The biggest difference between moving a home and moving an office is that every hour of stopped work costs money. So an office move is planned around one goal: staff leave the old office at the end of a working day and start work at the new one on the next working day, with their desks and equipment in place.
When should you move the office?
The weekend is the usual choice, since it gives two days for moving and assembly without stopping work. Start planning a month ahead for a mid-sized office, longer for a large company, and book early, because weekend slots go quickly.
What is the basic plan for an office move?
- Name one person on your team to deal with the moving company and make decisions on the day.
- Draw the new office plan and give every desk and workstation a number.
- Put the same number on each desk, its chair, its boxes and its equipment at the old office.
- Ask every employee to empty their drawers into numbered boxes before moving day.
- Agree with your IT team on disconnecting and reconnecting computers and the network.
How are files and equipment moved?
Paper files stay in order inside boxes numbered by the cabinet they came from, and heavy cabinets are not carried full if they have to go down stairs. Monitors and computers are wrapped one by one, and the cabling is photographed before unplugging. Servers and sensitive network equipment are best disconnected and prepared by your IT team, then moved by the crew.
What needs dismantling and assembly in an office?
| Item | What happens to it |
|---|---|
| Workstations and large desks | Dismantled and assembled to the new plan |
| Meeting table | Legs off, top wrapped |
| Metal cabinets | Emptied, or drawers secured before lifting |
| Chairs | Moved as they are, covered |
| Shelving and partitions | Taken apart and rebuilt where possible |
Moving day
The crew starts by wrapping equipment and delicate items, then dismantles the desks and loads them by number. At the new office, each piece goes to the spot carrying its number on the plan, then the workstations are assembled. When staff arrive, each finds their desk, boxes and computer in place, and only has to sort their drawers.
How does help with office moves?
The crew packs, dismantles, loads, moves and assembles, within and between cities, and the load is insured for the whole trip. Tell the team when you order about the office size, the number of workstations and any special equipment, so the right crew and trucks are arranged. Read dismantling and assembling furniture too.
Frequently asked questions
Can the office move at the weekend?
Yes, and it is the most common choice so work does not stop. Book early because weekend slots fill quickly.
Does the crew dismantle and assemble workstations?
Yes. The crew dismantles desks and workstations and assembles them at the new office following the plan you provide.
Who disconnects the computers and network?
Ideally your IT team disconnects and reconnects sensitive equipment, and the moving crew wraps and moves it.
How do I make sure every piece ends up in the right place?
Number every desk and workstation on the new office plan, and put the same number on the desk, its boxes and its equipment before the move.
