You have finalized a lease for a new office location, now it is time to plan and execute the move of your offices. Relocating your office is a huge task for many organization. Many businesses are unfamiliar with exactly how to prepare for a business move, and the bigger the business or corporation, the more complex the task can be. The major goal in an office move is to be cost and time-efficient and it is crucial to appropriate the proper amount of time and planning for the entire process.

The most vital part of moving a business is to plan everything out well in advance to minimize downtime and get your employees back up and running your business as quickly as possible. Most moving companies will assist you with much of the logistics and planning of the physical move, but there is much more planning that is required on behalf of your business in order to make the process as smooth as possible.

Office Relocation Checklist

PRE-MOVE GENERAL:

  • Notify the present landlord of your termination date
  • Advise employees of date and location of your office move
  • Solicit RFP’s, interview and engage moving companies
  • Create a master change-of-address list
  • Reserve loading docks and elevators for moving day
  • Bid and award your moving contract
  • Bid and award telephone and computer cabling contract
  • Inventory existing office furniture
  • Color Code office furniture and equipment on a color-coded floor plan
  • Audit All Keys
  • Order any needed New Office Furniture and Equipment
  • Order new stationery
  • Submit your change-of-address forms Check your insurance coverage for the move
  • Request all required permits or licenses like Certificate of Occupancy
  • Advise suppliers of your new address
  • Mail moving notices
    • Photocopiers
    • Banks and financial institutions
    • Clients and customers
    • Professional organizations
    • Insurance companies
    • Accounts receivable and payable
    • Credit accounts and credit cards
    • Newspaper and magazine subscriptions
    • Telephone company and internet service provider
    • Prospects and special services
  • Hold a meeting at new location three weeks prior to your office move. Bring in all parties involved (design/ construction / mover / cabling company / information technology specialist) to ensure all of the details are covered and all responsibilities are clear
  • Change your locks and access codes on the new premises
  • Setup your new security procedures
  • Update the lobby directory of the new location
  • Setup for a post-move cleaning

PRE- OFFICE MOVE INTERNAL

  • Organize a “staff relocation committee” and delegate out responsibilities
  • Finalize a new office layout at each new location
  • Prepare labels for office furniture and boxes to new locations
  • Assign move leads or supervisors in each department
  • Schedule a clean-up program
  • Create a master relocation project schedule
  • Setup off-site storage of old files
  • Pack contents of all desks and file cabinets, make sure everything is properly labeled
  • Arrange for employees to tour new location a few weeks prior to move
  • Schedule post-move training for security, fire, and life safety procedures at the new location
  • Distribute access cards and keys for the new location

MOVING DAY

  • Arrange to have the air conditioning on during the move
  • Remove computer equipment (server) and phone system prior to arrival of movers and commence reinstallation at new site
  • Draft an emergency contact list for vendors such as elevator maintenance, building management, utilities, telecommunications and moving company

POST-MOVE

  • Make sure the telephone services are working.
  • Distribute a new phone list and a map showing the locations of each department
  • Make sure all the computers are working (Printing, Email, and Internet)
  • Do a detailed walk-through of the new location and report any damage to the moving company
  • Transfer your insurance to the new facility. Obtain a Certificates of Insurance from your insurance company
  • Confirm termination of old leases
  • Collect parking passes, security cards and keys for the old facility. Confirm the return of any deposits held by the landlord for these items
  • Audit final invoices against contracts
  • Complete and file all warranty information for all new furniture and equipment
  • Update fixed asset accounting system for any new furniture and equipment purchased
  • Confirm the change-of-address corrections made
  • Schedule press release and client announcement

When relocating, you want to company you can trust and depend on.  Call Clear Choice Office Solutions today, we are Houston’s most reliable moving companies.