a step back for a moment, because there are a few things that you need to do before you make a move. Now that the business premises are empty, take the opportunity to deal with a few of the troublesome maintenance chores that need doing.
Talk to the Maintenance Team
When your estate agent gives you the keys, they should also give you a guide. The guide will explain everything from security to who to contact about maintenance. Most modern business parks have a maintenance department who deal with any building issues. Contact them before you move into your new office so that you know what they are responsible for. Your maintenance people might only deal with breakages, but others will deal with structural issues too. Once you know what their role is, you know what you need to take care of yourself.
Strip the Walls and Repaint
Before you start moving all your furniture in, you should strip the walls if they need it. This job is messy, so doing it before you move in is always a sensible idea. If there’s any mould under the wallpaper, deal with it rather than just covering it. Over time, mould can eat away at the structure of a building, which means that you could run into serious problems at a later date. The chances are if you’re leasing your premises the owner will be responsible for this so make sure you inform them. When you strip the paper, it’s best to use a steamer because it’s the fastest method. If you try to do it by hand, you risk damaging the walls.
Get an Air Conditioning Unit
With summer just around the corner, you’ll need an air conditioning unit for your office. Work places get particularly hot during this season, especially if you have a lot of electrical equipment, like computers, in operation throughout the day. In a house, you can open the front door to let air in the home, but in an office you usually don’t have that luxury. Air conditioning doesn’t have to be expensive. If you look online, you should find some deals. Don’t be afraid to look out of your area either. I found my air conditioning in Middlesex, but they were the cheapest, willing to travel, didn’t charge me for it and did a great job. If you get a company to install a system for you now, you’ll find it much easier than trying to do it later on.
Deep Clean the Floors and Carpets
If you are going to keep the same flooring or carpets, you’d better clean them up a little. Some people go for years without ever cleaning their floors, which means that the floors of your office could be filthy. You can hire a special machine to help you deep-clean the carpets and get any stains out of them. Or if you’re planning to employ an office cleaning company long term, you’ll probably find they also offer deep cleaning services. If the building is brand new, of course, you don’t need to bother with this step.
Double Glaze the Windows
Many old buildings will have single glazed windows. For you, that could be a huge problem. Single glazing is fine during the summer, but what about in the winter? It’s better to have the windows re-fitted now while the office is empty so it doesn’t disturb your working day. You’ll have to check with the building management before you hire a window fitting company. If you’re on a high floor, you might need permission from the people below you if you’re going to need to put scaffolding up.
When you move into a new office, make sure that everything is perfect. A new branch means a fresh start for you, your business and your employees. Get everything right from the beginning and you’ll soon be flying high!