The logistics of office relocation in London are complex and multilayered. You not only need to ensure that the move goes smoothly and in an organised manner but what’s most important is that your business doesn’t experience any downtime. Spending more time on an office relocation than intended could mean angry customers, money loss, and could have long-term negative consequences for your business.
Moving offices is expensive and time-consuming. So how can you make it easier for your company to change address?
In this article, we’ll share with you everything you need to know about moving offices in London.
Choose a legitimate office removal company
One of the first things that it’s advisable to do when it comes to relocating offices is to choose and partner with a professional office removal company in your area. Relocating offices is a large project and it’s best to receive expert help. Your movers will be able to help you pack, stay organised, transport your office belongings and IT department safely, and more.
When choosing an office removal company to work with, here are some of the things to look out for:
- Is the company certified?
- How many office movers will be assigned to your project?
- Does the company provide a moving van?
- Is the service insured?
- Are they available to help on your moving date?
- Do they offer free quotes?
- What’s included in the price?
Create an office move team
Once you’ve chosen your office movers and you’ve agreed on a moving date, it’s time to get your colleagues organised. Create a relocation team by choosing responsible colleagues that you know can work according to deadlines. Create a list noting down the person’s name, responsibility, and the tasks they’ve been allocated.
This is especially important for large corporations where there is a multitude of departments and hundreds of employees. Make sure you’ve chosen a move manager for every department who will be responsible for making sure everything is running smoothly.
Allocate an office relocation budget
Let’s not forget about the expenses of moving offices. There are a lot of costs associated with moving offices that you must be prepared for. Some of the things you’ll need to factor in your budget are:
- Office moving company fees
- Expenses for packing materials
- Renting a moving van (if not provided by movers)
- Any special packaging for fragile items
- Cleaning services after the move
And more.
Set an office move budget and be careful not to spend more than you can afford.
Use an office move checklist
Regardless of whether your office is small or large, it’s best to carry out your office relocation by using a checklist. A detailed office move checklist will help you keep track of your progress and follow every step of the moving process with confidence. It will also protect you from forgetting important phases of the move like transferring utility bills, changing your address with partners or suppliers, or more.
There are many checklists available online that you can use but you can also create a personalised one that works best for your business.
Set realistic timeframes
To prevent any business downtime and to keep your customers happy with the products or services you provide, it’s essential to have a timeframe for the office relocation project. Taking more time to move than intended is likely to severely influence your business. It’s hard to build a positive business reputation, make sure that you don’t ruin it while relocating.
When you’ve set your deadlines, send out notifications to everyone involved in the moving process to ensure they’re on the same page as you.
Send out notifications about the office move
Once your office moving date approaches, don’t forget to send out notifications about your change of address. Some of the key parties that should be informed about your office move are:
- Banks and other institutions
- Utility providers
- Clients
- Partners
- Suppliers
- Magazine subscriptions
Also, remember to update your new address information on your company website, social media channels, and any other Internet-based sources.
Plan packing & unpacking
Packing and unpacking are perhaps the most important and stressful parts of an office relocation. Properly packing your office belongings can turn office moving into a piece of cake or a complete nightmare. A professional recommendation is to always work with a labelling system and a packing checklist. Ensure each department is kept separate when it comes to packing and unpacking. Hand out packing materials to employees in advance and inform them about any packing system that you would like them to follow.
Moving offices is exciting and offers employees a change of environment that could often lead to more motivation and higher productivity. However, it could be a real challenge if not approached with attention and preparation. We hope this guide on everything you need to know about moving offices in London will help you stay organised and get through the process with a smile on your face.