Our top 5 tips for moving offices

When you’re moving into a new office or business space, there’s a lot to think about. It can be very stressful, particularly if you have been in your current location for a long time, but it can also be very rewarding, especially if your new workspace is in a more convenient location or is cheaper or more flexible. Here are our top five tips for making sure your office move goes smoothly:

1. Careful planning is essential

Don’t leave the planning and organisation of your move until the last minute, as it nearly always takes longer than you think.

·        Estimate how long you think it will take to plan and then allow yourself at least twice as long

·        Appoint one person to organise and oversee the move

·        Create three separate checklists showing things that must be done before the move, on the day itself and immediately afterwards

2. Tell people you are moving

Give your staff, customers and everyone you deal with as much notice as possible so there are no nasty surprises or mix-ups. If you warn people of potential disruption you are less likely to end up with unhappy customers or staff.

·        Make your regular clients feel valued and important by giving them an alternative way of contacting you during the moving period

·        Make sure your employees know exactly what is happening during the move, as poor communication and confusion can lead to low staff morale

·        Remember to update your business cards, website, and any directories you’re listed on with your new contact details

3. Only pack what you need

Sorting through everything is time-consuming but worthwhile. Taking things you don’t need to your new space is counter-productive so use the move as an opportunity to get rid of out-of-date equipment and items you’ll never use again.

·        Donate unwanted items to charity or recycle them

·        Set up extra bins just before you move so your staff can throw things out when they clear out their desks

·        Store any possessions that you need but don’t want to take with you

·        Free up storage space by scanning documents so you can get rid of the hard copies in your filing cabinets

4. Be security-conscious

On the day of the move your business will be particularly vulnerable to crime, and with lots of people moving in and out of your building carrying equipment you may be targeted by opportunistic thieves.

·        Think carefully about security arrangements on both sites

·        Ensure someone is present in both places who knows what the moving crew look like and who should be entering the building

5. Focus on getting back to business quickly

·        Prioritise getting your phones and email sorted so you can communicate with people straight away

·        Give staff clear jobs to do and try and get the team back into work mode fast