Moving offices to a new location can be an exciting time, but it can also be stressful and disruptive, which could cause a few issues for your business if not handled properly. Companies move to new locations all the time and for many different reasons, but there will always be hurdles to overcome.
There is much more to it than merely transporting all the office equipment, and it is a lot of work, no matter the size of your company. With this in mind, here is a guide for moving to a new location, which should help to make the process more straightforward.
Plan as Early as Possible
It is important to start planning the move from the moment you have confirmed it is taking place. This will help you to determine exactly what needs to be done when it needs to be done, and who will be responsible for each task. When you have a plan in place, it can streamline the move, minimize downtime and reduce stress. You should also visit the new site and familiarise yourself – there are many great offices to rent in London, and it would be smart to get to know the area before making the move so that the team can settle quickly.
Find A Reliable Moving Company
Much like when you move home, having a reliable moving company is essential for a smooth transition and can help you to focus on other areas of the move. It is a good idea to research different moving companies in your area and get quotes from a few different businesses. Although you will want to save money, this is also a crucial aspect of the move, so you need a company that is experienced in helping businesses to relocate.
Label Boxes Carefully
Moving an entire business to a new location is a huge undertaking, and there are sure to be a lot of different boxes. Labeling boxes carefully can make it much easier to unpack and get settled while also ensuring that nothing goes missing during the move.
Get Team Members to Pack Up Their Own Desks
The removals company can handle all the big equipment and furniture, but you need to get each team member to tidy up after themselves and manage their own desk space. This might require giving staff some time off so that they can get sorted, but it can make the move much easier and less stressful for all.
Plan with The IT Department
IT and tech is an area which can cause issues when relocating to a new location as a business. The removals company will be able to handle the transportation of IT and equipment, but you will need to plan with your IT department about getting back up and running. This is a big and time-consuming job, so it is helpful if you can get the team started as early as possible while you get the rest of the office up and running.
Consider Remote Working
You will want to minimize downtime as much as possible, but this is difficult when there is nowhere to work during the move. It is for this reason that you should have a few people working remotely during the move so that you are not completely offline during this period.
Notify Relevant People/Organisations
Leading on from this, you should notify any relevant people or organizations about the move and reassure them that you will be up and running again soon. This might include telling clients, partners, affiliates, and suppliers.
Address Change Orders
As soon as you know what your new address is, you should start updating documents, including envelopes, business cards, letterheads and anything else that contains the company address. You also need to update your online information with your new address so that you can be easy to find online.
Expect Teething Issues
Moving to a new office location is a huge task, and there are always going to be issued along the way. It is important that you anticipate these problems and do not let them ruin what can be an exciting and positive step for the company.
Celebrate
Once you have moved to the new location and you are up and running, it is important to celebrate this time with your team. It can be hectic for all, so celebrating together can turn it into a positive experience and help everyone to feel welcome and ready for a new chapter.
Moving to a new office location can be a considerable undertaking, but this guide will hopefully help it to be a smooth process.
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