We know how stressful relocating your business to a new premises can be. There are so many different areas to think about, from the size of the space to the transfer of your data and security systems.

To ease your office-move headache, our MD, Phil Brown shares his 20 years of experience in shaping Yorkshire’s commercial properties, giving tips on completing a stress-free office move for your business and helping you answer the question - ‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?’

1. Make sure an office move is right for your business

There comes a time in the life of any business where an office move is essential. Whether it be that your team has grown rapidly and you need space for more staff, or perhaps the needs of your business have altered and you need a completely different environment to support your business delivery.

However, the lease ending doesn't necessarily mean that it's time for you to go and whilst it might be an exciting prospect, it can be very costly to your business if it's not the right time for you to move.

Make sure you know for certain that an office move is what you need before taking on the project!

2. Ask your staff what they need in your new office

Attraction and retention are two major concerns for businesses in the modern workplace and providing an environment that inspires and motivates your team to perform their best work is a top priority for many business owners.

Your staff have to work in the same space that you do and finding out their opinions could help you understand what they need to improve their workplace performance.

Not every idea has to be implemented (let's face it - a slide isn't a great idea for every office!) but getting your teams input could help you overcome some obstacles that are preventing your team operating more efficiently.

Asking your staff for their thoughts and suggestions on what you need in your new office can go a long way towards creating the perfect environment for them to work in... But don't try and honour every suggestion!

3. Set a realistic budget for your office move

Have contingency in your budget for every eventuality, no matter how big or small. Whether moving walls or something as simple as setting up internet connections.

4. Consider how much office space you need, both now and in the future

Does your new space need to give your room for future expansion? How many members of staff do you need to accommodate? Have you considered how much storage space you need to have?

5. Set a clear time frame for the office move

Like the budget, have a clear time scale for the project so you can keep on top of suppliers, ensuring everything is running smoothly.

6. Call in the right professionals to help with your office move

Don’t forget to involve legal teams, property consultants, design and fit-out partners in the process to reduce your own workload. They perform these operations daily and can relieve some of the headaches involved.

7. Consider the location of your new office and what type of building suits your business

Solid floors may mean perimeter trunking for wiring, which limits the flexibility of the office layout - making your dream open-plan space unlikely. Moving out of the city centre might mean staff need to take additional modes of transport on top of their existing commute.

8. Update your business address on all your stationery and online profiles

Email signatures, business cards, website etc all need to be up to date once you’re in your new premises - don’t forget to set up a mail redirect because you’ll probably need some of those letters!

9. Mitigate the downtime for your business during the move

Plan in enough time to ensure your normal business function isn’t impacted by the move. Moving over a weekend means you won’t sacrifice any business days. Most office buildings won’t permit moves during working hours anyway, so make sure you’re aware of any restrictions at your new premises.

10. Find out if you'll have to pay for dilapidations on your current premises

Whether you’re aware of them or not, you might have a contractual obligation with your landlord to pay to have your office space dilapidated and returned to its original condition, ready for the new tenant. On average, this is around £9.54 per square foot!