Moving a business is more than just booking a truck and loading it up. If it’s not planned well, an office move around the corner in Plymouth city centre or across town to a larger unit, could lead to lost productivity, files getting lost, and an increase in stress for employees. This is your checklist to keep your move running efficiently right from the start.

Create a Move Calendar

Best practice office moves start more than six to eight weeks before moving day. Set a hard date and work backwards from that compiling tasks to remind employees, notify suppliers, adjust your address with clients, and booking the removals company. This is a major contributor to why office moves take way longer than planned.

Designate a Move Coordinator

Different departments have their own set of priorities, equipment, and filing systems. It can be very useful to have someone in charge of the whole operation. This individual represents the company with the removalists, keeps co-workers updated, and makes decisions when something is unclear.

Evaluate What You Need

Moving offices is a great time to reset your company’s cluttered space. Have an honest evaluation of what you actually need in your filing cabinets, IT cupboards, and storerooms. Instead of having old documents transported across Plymouth to sit in a new cupboard, consider shredding and archiving them digitally.

• Organize documents into keep, archive, and shred
• Look for old equipment that can be recycled
• Verify which pieces of furniture are moving as is and which are being replaced

Safeguard IT and Sensitive Equipment

Equipment including computers, servers, and telephone systems, require careful handling to avoid damage and downtime. Make sure to label every cable and backup data before the move. Speak to your removals provider about how IT equipment will be moved and how you would like the equipment connected at the new location.

Communicate Changes to Clients and Suppliers Ahead of Time

Before the actual move, you should update your address on your website, email signatures, invoices, Google Business listing, and any other platforms to reflect your new location. Inform regular suppliers and clients about the move to prevent mail, deliveries, and visits from ending up at the wrong building during moving week.

Prepare for as Little Downtime as Possible

To reduce disruption, Plymouth businesses tend to move during weekends or quiet trading periods. Set a reasonable go-live date for the new office and see if any employees can work from home for a few days around the move to help maintain smooth operations.

Pick a Removals Company That Specializes in Business Moves

Moving from a commercial location is a completely different process to moving from a residential location. You need a team that can carefully handle office furniture such as desks, server racks, and confidential filing as well as adjust to your business hours.

Contact us for a fast and free quote if you are looking for an office move in Plymouth and want a team who will simplify moving for you. We would be glad to discuss your needs and create a roadmap tailored to your organisation.