When it comes to managing an office move, there’s a lot to organise and think about, which can make it an incredibly stressful task.
In fact, a survey found that 64% of respondents found their most recent move the most stressful thing they’ve ever experienced.
From furniture to electronics to stationery, there’s a whole range of items that you’ll need to pack safely when moving offices.
If you’re stuck on how to plan an office move, this checklist guide is for you.
The steps in our How to Move an Office Checklist are:
- Arrange the logistics of the office move
- Draft a moving plan
- Check everything fits into the new office
- Buy packing materials
- Disassemble furniture and pack boxes
- Label items for your removals company
- Give your removals company office access
1. Arrange The Logistics Of The Office Move
The first item on our How To Move an Office Checklist is to plan the logistics of the move.
From finding a reputable office removals company to securing a moving date, the logistics of planning an office move can include lots of steps. A packing schedule before your moving date can help you keep organised so you’re not overwhelmed during the move.
Make sure you book your moving vans well ahead of time, as removal companies can get booked up well in advance.
From finding a reputable office removals company to securing a moving date, the logistics of planning an office move can include lots of steps.
2. Draft A Moving Plan
If you’re unsure how to move an office, a moving plan can help you with the entire process. As you draft a moving plan, you can designate who will be in charge of the office move.
This person can act as a manager who delegates tasks to a smaller moving team. This makes the packing process manageable and minimises any stress with moving, making the operation more comfortable overall.
You’ll want to write down who’s going to be packing what and ensure that every staff member has taken their personal belongings home before the packing process begins.
Remember to decide whether you’ll be packing your items yourselves or whether the moving company will be packing them for you. This will affect how you prepare for the removal company’s arrival.
A moving plan makes the packing process manageable and minimises any stress with moving, making the operation more comfortable overall.
3. Check Everything Fits Into The New Office
You don’t want to get to the new office only to learn that only half of the items fit!
As such, the next agenda with managing an office move is to measure the new office and create a floor plan for the new workplace layout. Keep your office furniture in mind when you create this template.
For whatever reason you’re moving offices, this is the perfect time to get rid of anything you no longer want or need, especially if the new office is limited in terms of space.
From old desk chairs to waste paper bins, make sure that you go through your items with the potential to downsize in your mind. Look through what you’re packing and donate anything you no longer need. After all, there’s no point packing anything you’ll no longer need or stuff into boxes.
If you are purchasing new furniture, place the order promptly to ensure it arrives at the new office in time.
4. Buy Packing Materials
The next step in our planning an office move guide is to buy enough packing materials for the whole office.
Packing materials that you’ll need include, but are not limited to:
- Sturdy cardboard boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Packing paper
- Biodegradable packing peanuts (Better for the environment)
- Coloured labels
- Scissors
Having an abundance of packing materials will also help you create a labelling system that’s clear for staff members and your removal company.
5. Disassemble Furniture & Pack Boxes
The next thing involved with managing an office move is to disassemble furniture and pack the boxes.
As your office needs to be in operation until the last minute, this is one of the last things you’ll do to prepare for the removal company’s arrival.
Don’t disassemble any unnecessary furniture pieces! The more pieces there are to put together, the longer it will take to get organised in the new office.
That said, if you’re an office of 20 with 20 desks to pack, these will naturally need to be disassembled to ensure there’s room in the removal van for other items.
Prepare the boxes with packing materials, such as packing paper and packing peanuts to help absorb the shock caused by transit.
Extra bubble wrap and packing peanuts are crucial when packing items such as monitors, desktop computers, and laptops, as these items are much more fragile.
Prepare the box with a layer of packing paper, then wrap the item in packing paper before bubble wrapping it. Remember to place one laptop or computer per box to prevent damage to valuable electronics.
You won’t want to disassemble unnecessary furniture, as the more pieces there are to put together, the longer it will take to get organised in the new office.
6. Label Items For Your Removals Company
The next step in this office move planning guide is to label your items after you pack them. Labels can help movers understand where boxes should go after they’ve taken them out of the van.
Your labels should be as specific as possible, which is when a colour-coded labelling system can be useful. It’s also a good idea to label boxes with delicate items to lower the chance of things breaking.
Clear labels will indicate to the removal company where your boxes and furniture need to be.
This will also make moving your office easier and ensure the new workplace is organised from the get-go.
Labels can help movers understand where boxes should go after they’ve taken them out of the van. It’s also a good idea to label boxes with delicate items to lower the chance of things breaking.
7. Give Your Removals Company Office Access
Last, but no means least, you’ll need to provide your removal company with office access. Giving them access to both the original and new office will ensure a seamless move.
After the movers arrive at the original office, you’ll need to go around the place and give them any necessary instructions. This may include items you want to be packed last, any heavy boxes to look out for, or items that shouldn’t be moved at all.
It’s sensible to have someone on-site to help open up your new office and lock up once the removal company have moved all the furniture in.
This will help ensure that no part of your move is delayed and that both sites are secure.
How Can We Help
We hope that our How To Move an Office checklist has helped you with managing an office move.
To learn more about our removals services or purpose-built storage facilities, contact Nathan.
At Falconer Removals, we use meticulous moving techniques, passed down and perfected through generations for over 132 years, to ensure your goods are moved with expert precision and kept in perfect condition.
For more expert advice on how to pack, move and store your belongings — or other FAQs on how removals work — check out our blog page.
Written by Jemima Thomas for Falconer Removals & Storage.
Updated on 07/03/2025
