Friday, July 8, 2011

Tips on Moving Your Office

We specialize in representing office tenants who are looking for space to lease and are actively involved in the search process. However, once a location is identified and a lease is signed, there is still a lot of hard work to do – most notably, the move. Although moving an office involves a lot of work, it can be a lot easier if you go about it in an organized fashion.

Typical Move Schedule
The following schedule is based on the relocation of a medium-sized (+/- 5,000 SF) professional office. The schedule for moving a small (one person) office or large (10,000 SF plus) office would be different, although many of the same principles apply. This summary is also not directly applicable to moving a retail or industrial operation.

2 Months Prior to Move
  • Assign employee in charge of coordinating move
  • Establish move date
  • Order voice and data lines for new location and provide termination notice for services in current location if appropriate
  • Interview/hire moving company (or companies)
  • Order change of address post cards
  • Stop ordering stationary for existing location
  • Provide existing Landlord with written notice (this may be more than 2 months, so be sure to review your lease to get the actual deadline)
  • Do preliminary furniture plan for new location and order any items with lead time

1 Month Prior to Move
  • Get printed floor plan for existing & new office. Number each room on both plans
  • Mail change of address notices to clients, vendors, service providers
  • Order stationary and business cards for new location
  • Arrange to have utilities turned off in current location and turned on in the new location
  • Arrange for phone coverage on move day

1 Week Prior to Move
  • Assemble moving supplies – boxes, carts, labels, etc.
  • Verify service changes with all vendors (phone, internet, utilities)

1-2 Days Prior to Move
  • Pack all office contents in boxes
  • Label all items to be moved with removable labels ( template )
  • Establish petty cash fund for move day

Move Day
  • Assign employee in charge at both locations
  • Verify completion, document damage and pay movers
  • Post "moved to new location" sign on existing suite door

Post-Move
  • Follow up with former Landlord on exit inspection and Security Deposit
  • Submit damage claims to movers if necessary



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