It can be a big task organising an office move, especially for larger businesses. There are many considerations that have to be made and it can end up being a long, drawn out process. In the end though it should be worth it as your company benefits from a modern and practical office space.
For everything to go as smoothly as possible, it is important to plan meticulously every element of an office relocation. Here are four of the most vital stages to get right and avoid any complications with your move.
Decide Where and Why
The first thing to do is make a decision that you need to move. Draw up a list of pros and cons.
If you decide that an office move is necessary, the next question is: where? This will depend a lot on the industry you work in and city or town you are based in. Do plenty of research until the ideal new office is found.
You should also discover the right reason to relocate. The main reasons for moving can be if your company is expanding and needs more space or if a more modern office is required. Quite often, your ‘why’ is more important than the ‘where’.
Set a Budget and Timeline
A budget will have been set for the new office, but some will need setting aside to cover the costs of moving. As well as affording any new equipment, furniture, and other overheads there will be the cost of hiring a removal company or vans if you and your colleagues intend to do it alone.
Create a timeline and stick to it to avoid as much disruption, organising the relocation during your business’ quietest period where possible. You want to minimize your business’ downtime, as you can’t afford losing business during the relocation.
Assign Responsibility
It is a good idea to assign one person as head of the relocation, to oversee everything and know when each stage is happening. They should be the main point of contact between the company and contractors, in charge of ensuring everything runs on time and arranging a removal company, new equipment and more.
If your company size is rather large and you can afford a team of two or three, it’s even better than assigning just one person for the relocation. You want the transition to be as seamless as possible, and having a dedicated team to work on that is the way to go.
Organise Post-Move Details
Moving office is a great time to have a clear out of any unnecessary and old items of furniture or other equipment. As you’ll be emptying everything out and probably investing in some new items anyway, this is good for discarding or selling such items.
Think about what you won’t need after the move beforehand and put up for sale online, stipulating that they can’t be picked up until after the move. This should help your office relocation run smoothly.
Takeaway
Office relocation can be stressful for you and your employees. It can also impact your business operational and bottom line in one way or another. That’s why you need a plan for that and a person or team to execute and oversee it.
Plan well and make sure everything is done smoothly and in a timely manner to minimize the downsides