Start with the activities that need to restart
Before counting desks, identify which activities need to be ready first. Reception, shared workspaces and archives have different needs. Appoint one contact who can collect decisions and confirm priorities so that the moving team receives consistent instructions.
List each workstation with a simple reference and distinguish furniture moving from items staying behind. Mark any undecided pieces and furniture awaiting delivery from another supplier. These differences affect both the loading plan and the order of assembly.
Measure the new office before dismantling the old one
Compare furniture dimensions with walls, doors, windows and circulation space. Allow room for drawers, cabinet doors, seating and movement. A numbered floor plan is often clearer than several verbal descriptions.
Share the intended layout before the move. Arrange power, networking and equipment setup with the people responsible for them: furniture assembly does not automatically cover these tasks. If building work is continuing, identify the rooms that will actually be available.
Label for the destination
Labels should identify the destination room or workstation. “Desk 03, drawer contents” is more useful than “office items”. Separate shared and personal materials and keep confidential documents under appropriate control. Avoid putting sensitive information on visible labels.
Agree who disconnects, protects and reconnects computers. Backups and data handling belong with the organisation’s responsible specialists. Keep cables and accessories identified without giving passwords or credentials to furniture handlers. Flag equipment with unusual transport requirements early.
Plan clear stages
Separate preparation, dismantling, loading, travel, unloading and reassembly. Add access windows, lift availability and arrangements with building management. Where customers use the premises, agree when work areas will be clear.
Business continuity also depends on connections, supplies and building readiness. Set realistic priorities rather than assuming an automatic restart. Communicate changes to furniture, timing or destinations before the work begins.
Prepare a first day review
After positioning, review the agreed furniture, moving parts and layout with the team. Keep this separate from technical equipment checks, which have different requirements. Record missing components or outstanding decisions promptly.
Retain the workstation plan and furniture information. Keep first day essentials accessible instead of packing everything into identical boxes. Clear destinations and a named decision maker make settling in more manageable.
