Bells Moving and Storage are the experts in office relocations – from the initial quote with our professional estimator through to the removal teams that are there to make your office move simple.

We offer professionally trained staff with a team supervisor to take the hassle out of your office move. Because we understand a busy office needs as little down time as possible our expertise in office relocations make it as hassle free as it should be.

Moving a Business

The following checklist will help you and your staff to plan and prepare for the relocation of your office resources to your new site.

Prepare Your Destination Floor Plan

It is important that floor plans be prepared showing the position and floor level for all furniture and equipment at your new premises. Floor plans should use an allocated numbering system and colour coded labels to ensure the correct positioning of all items.

• Plan a place for everything to go.
• Will all your existing office resources fit your new office floor plan?

Planning Access

Parking Facilities

• Check for any height restrictions
• Are loading docks available for use?
• Is a police or council permit required for street parking – let us know if you need us to arrange the permits?

Access to buildings and floors

• Are all doorways wide enough?
• Are the lifts big enough?
• Are there any acute angles in corridors?
• Are there any extremely heavy items (e.g. safes) to be moved?
• Are there any extremely large items (e.g. compactors) to be moved?

What Lifts are Available?

• How many lifts are available?
• Are they available exclusively during your move?
• Do they have to be booked and who is responsible for booking them?

Provide Location Access

Please ensure that building supervisors and/or security have been made aware of the relocation and the dates. Also ensure that security, lifts and loading docks are booked at both your uplift and destination location. Bell's Removals and Storage will respond to the building supervisor's requests and confirm bookings, dates and times.

Location Supervisors

An authorised person from your company, who is able to make decisions, to operate building security systems and provide access, should be available and on site at both your origin and destination location. Bells removal team supervisor will work closely with your authorised representative to help make the office move as hassle free for all your staff as possible.

Plan Your Pre-packing

• Bells Moving and Storage will work with you to provide a tailor-made plan for the packing of all goods
• Identify what needs to be packed?
• What will your staff be responsible for?
• What will require packing by the removalist?
• Is there any sequential packing required for records, archives or libraries?

Labelling

To ensure correct placement at the proper location, all items to be relocated must be clearly labelled. For re-cycling practices of cartons we recommend that contents of cartons be written on the taped section of each carton. Alternatively, the use of colour coded stickers can be used for easy identification. Label all items to match your destination floor plan. To ensure easy identification, labels are to be clearly visible and placed on sides of cartons, top corners of desks, the top front of filing and stationery cabinets, and on hard surfaces of chairs.

Preparation and packing

Desks, mobile pedestals, bookcases and stationery cabinets must be emptied completely and their contents packed. Lock or tape doors and drawers closed. Taping keys to the back of cabinets and or cupboards is recommended. Lock or tape filing cabinets to prevent opening during transport. To prevent damage to keys or locks, do not leave keys in cabinet locks but instead tape them to the surface of the cabinet.

Filing cabinets may be left un-emptied as follows:

• 4 drawer - empty the top 2 drawers
• 3 drawer - empty the top drawer
• 2 drawer - can remain full

Personal work station Items

We recommend that personal items (e.g. photos, ornaments, lap-top computers, calculators, etc.) be transferred by your own staff.

Artworks

Framed pictures and charts should be labelled and left hanging. Bells Moving and Storage staff will handle them with care and use special protective materials to ensure their protection.

Packing Cartons

Packing boxes can be supplied well in advance and delivered prior to your office relocation. If packing is being done by staff, ensure that the packing cartons are not over-filled. Only put books into book cartons. Ensure that the top flaps remain level when folded closed. On completion of your relocation and unpacking, Bells Moving and Storage will collect the cartons on your notification.

Office Equipment

Desk lamps and other office resources should be disconnected from their power supply. Apply the labels to ensure placement at the proper location at your new office. At Bells Moving and Storage we use special packing cartons and techniques to ensure safe transport of these items.

Discs

Make sure that lids of computer disc cases are locked or taped before packing in cartons. Loose business cards and computer discs can be secured in bundles with rubber bands and packed in a shipping carton.

Photocopiers

Please ensure to advise your supplier/maintenance contractor of the removal date, as specialist preparation for transportation may be required, i.e. detachment of collator section. Photocopiers and plan printers with liquid toner or powder must be emptied prior to removal.

Computers

Do not pack computer terminals, personal computers, printers or fax machines in cartons. These will be packed by our staff. We recommend you seek assistance from your IT technical support provider regarding network and server requirements prior to removal. Bells Moving and Storage will be happy to work from instruction with IT technical support people regarding movement requirements.

Refrigerators

Empty, switch off and defrost refrigerators and drip trays the day before the relocation to prevent damage from leakage during transit.

Items not for removal

Liquids such as inks, chemicals, duplicator fluids, pastes and glues should be sealed tightly to prevent leakage. Be sure to affix a 'fragile' sticker to the carton they are packed in. Hazardous materials e.g. toxins, poisons, pesticides and polishes cannot be accepted for transport and may void any insurance warranty. Double check with our list click here to identify them

Need advice?

Call one of our friendly customer service consultants today to arrange for a quotation on (03)6229 9099