How long does it take to move office

At the end of the day, how long it takes to move offices depends on a number of factors. The size of your office, the amount of furniture and equipment you have, whether you're moving locally or overseas, and the time of year you're moving are all major factors.

If you're relocating a small office with only a handful of staff, and you're not moving too far away, then you could probably get away with doing it all in a weekend. But if you're moving to a large office with hundreds of staff members, then it's going to take a lot longer.

The best thing to do is to start planning early and give yourself as much time as possible. That way, you can avoid any stressful last-minute rushes, and ensure that everything goes according to plan.

It's also important that downtime is kept to a minimum for a smooth transition and minimal disruption to your business. After all, the last thing you want is for your business to grind to a halt while you're in the midst of moving.

As they say, the devil is in the detail. With any office relocation, planning is everything. Ask yourself these questions:

Do you need to relocate staff?

Your employees have to come first. If you're asking employees to move to new cities or countries the process becomes extremely challenging and technical. Do you need to think about housing, families, schools and immigration? This is adds a whole level of complexity to the move and this becomes more about a business relocation than an office relocation.

What needs to come with you

If you're moving to a new office space, what do you need to bring with you from your old office space? What’s important to bring across and what needs rethinking?

Who is moving what?

Do you have a trusted partner to move your equipment and furniture? Who will your IT team trust to decommission and recommission your server room?

What's being left behind?

You can't just move out and leave what you don't want behind. What happens to your leftover existing office furniture?

When will you move?

What are the timeframes for the move? When will the new office be ready for occupation? Do you have an internal team that is available to coordinate the external help?

What is the budget for the move?

Do you have the budget for relocation specialists or a moving company? Will you be able to afford external help to manage the process?

How do you ensure business continuity?

As many organisations are now set up for hybrid working and working from home is far more accessible, this has helped ease the office relocation pain. That said, what do you need to keep your IT and business functions running, even if people are working at home?

Internal messaging

Getting the internal narrative right is critical for employees ahead of an upcoming move. It's important that your teams know what is going on and are kept in the loop about the new space, are engaged in the new office design and are bought into the relocation process.

External messaging

Who will communicate the move to your clients and advertise your new business location? Your company website, stationery and online directory listings will need updating.

We always recommend hiring a dedicated project manager to help coordinate your office move. They will be able to take care of all the logistics and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

An office relocation project plan and an office relocation budget are both critical to the success of the project and should be implemented ahead of an upcoming office relocation.

We partner with expert office relocation companies that specialise in logistics and can help with packing up your office and transferring your IT equipment. These companies usually have a team of experienced professionals who will make sure that everything is taken care of, from start to finish.

If your office move requires you to relocate your people, we also work with trusted partners that can help with housing, schools, family careers and even immigration.

The key to remember with any external help is to hire people that you can trust and who have a proven track record. This will make your life a lot easier and provide reassurance to stakeholders and senior leadership teams. Make sure to check reviews, and insurance policies and get references where possible.

The cost of moving offices will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of your office, the distance you're moving, and the time of year. Generally speaking, it's best to budget for at least £5,000-£10,000 for a small office move, and £30,000-£50,000 for a large office move. This does not include the relocation of employees or their families. This can prove to be significantly expensive and should be reviewed by a specialist. \If you're on a tight budget, there are a few ways you can save money with an office relocation. One is to try and avoid peak times, such as the end of the financial year or summer holidays. Another is to see if you can get any discounts from moving companies or office suppliers.

If you're on a tight budget, there are a few ways you can save money with an office relocation. One is to try and avoid peak times, such as the end of the financial year or summer holidays. Another is to see if you can get any discounts from moving companies or office suppliers.

Finally, remember that an office relocation is a great opportunity to declutter and get rid of anything you don't need. So, take this opportunity to have a good clear-out, and you may be able to save some money in the long run.

You can read our guide on office relocation costs here.

There are a few things you can do to make moving offices easier. First, start planning early and give yourself plenty of time.

Secondly, make a list of everything you need to do, and delegate tasks to different members of your team. And third, take this opportunity to declutter and get rid of anything you don't need.

Thirdly, if you're not taking your office furniture with you, some charities or second-hand furniture businesses will come and pick this up for free. This also helps with ensuring not everything ends up in land fill.

Finally, remember to stay calm and focused throughout the process. It's normal to feel a bit stressed during an office move, but try to stay positive and keep things in perspective. Things will almost certainly go wrong at some point, but try to roll with the punches and remain flexible. And most importantly, don't forget to have a little bit of fun along the way!

By following these simple tips, you can make sure that your office move goes as smoothly as possible.

Make sure you have a good internal team to support you and that you delegate to other employees. This will help keep stress levels at bay and stop you from feeling like you're doing it all yourself.

It's also important to have a plan for the day and to make sure that everyone knows what they're doing. This will help things run smoothly and avoid any last-minute panic.

Finally, try to enjoy the day! It's a big moment for your business, and it's an exciting time to be moving to a new office. Embrace the change and enjoy the process.

After the move - Once you're settled into your new office, there are a few things you need to do to make sure everything is running smoothly.

First, update your company's contact details on your website and all your marketing materials. Second, notify your clients, suppliers and partners of your new address and contact details. And third, make sure any regulatory requirements have been carried out. These can include risk assessments for your new office, health and safety documentation and fire risk assessments.

Finally, take some time to explore your new neighbourhood and encourage your employees and team to get to know the area. This will help you feel more settled in and will give you a better sense of what's around you.

Good luck!

For more information, check out our office relocation checklist here.