Has your business moved to a remote workforce due to COVID-19, or have your employees stayed in the office? Either way, if your office lease is about to expire, you may be considering giving your team a fresh start with a brand-new office. This is a chance to welcome your team back, thank them for their hard work and patience, and most importantly, motivate and encourage performance.
However, moving can be a stressful experience if you or your employees are unprepared, especially in the middle of a pandemic. Having a detailed plan in place for your exit and moving cleaning strategy can give your employees an idea of your expectations when it comes to the new standard for office cleanliness. To ensure this process is safe, smooth, and quick, there are some important things you should do before leaving your office behind.
4 Steps to an Effective Exit and Moving Cleaning Strategy
Clean Your Old Office
When moving out of your old office, it is likely that your lease agreement will require you to clean your office before you return your keys on move-out day or risk losing some of your security deposit. Unfortunately, depending on the size of your current office building, this may require a great deal of time, labor, and cleaning supplies, which you probably don’t have. If you don’t want to get wrapped up in a landlord dispute, a professional cleaning service like CRS can help you leave your property in better condition than when you moved in.
You should also consider hiring CRS to perform a massive scrub-down in your new office. This way, you can give your employees a new start in a squeaky-clean environment. Especially with the seriousness of COVID-19, your team will find comfort and feel appreciated knowing that you care about their well-being.
Pick the Perfect Office Layout
Before you move into a new office, you want to be absolutely sure that it’s the right place for the type of work you do. Also, check to see if your office has any specific cleaning requirements that you must adhere to—it might be completely different from your current lease, and you don’t want to be caught off guard once you move in.
When choosing a new office, the first thing you should look at is the layout of the space to ensure that it will accommodate your employees comfortably. Try finding a large enough office that will easily give your employees space to follow social distancing guidelines. Also, try picking an office with easy-to-clean surfaces and basic furnishings that can be moved around for simple cleaning. However, you don’t want a space that is too large because you’ll still have to clean any unused space to get rid of dust, germs, mold, or mildew that build up over time.
Lay Down New Ground Rules
Moving to a new office for a brand-new beginning with your team is the perfect time to take advantage of laying down new ground rules and policies regarding cleanliness. If your previous office was messy or wasn’t treated with care by your employees, let them know any new guidelines they must follow, such as:
- Clean desk policy
- Recycling programs
- Desk wipe downs and sanitization
- Kitchen duty roster
This can be a great opportunity to work collectively with your employees to brainstorm ideas on how to keep your office in tip-top shape. You’ll notice that when your employees have a say in how the office is set up, they’ll be more grateful, productive, and satisfied while performing their tasks.
Inform Your Customers and Clients
A big mistake some companies make is not informing their customers or clientele about the office relocation. The last thing you want to do is upset any regular customers or clients or miss out on the chance to receive more business. Let your current clients, customers, or suppliers know where your new office can be found. If applicable, you can do this by sending a mass email to everyone or promoting your move through social media, websites, or flyers.
Exit the Old and Enter the New with Professional Moving and Cleaning Services
If you’re moving office premises, the main goal should be to exit your old office hassle-free and enter your new office with ease, all while following the terms outlined on both lease agreements. At CRS Moving & Storage, we can deliver just that. We’re a one-stop-shop for both moving and cleaning—our professional movers can pack up your belongings at the old office and personally deliver them to your new office building while giving both of your offices the deep cleaning they need.
For over a decade, we’ve been dedicated to ensuring that the process of moving is as seamless as possible. No matter how big or small your office building is, we are ready to tackle your office move and cleaning with the health and safety of you and your employees in mind. When you’re ready to plan your exit and moving strategy, consult with our expert team first. We can help make sure your move is successful so you can focus on getting back to work. To learn more, schedule a free phone or video consultation or call us at (718) 424-6000.
