Relocating your business is a critical strategic decision, demanding precision and minimal disruption. Whether it’s an office move, a complete business relocation, or a commercial removal across Yorkshire, the stakes are high. At D&G Moves, we are your trusted partner, offering a top-quality commercial removal service managed entirely by us, meaning one comprehensive invoice. Our highly rated and accredited team of full-time professionals is dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition for your operations. We operate with ultimate flexibility, 7 days a week, working precisely around your business’s unique opening hours to minimise downtime and prevent any impact on your staff’s productivity.
Here’s your comprehensive checklist, designed for business owners and office managers, to ensure your next business move is executed with efficiency and ease.
6 Months Before Your Business Move: The Strategic Planning Phase
This initial stage is crucial for laying the groundwork for a successful commercial removal.
- Appoint a Project Manager: Designate an internal lead (owner, office manager, or a dedicated project manager) to oversee the entire business relocation process. This individual will be the primary liaison with D&G Moves.
- Engage D&G Moves Early: Contact us as soon as your relocation is a consideration. We will visit your current premises, conduct a detailed survey, and provide a tailored, comprehensive quote, ensuring one transparent invoice for our services. Early engagement allows for better planning and optimal scheduling around your business needs.
- Budget Allocation: Establish a clear budget for all aspects of the business move, including D&G Moves’ services, new furniture, IT setup, and any unforeseen costs.
- Legal & Lease Review: Review existing lease agreements and new lease terms. Seek legal advice to understand your obligations and rights.
3 Months Before Your Business Move: The Tactical Prep
- Assess Your New Space: Conduct a thorough walkthrough of your new premises. Measure all areas to ensure existing furniture and equipment will fit. Identify any necessary renovations or IT infrastructure requirements.
- Budget in check: Check you’re still on budget.
2 Months Before Your Commercial Removal: The Operational Setup
Now, it’s time to focus on the practicalities and internal communications for your office move.
- Inform Your Team: Announce the business relocation to your staff, providing details about the new location and the moving timeline. Address any concerns and maintain open communication.
- Start Packing thing up: If this isn’t possible to do in advance we are on hand to dismantle furniture on the day and pack for you.
- Audit & Declutter: Encourage all staff, particularly those working hybrid or remotely, to clear out their desks and drawers. Provide clear instructions on what can be discarded or taken home. Supply skips or organise waste disposal if necessary. The less you move, the more efficient the commercial removal process.
- Specialist IT Handling Planning: This is a crucial aspect of any modern office move. To ensure everything is transported safely and efficiently, we ask that your IT provider or in-house team disconnects and prepares all devices prior to our arrival. This includes servers, desktop PCs, monitors, printers, and networking equipment. This helps us move your systems securely and set the stage for a smooth reinstallation at your new location. D&G Moves handles IT equipment with expert care once prepared.
- Floor Plans & Labelling Strategy: Develop a detailed floor plan of your new office, indicating where furniture and equipment should be placed. Implement a robust labelling system for all boxes and items, clearly stating their contents and destination room/department at the new premises. Encourage staff to label their chairs, personal items, and any hybrid-specific equipment.
1 Month Before Your Business Move: The countdown phase
- Supplier & Client Notifications:
- Utilities & Services: Notify current utility providers (electricity, gas, water, internet, landlines) of your move date. Arrange for new services at your new premises, ensuring they are active before you move in.
- Suppliers: Inform all your regular suppliers of your new address and update delivery schedules.
- Clients/Customers: Communicate your new address and any temporary service disruptions to your clients. Reassure them of a seamless transition.
- Review and Update Digital Presence: This is critical, especially if you rely on local custom. Update your business address on:
-
-
- Google My Business
- Yell.com and other online directories
- Your website’s contact page
- Social media profiles
- Any industry-specific directories
- Remember: Incorrect addresses can severely affect your local SEO and prevent new and existing customers from finding you.
-
2 Weeks Before Your Business Relocation: Final prep time
The final preparations for your commercial removal are in full swing.
- Finalise IT Disconnection Schedule: Coordinate with your IT team/provider for the exact timing of disconnections.
- Back Up Data: Ensure all critical business data is backed up to external drives or cloud storage. This is a non-negotiable step.
- Pack Non-Essential Files & Items: Begin packing non-critical documents, archival records, and seldom-used office supplies. Ensure these are labelled meticulously.
- Confirm with D&G Moves: We will be in regular contact, but a final confirmation of timings, access, and any last-minute adjustments (like waste removal requirements) is good practice.
- Notify Building Management: Inform both your current and new building management teams about the upcoming business move, including the exact dates and times our commercial removals team will be on site, and arrange for necessary access.
- Organise Secure Shredding: Why move documents that are old and outdated to your new premises, book in and organise an onsite confidential shredding collection.
1 Week Before Your Office Move: The Last Mile
Tighten up all remaining tasks for your seamless office move.
- Final Packing & Labelling: Encourage staff to pack up their remaining personal desk items. Ensure all drawers are empty and locked if possible. All items should be labelled according to your plan.
- Furniture Dismantling Schedule: If D&G Moves is handling dismantling, we’ll coordinate this. If internal staff are doing it, ensure they have the tools and time.
- Essentials Kit for New Office: Prepare a kit with essentials for the first day at the new office: basic tools, cleaning supplies, first-aid kit, refreshments, important documents, and any immediate IT needs.
- Cash & Valuables: Ensure all cash, sensitive documents, and highly valuable items are removed from the premises and transported securely by a designated person. D&G Moves does not transport cash or valuables.
Moving Day: The Smooth Commercial Removal
With D&G Moves at the helm, moving day is about efficient execution.
- Final Walk-Through (Old Office): Before our team arrives, conduct a final walkthrough of your old premises to ensure nothing is left behind and that it is ready for handover.
- Supervise & Direct: While our professional team will handle the heavy lifting, your appointed project manager should be on-site at both locations to answer questions and direct the placement of items according to your floor plan.
- IT Reconnection: Once equipment is in place, your IT team can begin the crucial reconnection process.
- Welcome Your Team: Once settled, welcome your team to the new premises. Acknowledge their efforts and celebrate the successful business relocation!
Relocating your business with precision and minimal disruption is our promise. Trust D&G Moves to manage your commercial removal seamlessly, allowing you to focus on what you do best – running your business. Contact us today for a consultation and discover how our expertise in commercial removals across Yorkshire can benefit your next move.