Resources to help keep your world moving

Companies nationwide are on the move. A 2020 survey by Cisco Systems Inc. found that 53 percent of larger businesses planned to reduce the size of their offices and 75 percent were moving to more flexible work structures. As the future of the physical workspace remains in flux, decommissioning has become a stressor for companies in transition. Before you settle into your new office, you will need to decommission your old one. For most lease agreements, this means that you must remove your belongings from the premises and perform any necessary repairs to leave your space in pristine condition. Busy company managers often don’t have the time or expertise to handle this all in-house. Instead, you can entrust a relocation partner with your decommissioning needs. If you’re preparing for a move, start thinking about the future of your current office early to avoid any last-minute snags in the decommissioning process....

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a lasting imprint on medical facilities across the globe. While some medical facilities emerged from the pandemic largely unscathed, others must reduce the size of their staff or facilities to mitigate the virus’s financial repercussions. In a 2020 MGMA survey of more than 1,000 healthcare leaders, 12 percent said their practices planned to downsize within six months. But even in a normal year, medical facilities continue to shift across the country. Whether they are expanding, adapting to population changes, consolidating clinics or reacting to expired leases, thousands of healthcare construction projects occur every year. Georgia has a robust healthcare infrastructure and therefore frequently experiences medical moves. The state has around 200 hospitals, and metro Atlanta has more than 50 medical facilities, according to US News. Some of those medical facilities are likely preparing for a transition and if yours is one of them, there are...

After more than a year in limbo, companies are finally able to bring workers back to their offices again. But just because you can reopen your workplace in full force doesn’t necessarily mean you should. There’s no going back to how offices functioned before the pandemic struck. Some employees have become too accustomed to remote work, and forcing everyone to return to an in-person environment regardless of individual preferences could be detrimental to overhead costs and employee morale. When it comes to the new work normal, businesses have two main options for their old offices. Option 1: Fully decommission your office and embrace remote work. Recent data shows that the corporate world will not be saying goodbye to remote work anytime soon. Buffer’s 2021 State of Remote Work found that 46 percent of participating workers expect their employers to permanently allow remote work after the pandemic. And there are good...

Office vacancy rates reached new heights during the pandemic. Now, companies are gearing up for a grand return to the in-person workplace. As the popularity of remote work continues to rise, many executives are parting with their pre-pandemic office and moving to new, smaller spaces instead. A recent survey of Fortune 500 executives by Great Place to Work found that 58 percent plan to reduce their office space by at least 10 percent from pre-pandemic levels. Whether you are expanding, downsizing or just changing scenery, moving offices can stress out even the most well-seasoned executives. Here are 12 tips for moving to a new office space that will make this transition seamless. Before the Move: 1. Start planning early. On average, experts predict that the moving process, from planning to getting settled in your new space, could take at least six months. It’s not a timeline that you can rush...

Dust off those cubicles because the work-from-home life may be coming to a close for some employees. As the vaccination rate continues to rise in the United States and restrictions start to lift, businesses are hoping to regain some normalcy. A recent survey by LaSalle Network found that 70 percent of corporate leaders plan to have employees back in the office by fall. With the threat of COVID-19 fading, Human Resources representatives are once again gearing up for a wave of employee relocations. You can make this relocation process easy for both you and your new employees by avoiding these four common pitfalls. Pitfall #1: Insufficient Planning Relocation experts recommend saving at least three to six months for the relocation process, particularly if the move is cross-country or international. After all, you are asking an employee to pack up their life and household for your company, and that is not...

Though the end may be in sight for the COVID-19 pandemic, the remote-work craze is far from over. As companies work to rebuild normalcy by returning to in-person workplaces, many are moving to smaller offices so some employees can keep working from home. A recent survey by KPMG found that 17% of surveyed CEOs plan to downsize their business’s footprint this year. And of the companies currently looking for new offices, more than one third are looking for smaller offices than they previously had, according to FreeOfficeFinder. The benefits of downsizing your office are plentiful. Not only does it allow for a more flexible workspace, but it also saves significant money and allows you to create a more productive and collaborative environment for your team. If you’re considering a downsize for your organization but don’t know where to begin, here are five things to consider: 1. Listen to your employees’...

After the pandemic forced workers to dust off or create their home offices, some employees are realizing that they don’t want to go back to the cubicle life. According to a survey by PwC, 83 percent of employers say the transition to remote work has been successful for their organization, and 55 percent of employees want to continue working from home at least three days a week. As employers prepare for permanent shifts to more flexible workplaces, many are beginning to downsize or decommission their offices — and seeing the hefty price tags that often accompany those processes. Decommissioning involves returning your space to its original condition, as stipulated by your contract. This may include removing all of your belongings and cleaning the floors. Depending on your lease agreement, failure to do so can result in a heap of unnecessary costs. The fees for your agent and legal support, as...

If you are loving the work-from-home life, you’re far from alone. A recent survey by JLL found that 66 percent of workers expect to work in a hybrid remote and in-person model once the pandemic fades. Meanwhile, in a Limeade Institute study of more than 1,000 formerly onsite employees, 100 percent said they were anxious about returning to the office. And right now, companies are paying attention. Businesses looking to say farewell to a static space have two main options: fully decommission the office and embrace a remote workforce, or downsize to a smaller office and adopt a hybrid model. If you are torn between the two, here are 10 things to consider when making your decision. 1. Decommissioning provides the most cost-savings. Though both options will save you significant money on overhead costs, decommissioning is the most cost-efficient. By eliminating your office space altogether, you can remove the costs...

As you set your sights on a new office building your next step is likely to investigate what the relocation will entail. Office relocation can be daunting, but don't let that stop you from making the change. Whether you are moving a few blocks away or across the country, we have identified five common moving pitfalls that, if avoided, can help make this transition seamless. Moving without a Strategy Lack of pre-planning is the cause of many common issues when moving. From logistics to time management to coordinating a checklist — these moving pieces will be better executed if planned ahead. Don't rush this process. A hurried move can lead to delays and additional expenses. Take time to scope out scenarios that may cause delays and troubleshoot them before the move. Find the right time to start the move. Coordinate with teams on a planned timeline: before the move, the...

The year 2020 was record-breaking for the housing market. In December, the National Association of Realtors projected 2020 home sales for the year would total about 5.7 million — the highest level in 14 years. Existing U.S. home sales experienced five straight months of growth last year, according to Reuters, and some experts are already predicting that housing sales in 2021 will outpace 2020 levels. In fact, during the first week of 2021, U.S. long-term mortgage rates reached new record lows. With a booming housing market and about 33 percent of the U.S. workforce still working from home, millions of Americans are moving. However, the pandemic poses unprecedented obstacles to the moving process and you will need to plan accordingly. Here are seven steps you should take to protect yourself when moving in the era of COVID-19: PRIOR TO MOVING DAY: Ask your moving company about its COVID-19 protocols. You...