Whatever the reason for an office move, there are some steps that need to be taken to ensure things run smoothly.
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1. Make a plan
It sounds obvious, but it is essential to plan the whole thing from start to finish. Consider things such as how much space you have in your existing building and how much you need in the new one. It is often useful to use office fit out companies to do this, as they have the necessary expertise and experience.
Planning includes making sure all your staff know what is happening, when it is happening, and how long it is likely to take. There will always be some staff who are going to be grumpy, which you need to mitigate as much as you can.
2. Rent or buy?
There is lots to consider whichever way you do this. If you rent, how long is the lease? Will the premises be the right size for the length of the lease? How much will it cost over the period of the lease? What is included? Again, office fit out companies can help with this.
If you buy, what is the best mortgage rate you can get and how much will you have to pay in solicitors’ and surveyors’ fees, not forgetting stamp duty?
Either way, you need to consider removal fees. Again, office fit out companies can often be of great benefit. Yes, you pay them, but they do this every day and it is better to pay for expertise if you don’t have it in house.
3. Location, location, location
Remember to take account of where the majority of your staff live and how the new journey will impact them. You could lose a lot of good people by not thinking about this.
4. Removal companies
It is important to find the right removal company for your commercial move. Prices can vary, so you may want to consider contacting the British Association of Removers for advice about suitable companies.
Feedback
Once you have moved into your new office, it is really important to get feedback from your employees and find out how they feel about the new office. Give them time to settle in, but it is vital to find out how they feel so that you can keep morale up.