Tackling Office Relocation in Chicago, IL

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Commercial moving is always tedious, especially if you have a large office.  Office Relocation in Chicago, IL is more of an easier moving process when hiring the Professionals Moving Specialists. There are a number of people to account for and even more equipment and furniture.  To make you Chicago office moves easier, see our moving tips below.

Planning Always Works

For something as large scale as an office move, planning is one of the most important things to do.  Depending on the size of your office, give yourself five yourself three to eight months to prepare.  Remember that it’s never too early to start preparing and the more ready you are, the easier the move will be.

Firstly, make sure everyone in your office knows that they will be moving.  You don’t want moving day to come only to find out an entire department had not been informed.  Then get the floor plans for the new office.  You will want everything ready there before you move in.  Plot out where the desks and cubicles will go.  Is there going to be a copier room or a file and storage room?  Also remember to have the interior decorators in early.  You don’t want the carpenters still putting in carpet when you move in.

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Time To Tell The World

There is always someone you will need to tell.  It depends on what type of business you run, but some important people include vendors and contractors.  Your lawyers and clients should most definitely be notified as well.  On your stationary, all addresses on business cards and letterheads will have to be changed.  The move should also be announced on your website if you have one and altered on any advertisements you have out.  Make sure everyone knows the date of the move as well.  You don’t want anyone going to the new offices before they’re finished or going to the old offices after you’ve moved out.

Time To Re-Evaluate the Tech

Moving gives you an excuse to upgrade like you’ve been meaning to for the past year.  With technology moving so fast nowadays, machines that are 5 years old are actually 10 years out-of-date.  Here is a perfect excuse to throw out the bulky models for some sleeker, newer versions.  If you keep your current computers and machines, make sure they will all be carefully packed for transport.  You don’t want anything damaged.

For your new offices, call ahead to get phone lines and internet installed.  That way any potential problems will be resolved by the time you move in.  With everything ready, you’ll be up and running in no time.

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Time To Organize

Organization is one of the most important elements if you want a smooth move.  With so much stuff, it is really easy to misplace boxes and lose files.  Your workers will pack their own things.  Make sure they properly label all their boxes so nothing gets sent to the wrong place.  Then write up a master list of everything that is packed.  It’s a simple way to keep track of the large amount of items about to be relocated.

Hire Professional Movers

Great movers can make all the difference.  If you are moving your business within Chicago, The Professionals Moving Specialists is the moving company to call.  Our team is fast, efficient, and extremely courteous.  We pride ourselves in our customer service.  We will help you pack and unpack your equipment and machines.  We will also help you take apart and rebuild furniture and cubicle dividers.  The Professionals Moving Specialists are an all-inclusive service that aims to please.  Our goal is to help you move so that your business will have as little downtime as possible.

Not Everything Goes According To Plan

And that is okay.  You may have plan the move to the smallest of details, but there will always be surprises.  If something unexpected happens, don’t panic.  It is only a small bump.  The rest of the move has already been planned out.  Remember to be flexible and have some leeway.  Being able to adapt will make moving a lot more stress-free.

What's Your Moving Sign?

Hey!  Not sure if you've noticed, but we've recently relocated to bigger offices in Chicago, IL.  We're expanding our business, hiring more people, and adding more trucks to our fleet!  So in celebration of this, let's we've surfed the internet for some cool "we are moving signs"!  You never know when you might move and why use that stereotypical ones you find in hardware stores when you can use one so much more interesting and eye catching? 1.  You like cute?  I like cute and this is definitely cute.  I mean a giraffe driving a car with a cat and a bird riding in and on the trailer.  The kids will love it!

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2. Check out this puppy.  If you're able to break away from his soulless stare, you'll see that he's being very informative about the move.

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3. I quite like this one.  It has a simple, but eye-catching design and the desaturated color scheme is very complementary.  I'd use this if I was a more serious type of business, but still wanted to be a little unique.

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4. This one is just fun.  I mean, men with mustaches carrying a piano.  There's a joke in there somewhere.  I'm just not sure where....

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5. This is along the same line as the top one, just less colorful and a teensy bit less funny.  It's okay, though.  I've always liked the vintage art style.

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6. What's a post without our favorite sarcastic, writing, daydreaming dog?  Just a normal boring post.  Snoopy makes everything better, including your move.

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7. This moving sign is really cute.  It's not too out there, but it's different enough to catch your attention.

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8. Alright, this is one of my favorite.  It doesn't outright state that you're moving, but the sentiment is there.  It's laced with the subtle cynicism that can only be found in today's society.

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9. Little girl and Superman!  What's not to love?  (I like the girl.  She's smart.)

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10. I swear, there is nothing else better in this world than a bad pun...except maybe fried oreos...maybe.  Nothing makes the day better than a groan inducing pun so horrible you can't help but laugh.

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11. Are you a pessimist?  Then this is the sign for you!  I mean just look at it!  It's all looping swirls and elegant calligraphy and then BAM! Depressing message. (however true it may be.)

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12.  This one is so sweet....literally.  Why not soften the blow of stressful moving by a picture of a cavity inducing gingerbread house?  It's perfect for bakeries and the sorts.

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13. This one is just funny, like "I have no idea what is going on" kind of funny.  But hey, they're version of moving looks rather convenient even if it is scientifically impossible.

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14.  Make your own sign!  It's a nice little personal touch and it means that no one else will have the same sign as you.  Have a huge storefront window?  Grab some window paint and have a little fun!

Moving Green in Chicago

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You’re in Chicago and you’re moving, but relocation is no excuse to forget about the environment.  With our new found awareness of the world’s condition, why not implement some eco-friendly moving techniques and do your part to save the Earth? Moving Green in Chicago does not have to be a hard or costly one.

Greenbox

At The Professionals Moving Specialists, we have the Greenbox moving Containers to help you be more environmentally friendly.  Rather than using cardboard boxes, you can rent plastic containers from us to pack your stuff in.  This is both less expensive and more convenient.  Rather than wasting money buying boxes, tape, and packing paper, you just need plastic basins and maybe some bubble wrap. These containers are returned to us after you’ve unpacked.  That way, you don’t have to be bothered the clutter of unfolded cardboard boxes waiting to be thrown out or recycled.  If you do use cardboard boxes, though, always remember to recycle.

Throw It Out

Something you can do to help before you even start packing is to get rid of things you won’t need.  Bringing along items you will eventually throw out anyway is a waste of space and a waste of gas.  So go through everything you own first.  Recycle and donate what you can and throw away the rest.  You’ll be surprised at how much clutter you have lying around.

Wrap It Up

Bubble wrap and wrapping paper aren’t the only things you can use when covering your fragile items.  Reuse old newspapers.  You can also use old towels and bed sheets you were going to throw away.  It’ll give a layer of softness to cushion your plates and vases and while it’s heavier than bubble wrap, there are rarely stories of marine animals chocking on newspapers.

Clean Green

The cleaning products you use can make a difference as well.  Environmentally friendly soaps and sprays can be found almost anywhere.  Go to your local Target or Wal-Mart to pick up some before you start your moving out cleaning.  Not only is it better for the environment, but the lack of chemicals is beneficial for you as well.

Movers

Go the extra mile and check to see if your movers are going green as well.  Some own bio-diesel trucks and use moving pads made out of recycled materials.  Like The Professionals Moving Specialists, a lot of movers offer the option of renting packing crates.  Check out all of your options before choosing so you can be as environmentally friendly as possible.

Packing 101

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It’s time to move!  You have a new house or apartment in the wonderful city of Chicago.  You’ve found the best Chicago movers just right for you.  The day is drawing closer, both too fast and not fast enough.  So what else is left to be done?  Why, the worst bit of course: packing. At the Professionals Moving Specialists we brought you Packing 101.

Packing brings up the question of what you need and what you can throw out.  Do you really need that five year old throw pillow?  Or that obnoxious, chipping, plastic statue of a stag your mother-in-law gave you for Christmas 3 years ago?  Didn’t think so.  Most moving companies, like ours, provide packing services in addition to moving.  However, if you don’t like people touching your stuff or would simply rather do it yourself, there are key points to remember.

Packing Supplies

How important are packing supplies?  Really important because you can’t pack otherwise!  If you’re not sure where to find packing supplies, we sell everything here at The Professionals.  First, you’ll need boxes.  They come in different sizes so you should probably get a few of each just in case.  Then, packing tape to seal up the glasses.  You’ll most likely have fragile items that need to be moved as well.  For those, make sure you get bubble wrap and packing peanuts.  Wrap things like vases securely with the bubble wrap and use multiple layers if you have to.  Better have it swathed with popping plastic than breaking in the moving van.  Lastly, but very important nevertheless, remember to have a marker. To label the boxes with.  That way you won’t mistakenly put the box of exercise weights on top of the box full of crystal plate.

Fold It

Make sure you fold up your clothes when you pack then.  Don’t just throw them in.  Not only does it look neater, but it also gives you more space and it makes things easier to find.  The same goes for your sheets and towels and blankets.  Put them at the bottom of the box so they can act as a cushion in you want to put anything else in.

Keep It, Throw It

Trust me when I say we are all pack rats whether we deny it or not.  Rummage through your drawer and I guarantee you’ll find something from years ago that you don’t need or use, but still refuse to throw out.  We tend to grow attached to inanimate objects for reasons better addressed in a psychological blog, creating a collection of pointless stuff.  Nonetheless, when we pack, it means we have to go through everything and decide what to keep and what to throw out.  Your new home is like a new canvas.  It is the opportunity to paint a picture significantly different from the old one.  It doesn’t need clutter, especially since it’ll end up with new clutter anyway.  Weigh each item before deciding to keep it.  Do you really need it?  Does it really mean something or are you just used to it?  You’ll be surprised at how much you end up throwing out.

Categorize

Keep things in order by packing them in a certain way.  It’s up to you how to do it, but one of the easiest ways is to pack by room.  Label them “kitchen”, “living room”, “bedroom”, etc so you know where each box goes when you get to your new home.  It eliminates the running around that will happen when you find your pots and pans in bedroom.  Then you can split them into sub-categories such as “linens” and“toiletries”.

Go Green!

Everyone’s environment conscious nowadays so why not jump in the bandwagon?  Our sister company, Chicago Green Box has found the perfect way to make your moving experience easier and help the world while you’re at it.  Rather than buying boxes, rent plastic containers from us.  Not only are they studier than normal cardboard boxes, but there is less hassle once you’re unpacked.  Just return the containers.  There’s no need to worry about recycle days and what to do with the ripped bubble wrap.  These containers come with a lid so all your possessions will be properly sealed.

Packing properly can take a lot of stress out of un-packing.  If you don’t use a professional service, just remember these key tips as you’re getting ready to move.  Pay special attention to fragile items because they are more liable to break.  Though all the organization might seem tedious, it’ll making settling into your new home easier and faster.