If you are just at the start of contemplating your office move, you may be wondering what you need to factor in when allocating your budget. Our expert team at Posture People have outlined all of the key areas you need to consider before relocating and obtaining relevant quotes.

First question to ask yourself is do you really need to move? This may sound palpable, but relocating offices can be a huge expense and possibly one that should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary.  If you consider your current space, are you utilising it as effectively as you could be? Often a professional space planning service can help you re-assess what you have already got, and ultimately, put it to better use.

After you’re positive that moving is the best option, it is a good idea to devise a relocation budget. Here are several important examples of what to include:

• Dilapidations to your existing premises. When you move out of a building, depending on the type of lease you signed originally, you may well have to pay for repairs to the building or return it to the original state/layout before you depart.
• Professional fees, such as solicitors and management fees.
• Fitting out the new office. It is highly unlikely that everything will be in exactly the right place when you move in. So, you will need to consider the cost of electrics, phone and broadband lines, partitioning and installation of extra rooms, such as boardrooms and kitchens if they are not already there.
• Furniture. Will you be taking your old furniture in which case there will be removal costs or are you installing new furniture?  If you are opting for new furniture allow plenty of time for ordering as it can take up to six weeks for furniture to arrive.
• Post move there will be marketing costs, such as new stationary, updates to corporate literature and informing your clients of your new address. Don’t forget that whenever you make a major alteration to an employee’s workspace they should have a DSE assessment. This ensures that you are complying with health and safety regulations.

The final piece in the relocation puzzle is how this project will be financed. Most moves are either funded out of capital expenditure or more and more companies now look to lease their refurbishment costs.  Leasing can offer an attractive alternative as the costs can be spread over a three or five year period preserving cash flow.

You can contact us for further bespoke, friendly advice on moving office, including office space planning, reception design and consultancy.