Let’s face it – the thought of moving any size office to another location is overwhelming and can typically lead to stress and anxiety. Worry not! We’ve outlined some easy steps and helpful tips to ensure a painless and stress-free office move. The most important thing to remember: pre-planning is everything.

1. Get Organized

Four weeks before the move date, determine headcount, team adjacencies and any special requests. To get prepared for the inevitable challenge of “who goes where”, it’s best to schedule a meeting with the leadership team to determine the most efficient and practical seating chart.

The three documents you will need to prepare for yourself and the movers:

1. Origin Map – current seating chart. Basically a floor plan with staff names and/or desk number.
2. Destination Map – new office seating chart. Again, staff names and move numbers. If multiple floors, a simple numbering system such as: workstations on the first floor 101, 102, 103; workstations on the second floor 201, 202, 203, etc.
3. Move Matrix – spreadsheet like the template provided here with all the map info, departments coded by color, and any special instructions.

One week before the move date issue move instructions to all staff to cut down on the chaos.  Check out our sample template. It’s expected that there will be some questions, be sure to include the contact information for the move manager.

2. Get Mobilized

First things first, organize your IT disconnect/reconnect crew to disconnect everyone’s workstations for the movers to relocate. The same crew will need to reconnect all equipment at the new location.

Rule of thumb: If less than 50 people (+/-), IT team can disconnect and reconnect equipment at the same time (note: 11pm – 12am is a typical cut-off time).

Stay close to the movers to guide them with any questions that might (and always do) come up. At the end of the move, do a walkthrough with your IT crew to make sure everything is arranged the way you planned and equipment is running properly. For example, quickly glance at each workstation to ensure phones and monitors lit up.

Designate a “lost and found” area where unmarked boxes or items misplaced during the shuffle can be located. Request that the movers place any miscellaneous items in this area to solve at the ‘Post-Move’ on Monday.

3. Get Up-and-Running

The next day (typically Monday), it is wise to have a couple movers and IT folks on site to help with miscellaneous issues, and let staff know about the designated lost & found area.

Your move matrix will come in handy to track any post-move issues. It will also help you prioritize the immediacy of what problems and questions should be addressed first.

Lastly, direct movers to collect empty boxes as employees begin unpacking. The moving company can recollect them, or simply request that it be moved to office storage.

Other Quick Tips:

• Request boxes from the moving company 2 weeks prior to the scheduled move date. (Usually 2-3 boxes per person)
• Schedule a walkthrough with the movers beforehand to get familiar with the new location space, parking, security, etc.
• Always have a facilities contact on site (that is familiar with the move) to help with any questions that arise.
• Place “DO NOT MOVE” signs on workstations that are NOT moving.
• Schedule a cleaning crew the Sunday before everyone is in their new locations.
• Make sure to contact building management to reserve EXISTING SITE and FUTURE SITE (if moving to a new building) freight elevator(s) and loading dock(s).
• For security purposes, instruct all employees to take home valuables, or lock them up.
• Before transporting boxes to the new location, do a quick run-through to make sure all boxes and equipment are labeled.
• If any printers will be transported, make sure to coordinate with your internal IT team to coordinate configuring ports.
• Buy the movers dinner during the move!  It’s a great way to thank your team.

Moving the office isn’t easy, but with the steps above, your team is headed towards a smooth transition. Remember – preplanning is the key element – no amount of last minute lists can make up for a month of preparation.

Have a tip to share or a question to ask about moving your office? Post it in the comments below!