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How To Prepare For An Office Move [Corporate Office Move Timeline and Checklist]

July 12, 2022

By Workspace Resource

Moving on your own can be stressful—but moving an entire office can be even more daunting. But an office relocation may be just what your business needs. Did you know that during a survey, 68% of employees said that an office relocation had a positive effect?

This positive effect can be possible for you and your company by staying organized and minimizing distractions and road bumps throughout the process.

In order to tackle your office move with peace of mind, we've provided you with some steps so that you know how to prepare for an office move—stress-free.

How to Prepare for an Office Move

You need to start preparing for the move as early as possible. This not only gives you time to organize all factors of the move, but it also helps your office to prepare.

Start preparing as early as 6 months out from your moving date in order to ensure nothing gets lost or forgotten during the moving process. This will help you stay on track with your office move timeline.

When you start preparing for the big move, it's important to announce the move to the office and any other colleagues involved. You should only involve the office with the announcement and details once the move has become a concrete plan.

Inform your colleagues and employees with what they need to do to prepare, including the location of the new office. Not only inform them about where the new office is, but why you're moving office spaces and the benefits of moving.

It's best to update your colleagues and employees with any new information throughout the moving process. If the timeline changes or new information comes up, communicate that with your employees effectively.

Once the new move has been announced, it's important to inform them about the layout of the new space and how the office space will change. Address any questions or concerns they may have. A big move can be stressful on your employees as well, so handling their questions can reassure them that this office move is the right choice for both them and the company.

Once you've begun preparing for the move, it's time to write a moving checklist to remain focused on the moving timeline.

Writing a Moving Checklist

In order to stay organized throughout this long process, it's best to keep a moving checklist with a deadline for each task. A moving checklist will let you know what and when needs to get done in order to help your move go smoothly.

An important list to keep with your moving checklist is an inventory list. Keeping inventory in a big move is vital. Without an up-to-date inventory list, there could be items or data that can be lost in the move. Keep this list close to your moving checklist.

Another vital to-do task is to prepare the new space. Is it going to be ready for moving in on move-in day? Ensure the space is clean, updated, and ready for the big day. Without preparing the new space, you could hit some road bumps before move-in day and create distress for yourself and the company.

Be sure to check the new space a couple of times the closer you get to moving. This can ensure nothing has gone wrong with the new space since the last time you had checked.

Another addition to your list should be hiring a moving company. Be sure to hire a company that you can trust with your items and data. Finding the right moving company can take some time, so start the process a few months before move-in day.

Staying Organized

A successful office move is dependent on an updated moving checklist. Staying organized with a moving timeline can reassure you and your company that everything will run smoothly throughout the process.

Packing is an inevitable to-do task on the moving checklist. Begin packing the items early-on, only keeping out what you need in order for your office to function.

Be sure to care for any furniture you're moving, as well as any data or important documents that are going with you to the new office. Keep your data safe and backed up before you unplug and move your technology.

An important tip to remember is that you will hit some road bumps in the process—this is inevitable with moving. However, staying organized and communicating with your company will help you deal with these issues efficiently and stress-free.

Update Your New Space

One of the best parts of moving to a new office is getting the chance to update the new space! If your budget allows it, spend some time designing the office.

Your new office space can boost the productivity of your employees by 20%. But adding new furniture, desks, and conference rooms can boost that productivity even more.

Update your desks, furniture, and any other part of your office space to make it more comfortable and accessible for your employees. Providing your office space with new chairs, lights, or desks can be the perfect way to improve your new working space.

Ask for employee feedback or suggestions about what could make for a productive office. incorporate colors and plenty of soft or natural lighting to make the office feel open and welcoming.

Budget your new furniture early-on to ensure it's possible to at least make a few adjustments for the new office. For inspiration, take a look at some office projects we've done in the past for businesses both big and small.

A Successful Office Move

Knowing how to prepare for an office move can help the entire move run smoothly. The more organized and focused you are, the less stress you and your employees will feel while moving.

This can also help you feel productive and energized working in the new office! Don't forget to design or update your new office to create a completely new and exciting experience for you and your employees.

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