If you are a business owner, you know the first week after the New Year can be a hectic time. To lighten your load, we have compiled a checklist to make sure you have your supplies, office building, and equipment ready for the New Year.
1. Examine the indoor and outdoor areas
The first thing that you need to do in preparation for the New Year is walk around your office and surrounding areas for a visual check. Make note of possible paint discoloration on the walls, accidental holes that have showed up over time, burnt out lightbulbs, and any outdoor “fixes” that could be made. While you are outside, examine the parking lot and clean up any trash, scope out any cracks in the pavement and see if your parking lines could use a fresh coat of paint.
2. Check all office supplies
If you have an office supply closet, you will want to go through and check the inventory. Write down what supplies you are low on such as light bulbs, paper towels, toilet paper, printer ink, paper, pens, etc. Placing the order or going to the store for these supplies ahead of time will hopefully bypass the possible disruptions that could interrupt your busy work days.
3. Winterize your office
With winter here and in full swing, you will want to make sure you have your shovels at the ready. Also, double check to make sure you have enough salt to sprinkle on the sidewalks and parking lots in the event of a snow storm. Stay away from the scramble of people heading to the stores to get what they need and be stocked up and ready when the snow or ice comes!
4. Declutter the office space
You do not have to completely spring clean your office in the dead of winter, but it might be a good idea to come into the office on a day that no one is in. Take a look around to see what can be thrown away or donated. The old magazines that have been sitting on the table for the past two years can be removed and a nice centerpiece can take their place instead. As you declutter, look around and consider removing unused office furniture to free up the space a little more.
If your desk could use a little tidying up, do so and encourage your employees to do the same thing. By filing away the stack of papers that might be sitting out or organizing the shared printing area, your mind and your employees’ minds will subconsciously be eased.
5. Have the carpets cleaned
Pick a weekend early on in the New Year to have someone come in and clean the carpets. Just as you would clean the carpets of your home, you should clean the carpets of your office. Routine vacuuming may make it seem like the job is getting done, but there is still bacteria and dirt that resides in the carpet fibers.
6. Inform or refresh employees of an emergency plan
If you do not have an emergency plan, you should. In the event of an emergency, it is important that your employees know where and how to evacuate. Inform them of where the fire extinguisher is located if there is a small fire. Also notify them of where the flashlights might be if there were to be a power outage.
7. Check the roof and plumbing
Having the roof and the plumbing looked at is not something that normally comes to mind when you are thinking of routine building upkeep. A professional can look to see if there are any leaks in either the roof or the plumbing that you could have been unaware of. This will prevent major and expensive damages down the road.
8. Have the electrical system checked
Another uncommon item on a checklist is to have your electrical system checked. This only needs to be done every three to five years. If you can’t remember when the last time was that your system was checked, then it is time to have it looked at.
9. Call an HVAC technician to service your office
While the weather is still moderately temperate, it would be wise to have a technician come out and look at your heating and air conditioning unit. A technician can inspect the unit for any damage that could lead to a bigger issue down the road. Even though it may not be the summertime, you will want to make sure that your AC unit is in tip-top working order before it is turned on.
If it comes down to you needing to replace the unit, you will know enough in advance to plan accordingly and have it replaced when your employees are out of the office.
10. Replace air filters
While the HVAC technician is servicing your building, you can have the filters changed out. If you know where the filters are located and don’t mind doing a little work, you should be able to replace the filters yourself. The standard air filter should be replaced every one to three months depending on how often or how much you use your unit.
We are ready for the New Year and we want you to be too! Prep your office and take a load off during the hustle and bustle that follow the holidays. If you are looking to have one of our HVAC technicians come out to service your office space, give us a call and we will be there as soon as we can.
