How to Move to a New Office

Moving to a new office is exciting and stressful, and is a whole bunch of chaos that you may have been expecting but are not really prepared for. One minute you’re imagining fresh meeting rooms and better coffee spots instead of the garage that you’ve been staring at, and the next you’re staring at 20 tangled computer cords, wondering how everything became such a mess.

An office move doesn’t have to become a complete disaster. With some planning, you can make the transition smoother for both your business and your team.

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1. Start planning early. The earlier that you begin to prepare, the easier the move will become. Searching for offices to rent, comparing locations, reviewing lease agreements and organising logistics all take a lot of time. Try to create a timeline for the move well in advance, including important dates, tasks and deadlines so nothing gets forgotten at the last minute. Planning early also gives your staff time to adjust to any changes in commute, parking or workspace setup. An organised plan can save a surprising amount of stress later on.
2. Make sure that you declutter the office before you pack. An office move is the perfect excuse to get rid of the unnecessary clutter. Most workplaces have at least one mysterious cupboard filled with outdated paperwork or broken chargers. Sort through the furniture, equipment, files and storage. Recycle or donate what you don’t need and sell what you can to raise funds for the move. Moving fewer items saves a lot of time, but makes setting up the new office much easier, too. 
3. Communicate with everybody before it happens. Good communication is one of the most important parts of a successful office move. Everybody will feel much more comfortable if they’re aware of any changes over time. They will be able to transition easily when they know what’s happening. Encourage staff to ask questions and involve them in certain decisions where possible, such as office layouts or shared spaces. 
4. Make sure everything is clearly labelled. You may think you’ll remember which box contains the kitchen supplies or printer cables, but the likelihood is that you won’t. Clear labelling makes the unpacking process much easier. In the future, you are going to be very grateful when you are not digging through random boxes searching for the router for the Wi-Fi.
5. Protect all of your important equipment. This is where you need a removalist. Office equipment can be expensive and delicate, so it’s important to handle it carefully during the move. Computers, servers and other electronics should be packed securely using appropriate materials. Backing up important data before the move is also a very good idea, just in case anything unexpected happens. If possible, assign someone to oversee technology setup at the office so that you can minimise any downtime.

Before moving day arrives, confirm that your new workspace is ready for your team. Whether you’re relocating to a traditional office or Regency Executive Offices, checking that utilities, internet, furniture and security access are all in place will help you settle in with minimal disruption.

Good planning is going to make this process much easier. Once the boxes are unpacked and the coffee machine is working again, the fresh start can feel pretty exciting. 

This is a collaborative post.