An office relocation done well is largely invisible — the team leaves on Friday, arrives Monday at the new address, and work continues. Done badly, it means missing equipment, disconnected phones, staff unable to log in for three days, and a week of productivity lost while everyone figures out where things are.
The difference between these two outcomes is planning. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to planning an office move in Perth that keeps your business running.
Start Planning 8–12 Weeks Out
The biggest mistake in office moves is underestimating lead time. An office has more moving parts than a home — IT infrastructure, phone systems, data connections, lease obligations, client communications, staff logistics. Eight weeks is the minimum for a smooth transition. Twelve is better.
Here’s what the timeline looks like.
8–12 Weeks Out: Decisions and Bookings
Assign an Internal Move Coordinator
Someone needs to own this project. It doesn’t have to be a full-time role — but one person needs to be tracking all the moving pieces, making decisions, and communicating with staff and your removalist. Moving by committee without a single coordinator is a reliable way to have things fall through the cracks.
Get Quotes From Perth Office Removalists
Office relocation is a different service from residential moving. Not every removalist in Perth is equipped for it — the logistics of IT equipment, office furniture, and multi-floor access require specific experience and equipment.
When requesting quotes, provide:
- Both addresses (floor levels, lift access, loading dock availability)
- Approximate number of workstations and staff
- Any specialty equipment: server racks, large printers, filing systems, reception furniture
- Preferred timing — after-hours, weekend, or business hours if the new site is available early
For most Perth businesses, after-hours or weekend moves are preferred — the office is empty, staff are out of the way, and IT can be set up before Monday.
Confirm the New Space Is Ready
Before anything else moves, the new office needs to be:
- Fitted out to the required standard
- Power, data, and phone points confirmed in the right locations
- IT infrastructure assessed — is the NBN connection active? What’s the lead time for a new fibre service if needed?
NBN Business connections in Perth can take 10–20 business days to provision. Don’t leave this until week two.
6 Weeks Out: IT and Data Planning
IT is almost always the most stressful part of an office move. Plan it separately and give it more time than you think it needs.
Map Your IT Infrastructure
Make a complete inventory:
- Workstations/laptops (and whose they are)
- Servers, NAS drives, and backup systems
- Network switches, routers, and patch panels
- Printers, scanners, and specialist devices
- Phone system (VoIP or traditional PABX)
- Security system and CCTV if applicable
Plan the Disconnect and Reconnect Sequence
The sequence matters. Generally:
- Back up all data before anything is disconnected
- Decommission server and network equipment last (night before the move)
- Transport IT in appropriate packaging — not standard moving boxes
- Reconnect network infrastructure first at the new site
- Test connectivity before workstations are brought in
If your business has a managed IT provider, get them involved now — not on moving day.
Comms: Phone Numbers and Email
- Confirm your phone numbers transfer to the new address — VoIP numbers are portable; some traditional PABX systems are not
- Set up a call diversion as a backup during the transition period
- Update your Google Business Profile address — this affects how clients find you online
- Update your website contact and address pages
- Prepare email signature updates to go out post-move
4 Weeks Out: Furniture, Files, and Logistics
Audit What’s Going and What’s Not
This is a good opportunity to get rid of old equipment, outdated filing, broken furniture, and anything that’s been cluttering the office for years. Moving is expensive — don’t pay to move things you don’t need.
Get a skip bin or arrange a commercial waste collection for anything being disposed of. Perth skip bin hire companies typically have 1–3 day availability.
Label Everything
A well-labelled office move is a fast office move. Develop a labelling system now and communicate it to staff:
- Each desk/workstation gets a number or staff member’s name
- Boxes are labelled with destination area at the new office: “Finance — Room 3”, “Kitchen”, “Reception”
- IT equipment is labelled with its purpose and reconnect location: “Server 1 — Comms Room”, “Print Server”
Colour-coded labels by department are the most efficient system for larger offices. Assign each department a colour — anyone can direct boxes to the right area at the new site without needing to read every label.
Staff Briefing
Send a clear all-staff communication at least 3–4 weeks before the move covering:
- Move date and timeline
- What staff are responsible for packing their own desk vs what the team handles
- New address and parking/access information
- IT arrangements for the first day back
- Any key contacts for questions
2 Weeks Out: Final Preparations
Notify Clients and Suppliers
Send an address change notification to:
- Key clients and contacts
- Australian Business Register (update ABN details)
- ATO business address
- Banks and financial institutions
- Insurance providers
- Suppliers and regular deliveries
- Any business directories or listing services
Confirm Access at Both Addresses
Call the building managers at both the old and new premises:
- Loading dock or delivery access
- Lift bookings for the move date (building lifts often need to be reserved for moving)
- After-hours access arrangements if moving out of hours
- Parking for the removalist truck(s)
Access failures on moving day — locked loading docks, unavailable lifts, no truck parking — are the most common cause of delays and cost overruns.
Moving Day: What to Have Ready
- A site contact at each end who can answer questions and direct traffic
- IT person on-site or available by phone during the reconnection phase
- Photos of cable setups at workstations and server racks — taken before disconnection — for reference during reconnection
- Keys, access cards, and alarm codes for the new site tested and ready
- Cleaning products for a final wipe-down at the old premises
First Week at the New Office
- Walk the team through any new access procedures, parking, and facilities
- Confirm all IT is working — shared drives, printers, phones
- Do a final check of the old premises and return keys to the building manager or landlord
- Update your ASIC registered address if applicable
Office Relocation in Perth — Done Properly
At Local Removal, we handle office relocations across Perth — from small professional offices to multi-floor commercial moves. We work after-hours and on weekends to keep your business operational, and we’re experienced with IT equipment, server rooms, and complex access logistics.