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12
May
2022

The Ultimate Guide to a Warehouse Relocation

Stacks of shelves inside a warehouse.

Warehouse relocation can be a difficult task. It can be more or less stressful, depending on the size of your business. However, one thing is sure: it takes a significant amount of planning and effort to complete. For this reason, we are here to help by giving you the ultimate guide to a warehousing relocation.

Make A Thorough Floor Plan

Before you consider relocating your whole warehouse, it is good to plan out how everything will fit into the new space. Even if you already have a design for your new warehouse layout, you should check through it thoroughly to ensure that you will have an effective and organized warehouse as soon as you move in. This will serve as a guide for the relocation process. The more comprehensive the plan, the less you will have to micro-manage the move. It would be best to consider unique factors in the plan itself, such as hazardous material storage and exit plans. Make sure you adhere to OSHA guidelines for aisle width.

People looking over a warehouse floor plan before a warehouse relocation.

Plan For All Possible Expenses During The Warehouse Relocation

The expenditures of relocating a warehouse can be significant. Because of this, it is best to plan for any fees ahead of time. In addition to purchasing products such as storage containers, you need to include the hourly cost of the relocation. If you want to remain under budget, you must consider the manpower necessary to set up the new warehouse and its operating systems in your strategy.

Get All Of The Permits Ahead Of Time

It would help if you secured the permits for your new warehouse as soon as possible. If you don't think about this right away, you will create a logistical nightmare for yourself. Some locations may need you to secure all of the permits before even beginning the relocation. Furthermore, it would be best to look into all of the permits you will need because they can impact how you plan to set up your new warehouse. For example, to fulfill sprinkler clearance criteria, the height of your shelves or racking may need high pile permits.

A man signing permits for warehouse relocation.

Disassemble All Of Your Warehouse Equipment

After you have done all the preparations, now you can start the relocation. First off, you need to disassemble all of the equipment you will transport. This applies whether you are relocating across town or across the nation. You must also determine if your team has the time, personnel, and expertise to dismantle the equipment properly. If the answer is no, you might think about employing a warehouse equipment breakdown professional.

Make Use Of Experienced Movers

To make this process as simple and as quick as possible, we would advise that you work with professional movers. Even though this will cost you more, the time and work you will save will make the investment more than worthwhile, as you won't have to deal with moving delays and problems. Professional movers know that set backs are possible, and they know how to handle them if they occur. A warehouse moving company will be experienced with all of the logistical challenges you may encounter. Professional movers may be handy for more intricate equipment that must be disassembled and then reassembled in the new facility.

A moving truck.

Set Up Your Warehouse Equipment

Even though your equipment has arrived at your new warehouse, that doesn't mean you are done. You still need to bring all of your gear into the new building. Afterward, you need to secure it as best as you can until you can set it up. If you had assistance installing equipment in your last warehouse, you would most likely need help again. For this reason, it is a good idea to find professionals who can assist you with this. If you have any specialized equipment, you can try and see if the manufacturers offer assembly services.

Be Adaptable

You may be surprised by how long it might take to relocate to a new warehouse. This is especially the case if you arrange the move yourself. Every step of the relocation process has the potential to create a delay. Because of this, make sure to add a bit of leeway when planning everything out. Plan for delays, which will make the whole process of relocation much less stressful. Luckily, if you decide to follow our ultimate guide to warehouse relocation, you shouldn't have any issues.

For over 30 years, 18 Wheels Logistics has strived to be the most customer-centric trucking, warehousing, and logistics company around. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 18 Wheels relies on experience and integrity to make customers happy and remain on the cutting edge of shipping and logistics management.

If you have any questions about this article or you would like to talk to us about your shipping needs, please call us at (604) 439-8938.