The Last Thing People Think About When Moving Their Office!
Often the last thing people think about when moving is cleaning out their old office, but if not planned ahead of time, the costs can really add up! Here are my three tips to make your office cleanout quick and easy:
- Check your lease. Your lease will tell you exactly what’s required of you when moving out of your old office. Generally, the lease requires that the tenant leave the office in broom-swept condition, however, I’ve also seen the lease require new paint, removing all cabling, furniture, phone system and security system. It helps to have a heads up on anything that will require extensive work or expense.
- Check with the landlord. Your lease may say one thing but if the new tenant is planning to gut your old office then it really doesn’t make sense to re-paint the walls. After reading your lease, ask your landlord what he/she requires as it may be less than what the lease asks for. You also may be able to negotiate leaving your old furniture and phone system in place as the landlord may have an easier time leasing your space when it’s left in plug-and-play condition.
- Liquidate. If you plan ahead, you may be able to find creative things to do with your old stuff that doesn’t require putting it into the landfill. You can try selling your stuff on Craigslist or finding a non-profit to donate it to. If you’re going to be disposing electronics, you can send your items to a local recycler. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we’ve worked with www.electrotechrecyclers.com and they’ve been incredibly reliable.
I recommend starting this process at least several weeks before your move date. Putting some thought into cleaning out your space can save money and make things easier when planning your move.
