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Any type of move can be stressful, whether you are planning to move to a new house or relocating your office.
Knowing where to be start can be difficult, contributing to the stress you feel before you have even started the moving process – so how do you make things easier?
You can start by reading our top 10 tips for an a less-stressful office fit out!
1. It’s all in the planning
If you are relocating to a new office, make sure you plan according to when you want to move in. Leave plenty of time to get things set up and get your staff moved in. Think about the things you will need to function effectively and leave extra time to trial things like broadband and telephone lines.
Don’t try to move into your new office before it is ready, as this can lead to further downtime. Set realistic deadlines with your planning and this will help things to run smoothly.
2. Choose your partner wisely
You will be able to tell quickly whether you can work with your fit-out partner. Take the time to meet up with them to find out their ideas, the way they work and to learn their style. You could even ask to see some of their previous jobs if quality of work is something you really care about. Every reputable office fit out company will have jobs they can showcase, so there should be no issue when it comes to seeing some case studies or physically visiting a premises.
Finding out as much as you can about a company early-on will help you to choose the right partner.
3. Nominate someone to be the project master
As a business owner, you might not have time to oversee everything yourself (as much as you’d like to). Nominating someone to oversee everything is a wise idea if you want to avoid the stress of doing it yourself. Someone will likely spring to mind when reading this point; someone you can trust, who knows you well, understands what you want and the way you work. This person can be the main point for all questions from staff and the one who can relay all important information back to you after each meeting with your partner.
4. Pay attention to the little things
Make a comprehensive list from the smallest things through to the biggest. Don’t just focus on the big things that need doing as the little things could be missed. You’ll appreciate it further down line when you have taken the time to cover all angles.
5. Read the small print
Make sure you check your existing lease terms and assess the status of the building of the building you are moving into. Read the small print and find out from your new landlords whether you can make alterations. There are several important legal issues to consider with any relocation or office fit out project, which may mean you need consent before any work starts in your new premises.
6. Carefully consider your budget
It’s hard to know how much you need to budget before you know what you want or what work is involved. Be realistic with your budget and what you want to achieve but bear in mind your investment will see you through the next decade or so. Use your new fit out as an opportunity to create a new office culture within your business, communicating your brand throughout the design of the interior.
Get estimates for all work as early as possible as this will help you to plan finances effectively.
You can find rough estimates for office fit out and refurbishment costs, here.
7. Get rid of old and “no longer needed” items
If you are indeed relocating or changing the layout of your office, you should consider getting rid of things that are no longer needed. Check all interior storage and give your current office a good overhaul before you move anywhere. This will help you to decide whether you need new furniture or if you can make use of space in new and exciting ways.
Giving your office a thorough clear out before moving anywhere will make things a lot easier and could mean you don’t have to move as much in the event of an office relocation.
8. Will you be taking your current furniture with you?
Decide early on whether you require new office furniture or whether you will be taking your existing furniture with you. Expenses can rapidly increase if you decide you want to replace everything in one go, so consider replacing the customer-facing furniture first, such as reception desks and/or seating.
If you are planning to re-use your existing furniture then a detailed survey of relevant items will need to be produced so that your existing furniture can be incorporated into the new office layout. The cost of this should be factored into your budget.
9. How will your business continue to operate?
If you aren’t relocating, there will usually come a point during your re-fit-out that staff are unable to work. This could be for a number of reasons:
- Health and Safety reasons
- Phone/broadband systems are down
- There is no physical space to work
You’ll need to think about how your business will continue to run in this scenario. Will your staff be able to remote-work or will you have to consider a temporary office? If your business can afford to close for a short period, then great, but for most this certainly isn’t the case!
Again, this is a problem that will need to be figured out early before work commences. If you are relocating to a new office, make sure you leave time on your existing lease to get your staff into the new building and test computers, telecoms etc. properly.
10. Double check everything
This may seem obvious but take the time to check everything is in working order in your new premises, before any work is started and after your fit out is complete.
Check all windows, doors, locks, alarms, toilets, sinks, lighting and anything else you can think of that may not work. When everything has been moved across, be sure to check all systems are working properly in your new office as this can make a difference between a good move and a bad move.
No one likes stress, do they? With the impact it can have not only on your mental health, but your physical health too, it’s best to try and avoid it.
Follow our top 10 tips to a stress-free office fit out and you can help to avoid the stress that comes from moving!
If you have any questions regarding an office fit out, take the time to contact Fusion Office Design and speak to a member of our experienced team today.