Remote work has revolutionized the way we live and work, offering unmatched flexibility. But when it comes to choosing the best place to move your home office, location still matters. Whether you’re working partially or permanently from home, the area you live in can greatly influence your lifestyle.
In some cases, it helps to be close to the company that employs you. The area you choose can also impact your expenses, choice of recreational activities, and more. Portland is one of the most popular destinations on the West Coast. If you’re looking to move your home office to this stronghold of industry and innovation, here are some tips for making the journey.
Start by Mapping Out Your Office Setup
Your home office is the heart of your professional life, and its setup directly impacts your productivity. A well-organized workspace fosters efficiency and helps you maintain focus, while a cluttered or poorly planned environment can hinder your ability to perform at your best. Moving your home office to a new location can feel overwhelming, but with proper planning, the process becomes much smoother.
It’s likely you take great care to set your space in your preferred way. This is why the thought of a home office move to Portland can be disruptive – are you prepared to disassemble everything so you can rebuild it in a new location?
This process becomes much easier when you make lists and take pictures to capture everything as it is now. When you’re mapping out your home office setup, consider qualities of your workspace like:
- The layout of your furniture, including your desk, cabinets, chairs, and lighting.
- Cable hookups on your computers, monitors, printers, and phone systems.
- Contents of bookshelves, drawers, and organizers.
- Wall-mounted items, such as shelves, artwork, or whiteboards, to ensure accurate placement in your new space.
- The arrangement of power strips, surge protectors, and other electrical accessories.
- Your internet router or modem setup, including cable placements and Wi-Fi extenders, if applicable.
When mapping out your new office, also consider how the space itself might differ from your current setup. Does your new home office have sufficient lighting, or will you need to invest in additional lamps or fixtures? Are there enough electrical outlets to accommodate your devices, or will you need extension cords or power strips?
By thinking ahead and addressing these questions early, you can ensure a seamless transition and a workspace that supports your productivity from day one!
Pack Smart and Safe with Proper Techniques
When it’s time to actually start taking apart the pieces and preparing them for the trip, it’s crucial you use proper packing techniques. Not only will these make your move less stressful, but they’ll preserve the crucial items that you need for your work.
Use Cable Cases or Improvise a Solution
Tangled cables can be a mess to deal with. Plus if the ends get bent, it could impact your connection and hinder your productivity. Many cables come with specialized cases they can be rolled up into for easy transport.
Don’t have one for every cable you own? Try running them through a paper towel roll. This will stop them from twisting up during the trip, allowing you to easily unpack them and get everything plugged back up to get to work.
Protect Your Electronics and Give Extra Care to Screens
Anything electronic in your office should be wrapped and padded carefully to ensure it makes the trip safely. In addition to padding all computers, hardware devices, and appliances appropriately in their boxes, consider tips like these:
- Take the ink and toner cartridges out of your printers to avoid possible leaks. Don’t forget to remove them from multifunction devices as well.
- If you have a desktop computer, see if you have packing foam to stabilize the inside, such as the kind manufacturers use when the device is first sent to you.
- Add extra padding to anything with a screen, and know where it’s loaded in the truck – this includes monitors, scanners, copiers, and tablets.
- Label all cords, chargers, and connectors, and store them in resealable bags to prevent them from tangling or getting misplaced.
- Use anti-static bubble wrap or bags to pack electronics to avoid potential static damage during the move.
For those who tend to keep boxes around just in case they need to return an item for repairs or a refund, these (along with their original packing foam) work great for a home office move.
Prepare Your Furniture for the Trip or Take it Apart
Large furniture pieces can be tricky to move, but proper preparation makes all the difference. Start by identifying which items can be disassembled for easier handling. Our team is happy to help take apart and reassemble any furniture you need, ensuring a smooth transition.
If you prefer to keep items like cabinets or drawers packed, secure them by wrapping them tightly to prevent drawers or doors from flying open during transit.
Wrapping isn’t just for furniture—use it to safeguard your motivational wall art, framed family photos, or other sentimental pieces. We provide high-quality packing supplies to protect your belongings throughout the move.
Don’t forget about rugs! Roll them up neatly before wrapping to make them easier to carry and load onto the truck. By taking these steps, you’ll ensure your furniture and other valuable items are well-protected and ready for the journey to your new home.
Prepare for the Unexpected During Your Move
Every working professional knows that things don’t always go according to plan. When you’re planning a home office move in Portland, you should account for things that may go wrong.
No matter how well you prepare and how much caution you take during your move, accidents can happen. So to save yourself from potential stress and delays in getting back to work, make sure you prepare for the unexpected.
Schedule Extra Time for Your Home Office Move
As the old saying goes, in the world of business you want to under-promise and over-deliver. If your move takes a week to make, tell your clients or employer you’ll be ready in two. If something does go wrong, you’re covered. If it doesn’t, you got back in half the time you promised.
The extra time could also be used to help you ease into work at your new location. While working from home can be comfortable, working from a new home may take time to get used to even with an identical office layout.
Backup Your Data and Safeguard Your Property
Even if your computer and storage drives are packed safely and handled with care, there’s always a chance something could happen to your data. Making physical and cloud backups before your move can protect you from potential loss of information and business.
If you handle the task of moving your home office alone, you’re on the hook if something happens to your property. But if you go with a Portland moving company that’s insured, you’ll be covered if anything happens to any piece of your home office setup or any of the rest of your possessions.
Trust Your Home Office Move to the Top Movers in Portland
When it’s time to relocate your home office in Portland, trust Redefyne Moving to make the process seamless and stress-free. As experts in both residential and commercial moves, we can efficiently pack and transport your home office along with the rest of your household.
We come fully equipped with all the moving supplies needed to protect your valuable items, and as a licensed and insured company, you can have peace of mind knowing your belongings are in capable hands. Our dedication to quality service is reflected in the positive reviews we’ve received from countless satisfied customers.
At Redefyne Moving, we understand that your home office is more than just a workspace—it’s essential to your success. That’s why we treat your equipment and furniture with the utmost care and respect, ensuring everything arrives safely and on schedule.
Ready to make your home office move to Portland hassle-free? Contact us today, and let’s get started on your journey to a new and productive space!
