Moving your business is stressful, there’s no getting round it. One minute you are running things as normal, the next you are trying to pack up an entire office whilst keeping everything operational and making sure nothing important goes missing.
We have been doing office removals across Lancashire for years. Preston, Blackburn, Chorley, Leyland, Burnley, right across the county. We have moved tiny startups with three desks and massive companies with entire floors of equipment. Here’s what you actually need to know.
Planning Makes Everything Easier
The biggest mistake businesses make is leaving everything until the last minute. You cannot just ring up a removals company the week before and expect it to go smoothly. Well, you can, but it’ll be chaos.
Start planning at least two months before your move date, three months is even better if you are a bigger operation. That gives you time to actually think things through instead of panicking and forgetting half your filing cabinets.
Work out what you are taking with you. Sounds obvious, but you would be surprised how many businesses try to move stuff they don’t actually need anymore. That old photocopier that hasn’t worked since 2019? Leave it. Those desks that everyone hates? Get rid of them. Moving is the perfect time to have a clear-out.
Get quotes from removal companies early. We cover everywhere from Accrington to Clitheroe to Darwen, and our schedule fills up fast, especially at month ends when lots of businesses move. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to get the date you actually want.
Minimising Downtime Is Critical
Every hour your business is not operational costs you money. Lost productivity, missed calls and delayed projects, it adds up fast.
The key is planning the move for a time that causes minimum disruption. Weekends are obvious but not always possible. Some businesses do Friday evening through to Monday morning. You finish work on Friday, we move everything over the weekend and you are back up and running by Monday.
Others do it in stages. Move the non essential stuff first, then do the critical equipment and desks at the last minute. It depends on your business and how much flexibility you have got.
We have done moves where businesses are operational right up until 5pm Friday and need to be ready to go by 9am Monday. It’s tight but it can be done with the right planning. Our dismantling and reassembly service helps massively here because we can have your furniture taken apart, moved and put back together without you having to think about it.
IT Equipment Needs Special Attention
Computers, servers, network equipment…this stuff is expensive and fragile. You cannot just chuck it in a box and hope for the best.
Label everything, seriously, label every single cable. Nothing is worse than arriving at your new office and having no idea which cable goes where. Your IT person will thank you.
Back everything up before the move. Even if you have got recent backups, do another one the day before. Things can go wrong during moves and the last thing you need is to lose critical data because a hard drive got damaged.
If you have got servers or really sensitive equipment, consider having your IT team handle that bit themselves. We can move it, but some businesses prefer their tech people to personally transport the really important stuff. We totally understand that.
What About Your Staff?
Your team needs to know what’s happening and when. Nobody likes turning up to work and finding out the office is moving next week and they have had no warning.
Give them plenty of notice. Tell them the plan, the timeline and what they need to do with their personal stuff. Some businesses get staff to pack their own desks, others have the removal team do everything. It’s up to you, but make sure everyone knows what’s expected.
Think about the new location too. If you are moving from Preston to somewhere like Longridge or Ribble Valley, that’s a different commute for people. Some might be happy, others might struggle. Communication is key.
A Packing Service Saves You Hassle
You can pack everything yourself and save some money… or you can get us to do it and save yourself a massive headache!
Our packing service means we turn up with all the materials, pack everything securely, label it all and load it onto the van. You just point at what needs moving and we handle everything.
For office moves this is brilliant because you can keep working right up until moving day. You are not spending two weeks with half your office in boxes trying to find important documents.
We use quality packing materials that actually protect your stuff. Bubble wrap, furniture blanket and proper boxes that won’t collapse. Cheap packing materials are a false economy because you end up with damaged equipment.
Storage Solutions for Transitions
Sometimes your new office is not ready when your old lease ends, or you are downsizing and need somewhere to put excess furniture. That’s where storage comes in.
We have our own storage facility and we work with other secure storage sites across Lancashire. Whether you need space in Blackburn, Burnley or anywhere else, we can sort it.
Storage is useful for businesses that are renovating their new space too. Move your stuff into storage, get the building work done, then move everything in once it’s finished. It saves you trying to work around builders.
Our team can advise on how much storage space you actually need. People usually overestimate which means they are paying for space they don’t use. We will give you an honest assessment based on what you are storing.
Insurance Matters More Than You Think
We are fully insured which means if something goes wrong during the move, you are covered. Some removal companies are not insured or have minimal cover. That’s a massive risk for your business.
Check what insurance any removal company has before you book them. If they are cagey about it or say they don’t need insurance because they are careful, walk away. Accidents happen even with the best teams.
All our prices include insurance so there’s no surprise costs at the end. What we quote is what you pay, no sneaky extras or hidden charges.
Local Knowledge Helps
We know Lancashire inside out. Those one way systems in Preston city centre, the narrow streets in parts of Chorley, the access issues in some of the older industrial estates in Great Harwood.
This matters because it affects how we plan your move. We know which vehicles can get where, what times are best to avoid traffic and where we can park without causing chaos.
We are right next to the M6, M61 and M65 so we can get to most places in Lancashire quickly. That’s useful when you need a fast turnaround.
We also know the business areas. The offices in Buckshaw Village, the industrial units in Hyndburn, the business parks in Bamber Bridge and Whalley. We have moved businesses in all these places so we know what to expect.
Cost and Value
Office moves are not cheap but they don’t need to cost a fortune either. We believe we are fairly priced for the quality of work that we do.
Get multiple quotes so you can compare. But remember the cheapest option is not always the best. If someone is significantly cheaper than everyone else, ask yourself why. Are they insured? Do they have experience with office moves? Are they using decent equipment?
We will try to beat or match quotes from reputable companies. If you have got a quote from another insured removal company in Lancashire, let us know and we will see what we can do.
Think about value rather than just price. A removal company that packs everything, moves it carefully, has full insurance and gets you operational quickly is worth more than a cheap option that takes twice as long and damages half your stuff.
What Makes Office Moves Different
Office removals are not like house moves, there’s more at stake. Businesses cannot afford days of downtime. Equipment is expensive and often fragile so everything needs to be organised and efficient.
We have done hundreds of office moves across Lancashire. We know the challenges, the common problems, the things that can go wrong. That experience means we can anticipate issues before they happen.
Our team treats your equipment like it’s our own. Careful handling, secure packing and safe transport. We want you back up and running as quickly as possible because we know every hour counts.
Getting Started
If you are planning an office move anywhere in Lancashire, get in touch with us early. We can come and assess what you need, give you a free quote and talk through the options.
Ring us, email us or fill in the contact form on our site. We are available when you need us, even if that’s last minute or outside normal hours. Our ethos is being flexible and adapting to what our customers need.
Moving your business is a big deal. Do it right, with a removal company that knows what they are doing, has the insurance to back it up and cares about getting you moved efficiently.
We are Lancashire’s removal specialists. Family run, fully insured and with years of experience moving businesses across the county. From small office moves in Preston to large commercial relocations in Blackburn and everywhere in between, we have got you covered.
