Moving house regularly tops the list of the most stressful things we can do in our lives and it looks like an office move isn’t far behind.

It is, of course, an exciting time – you are starting a new chapter, most likely because your company has grown to such a significant size that you finally need more space.

But, a survey conducted by E.ON found that more than three quarters of small and medium sized businesses find the idea of moving so stressful that they delay the process altogether with 78 per cent of managers choosing to stay in cramped buildings as a result.

There are ways to have a smooth office move, so if you have been putting yours off, read on.

Make a plan

You know what they say; fail to plan and you are planning to fail. You need to set clear goals and objectives of why you are moving and what you want to achieve from the move. Start by asking yourself a few questions – How much space do we need – not just right now but looking forward, too? Where do we want to move to – and will it be convenient for all members of staff? When does the current lease run out? When do we want or need to move?

You will also want to create a list of things your office must have and then things you would like it to have. Do you want to be in a shared office space where you could have access to a canteen or stationery cupboard, for example? Or do you want a building of your own? The last thing you want is make the big move and then realise it is missing something vital.

Budget

This is very important – how much can you afford to spend? You don’t want to be tied into a long lease and then struggle with payments. Identify basic costs and then add extra to allow for unexpected expenses. Money can be one of the biggest causes of stress but if you have done your sums, you shouldn’t need to worry about this.

Create a floor plan

Knowing where everything and everyone is going will avoid chaos on the first day and even the days that follow the move. Assign each team member a desk and then they know exactly where to start unpacking their own things when the time comes.

Get everyone involved

You don’t want your staff’s productivity levels to drop during the move because it all feels so unsettling. Make sure you keep them up-to-date every step of the way – outline expectations and any disruptions you anticipate. Encourage them to ask questions and raise concerns – you may find they have even thought of something you haven’t. While involving your staff, you will also want to appoint a project manager, so that someone is overseeing the whole process from start to finish and can ensure that it goes as smoothly as possible.

As you are moving into your new office, make sure you have organisation in mind from the very beginning. Offices can quickly become cluttered, no matter how much space you have. This is detrimental to both the morale and productivity of your workforce. So, use this fresh start to rethink the way you organise your space to ensure you are using it efficiently and therefore don’t feel like you need even more of it just a matter of weeks after you move in.