How far in advance should I plan an office move?

For most small and medium offices, start planning three to six months ahead. That gives time to arrange new broadband and phone lines, agree a floor plan, tell clients and suppliers, and book a removals company for your preferred date. Larger offices or those with specialist equipment may need longer. A free survey early on helps set a realistic timeline for your business.

How can I move office without closing the business?

Move in stages. Relocate less time-critical teams and archive files first, schedule the main move for your quietest days, and keep customer-facing staff and phones running until the final stage. Having IT installed and tested at the new premises before the main move helps too. 1st Choice Removals can plan the stages with you at the survey.

Who disconnects and sets up computers in an office move?

Usually your own IT provider disconnects and reconnects servers, networks and computers, and tests them afterwards. Your removals company packs, labels, moves and places the equipment at the right desk. Back up all data first and photograph the cabling at each workstation. Agree the split of responsibilities in writing before moving day so nothing falls between the two.

What should be on an office move checklist?

A good office move checklist covers the moving date and lease terms, a floor plan for the new premises, an inventory of furniture and equipment, broadband and phone installation, a data backup, staff communication, a labelling system, notifying clients and suppliers of the new address, and final checks at both buildings. Our office move guide sets out each of these in order.

Can you store office furniture during a move?

Yes. 1st Choice Removals offers short and long-term containerised storage at local sites near Wimborne, Poole and Bournemouth. It is useful for surplus furniture, archive boxes or stock while you settle into new premises, or if there is a gap between leaving one office and moving into the next. Mention it when you book your survey.

Are office contents insured during the move?

Yes. Moves with 1st Choice Removals are fully insured for goods in transit. It is still sensible to check your own business insurance covers the period of the move, including anything held in storage, and to keep an inventory of high-value equipment. Ask us at the survey if you have particular items you want to discuss.

Do I need a parking permit for an office move?

Often, yes, particularly in town centres. If the lorry needs to park on a street with restrictions, you may need a parking suspension or permit from BCP Council or Dorset Council, depending on the location. Apply early, as councils need notice. Also check with building management about booking loading bays and goods lifts at both your old and new premises.

What should I do with old office furniture I am not taking?

Decide early, as disposal takes time to arrange. Good-quality furniture can be sold or donated to local charities and community groups, and anything else should go to a licensed waste carrier or recycling service. Make sure any old computers and drives are securely wiped first. Items you might need later can go into short or long-term storage instead.

Office Move Checklist and Guide | 1st Choice Removals

Office move checklist: how to relocate with minimal disruption

By Chris Vaughan · 28 September 2026

A good office move checklist starts with a fixed date and a timeline, then covers your people, IT, furniture and suppliers in that order. 1st Choice Removals has handled business removals around Bournemouth, Poole and Wimborne since 1990, and this guide sets out how to move office without bringing work to a standstill.

Three to six months out: set the plan

The earlier you start, the more control you have. Work backwards from the date you must be out of your current premises.

Fix a moving date and check lease end dates at both buildings.
Appoint a move lead internally, with authority to make decisions.
Get the new floor plan and decide where each team, desk and machine will go.
Audit what you have. List furniture, equipment and files that will move, be replaced or be disposed of.
Book a survey. A free survey lets your removals team see access, lifts, stairs and parking at both ends.

A clear written plan, shared with everyone involved, prevents most of the problems that cause delays later.

Keep staff, clients and suppliers informed

People work better when they know what is happening and what is expected of them. Tell your team early and update them regularly.

Explain the date, what will change and how each person's work will be affected.
Ask staff to clear their desks and pack personal items by a set day.
Give everyone a simple labelling system so their things arrive at the right desk.

Outside the business, tell clients, suppliers, your bank, insurers and HMRC about the new address. Update your website, email signatures, Google Business Profile and printed stationery in time for the move.

Plan IT and phones first

IT is usually the part of an office move with the longest lead time. Book broadband and phone lines at the new premises early, as installation can take weeks.

Back up all data before anything is disconnected.
Photograph cabling at each workstation so it can be rebuilt quickly.
Label every item of IT equipment with its destination desk.
Decide who disconnects and reconnects servers, printers and networks. Usually this is your IT provider, not the removals crew.

Your removals team will pack and move equipment carefully, but your IT support should test that everything works before staff arrive.

Move in stages to keep trading

If your business cannot close, a staged move lets part of the team keep working while the rest relocates.

Move less time-critical departments and archive files first.
Schedule the busiest stages for your quietest trading days.
Keep essential services, such as phones and customer-facing staff, running until the final stage.

Storage can help here too. Surplus furniture, archive boxes or stock can go into storage while you settle in, rather than cluttering the new space.

Packing, furniture and confidential files

Office contents need a different approach to a house move. Desks and storage units may need dismantling, and some files cannot be left unattended.

Use strong, uniform boxes that stack well and label them by floor, room and desk number.
Keep confidential and personal data files sealed and under supervision.
Ask your removals company to dismantle and reassemble furniture, so it goes back together properly. 1st Choice offers this as an optional extra, charged on top of your quote.
Protect the new building as well as the old one. Our crews use heavy-duty floor sheeting and padding on doors and frames.

Our full-time, uniformed crews handle business moves themselves, with no agency staff. See business removals for more, or our packing services if you want us to pack for you.

Access, parking and building rules

Office buildings often have rules that a house does not. Check them at both ends well before the move, as they can decide when and how the move happens.

Loading bays and lifts. Ask building management whether you need to book the goods lift or loading bay, and for how long.
Parking. Town centre streets in Bournemouth and Poole may need a parking suspension or permit for the lorry. Ask the council early.
Moving hours. Some shared buildings only allow moves at certain times.
Protection requirements. Landlords may ask for floors, lifts and walls to be protected.

Share these details at your survey so the crew size, vehicle and timings are planned around them.

After the move: check before day one

Once everything is in, test it before your team arrives, so they can start work without delays.

Internet, phones, printers and security systems are working.
Power and lighting are on at every desk.
Keys, fobs and alarm codes have been issued.
Signage, post redirection and deliveries point to the new address.

Walk round the old premises one last time for anything left behind, and take meter readings at both buildings. For a real example, read our office relocation in Poole.

A team planning an office move around a table