Prepare in Advance to ReduceThe Stress of an Office Move

Everyone knows that one of the most stressful events in life is moving house, whether you are doing-it-yourself on a budget or having a 5-star full packing and removals service. But if you work for, or own, a small business and can't afford to get the experts in to pack for your office move then you could find moving office just as stressful as moving house. So here are some tips to try and minimise the stress of moving office – they can't promise to eliminate the stress altogether but they will help you to cope more easily in the lead-up to the move and on the big day itself by being prepared for all eventualities well in advance.

Everyone in a small business, from the owner to the managers, administrators and all other workers are likely to have to get involved to some extent in the relocation of the business to new premises and this work can be started weeks or, in some cases, even months in advance of the moving date. Try and tackle all the tasks that can be done in advance as soon as possible if you want to reduce the number of last minute jobs and keep a calm head. Some of the tasks that can be, or have to be, done in advance will include the following:

1. Get recommendations for office removal companies – you may have to do the packing yourself to keep costs down but the physical lifting and moving will need to be done professionally because of health and safety regulations designed to protect you and your staff. Word-of-mouth recommendations are one of the best ways to find a reputable removal company and to avoid those with a poor reputation.
2. Get quotes from the recommended removal companies making sure that each quote covers the same level of service so that you can accurately compare quotes.
3. Ensure you have detailed measurements of the new premises, including door openings and staircases and/or lifts. Make a note of any awkward turns on landings which might present a problem for large equipment or furniture.
4. Draw up a floor plan showing where equipment and furniture is to be located and decide which office space will be occupied by which staff members. Include employees in the discussions on allocated offices or workstations; the last thing you want in your new premises is unhappy employees.
5. Contact phone and utilities companies and Internet Service Providers even if the moving date is not yet set to forewarn them of the impending move. Put a backup plan in place in the event of phone lines and internet connections not being available on the day. Consider asking key staff members to work from home if possible.

6. If storage cupboards and shelves are part of the fixtures and fittings in the old premises then make sure there is equivalent space for storing everything in the new premises. It is surprising how much room is taken up by files and general office supplies and larger premises do not necessarily have more storage space.

The author has written and published articles on a wide range of topics including Small Business Advice, Tax and Accounting, Interior Design, House Renovation and Project Management.