How to Move Your Home Office

By VanLines.com
 
Many people earn their living while working in home offices. A home office is important for telecommuters and mobile workers, and it can have many parts such as modems, routers, printers, laptops, photocopier, etc. which need special care when moving to a new location. Proper care of these machines and your other essentials will ensure you get your office started as soon as possible. These are some basic tips for moving your home office:

Prioritize Your Needs:
Your office materials must be packed in accordance of their need. You don't want to search for papers and office equipment which you will need immediately after opening several boxes. You must have a clear idea of what you will require and when. Keep these items handy. This will help the moving companies who need to load up your belongings and place them on the moving van.

Sort Your Books & Papers:
Make sure you papers are sorted, filed and stored in sealed boxes or envelopes before moving your home office. If you have books, they must be wrapped up before being boxed in, and you may want to consider wrapping these up in plastic especially if it’s raining or snowing. This will prevent your books and papers from being lost, stolen or damaged. If possible, you may also want to keep them in fire proof storage materials. Don't shy away from discarding papers and donating books you will never require in the future.

Office Furniture:
Moving your home office means deciding what to do with your office furniture. You may move in with your old office furniture or decide to have a new set for yourself. Before you go ahead and buy new furniture for your office, make sure you know the dimensions of the new room.

Electronic Cords:
You may put your electronic cords in well labeled plastic bags. You may also use twines to tie them up before bagging them and keep them together, or better yet, you can tape and secure them to your devices. This will prevent them from being lost or jumbled together.

Use Original Containers:
Packing your electronics like laptops and fax machines in their original packaging materials and moving boxes will ensure they are safe. Many of us have the original packing boxes but not the bubble wrap or foam packaging. In such cases, buy the bubble wrap or foam packing sheets. You can also look up several videos online that will help you pack your electronics.

Taking Care Of Monitors:
Monitors must be specially wrapped and packed when moving a home office. Each monitor must be wrapped using bubble or foam wrap before being boxed. This will make them better resistant to shocks and prevent cracks.

Keep Backups:
All files on your computers and laptops must be backed up on hard drives, USB devices or on CDs. Make sure you have those along with you, while you are moving. Also, keep photocopies of essential documents along with other backups.

Replace & Upgrade:
This may also be a good time to replace your existing office equipment and electronics with their upgraded versions. The new ones will be much faster and perform better, and you won’t have to go through the trouble of packing and moving outdated equipment.

Check Power Outlets:
Make sure there are enough power outlets in your new home office. If there aren’t sufficient ones, make sure you install powerstrips before you move in. Electricity is the most important thing to get any office started. Check out the voltage before you switch your gadgets on.