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Moving your home office can be a schlep and a half. It’s not just about packing up a few boxes and calling it a day. Moving your home office is like packing up your entire life, but with the added pressure of knowing those file you stuffed in the back of the drawers will come back to bite you, and your Wi-Fi will decide to take a vacation at the worst possible moment. Here is your home office moving smart guide to help ease the pain. 

Step 1: Plan Early

The sheer thought of planning your move two months in advance doesn’t sound fun or as exciting as binge-watching that new show. But trust me, early planning is your friend here. I speak from experience. If you wait until the last minute, you’re going to be scrambling to pack up your desk while trying to untangle a jumble of cables. Save the stress and the mess. 

• Start by creating a checklist of what needs to be packed, what you need to set up first in your new office, and what absolutely cannot wait business wise. Think about modems and routers and ensure you booked your wifi set up ahead of time at the new office.

• The time has come to make peace with trashing those old files. You don’t need 50 coffee mugs from conferences you attended in 2006 either. Get rid of what you don’t need, donate it, or recycle it. The less you have to move, the easier life will be and the cheaper the move will be if using professional services.

• Label your boxes and over exaggerate with details. If you think you’ll remember what’s in each box, you’re wrong. I promise you’ll end up opening the one labeled “miscellaneous” to find your favorite chair, but no laptop.

Step 2: Choose the Right Moving Company 

Now that you’ve decided to organize your home office or at least lie to your wife about it, it’s time to hire movers to actually move the contents. If you’re moving across town, hiring a local moving company will do the trick. If you are moving interstate then you need the pros who know their stuff. 

Why do you need interstate movers you might ask when you can do it on your own and save? Since you’re hauling a bunch of heavy office furniture, electronics, and the contents of your life savings from your business, you’ll need experienced professionals to make sure nothing gets damaged. Plus, interstate movers in FL know how to navigate the tricks of Florida’s roads, traffic, and wild weather surprises. A company that specializes in long-distance moves can also help you navigate all the paperwork and regulations that come with moving across state lines so it’s important to do this step early on. 

Step 3: Pack Your Electronics Like You’re First Born

I don’t know about you, but my laptop and I have a very special bond. If something happens to it, I honestly don’t even know where to restart from. Moving your work electronics requires a little extra care. Top tips to it:

• Back Everything Up: This is key. Whether you’re using a cloud server or an external hard drive, make sure all of your documents are backed up before the move.

• Use Original Boxes (If You Still Have Them): If you’ve got the original boxes for some of your electronics it will fit better than in a random box with padding. Try to use sturdy packing materials like bubble wrap, packing paper, or even old T-shirts. Anything that makes your stuff feel like it’s on a bouncy house is ideal.

• Disconnect and Label Cables: Don’t forget those cables as you disconnect them! I promise you won’t remember what goes where. You’ll need to reconnect everything at your new place and this will make life a breeze.I would also recommend to take a picture of how everything is connected. You’ll thank me later.

Step 4: Hire Help For What You Need

Now it’s time to deal with the larger office furniture like your desk, filing cabinets, and the stack of paper you’ll definitely deal with after the move (hint hint- now is the time to handle it). Unless you’re trying to break your back, I’d recommend hiring professionals to help with the heavy items. Trust the pros- they’ve got the equipment and expertise to make sure your office furniture arrives in one piece.

You can always tackle the small items yourself and save on packing services, just make sure you’ve got an army of cardboard boxes.

Step 5: Set Up Your New Office Like the Boss

You’re almost there, but now comes the fun part: setting up your new office to feel like a king’s lair.

• Start with the key Essentials: Get your wifi running,  computer, chair, and desk set up first.
• Organize Your Space: Remember all that decluttering you did? It’s time to do it again! Organize your new office in a way that makes sense for your workflow.

• Perfect Your Space: Throw in a plant or a framed picture of your dog your true love, whatever makes you feel at home and productive. This is the space where you’ll be spending the majority of your waking hours, so make it one that sparks joy.

You Are Smart For Planning Ahead

You did it. You successfully planned and moved your home office without losing your mind or your business. You’re officially a home office relocation professional and can write the next article of tips.Now, sit back, take a deep breath, and congratulate yourself. Just don’t forget to plug everything in and make sure the Wi-Fi’s working before you settle in. Otherwise, you might end up watching YouTube how to’s about moving all over again. You’ve earned that coffee and that donut too.