An office move is one of the few times every desk, cable and device in the business is touched at once. Get the IT side wrong and staff arrive on Monday to no internet, phones that do not ring and a printer nobody can find. This office IT relocation checklist walks through what to do, and when, so the move happens over a weekend rather than over a fortnight.
As early as possible: connectivity
- Order internet and leased lines first. Business connectivity installs can take weeks or months, especially where new fibre is needed. Ask your provider for lead times as soon as the new address is confirmed.
- Arrange a backup connection, such as a second line or 4G/5G router, in case the main circuit is late.
- Check how your phone numbers will move. With a hosted phone system, numbers move with you and handsets simply plug in at the new site.
8 to 12 weeks before: survey and plan
- Carry out a site survey of the new office: comms room or cabinet location, power, cooling, existing cabling and Wi-Fi coverage. Our IT site survey checklist lists what to record.
- Decide what needs new structured cabling, extra data points or additional access points.
- Audit what you are moving: every device, its owner and where it will go.
- Decide what to retire rather than move, and arrange secure disposal for data-bearing devices.
- Agree a move date, ideally a Friday evening or weekend, and a rollback plan if the new site is not ready.
4 weeks before: prepare the new site
- Complete cabling, patch panels and comms cabinet installation.
- Install and test switches, firewall, Wi-Fi and the internet connection before move day.
- Book lifts, loading bays and parking at both buildings.
- Confirm building access for engineers and movers.
The week before
- Take and verify backups of anything stored on site.
- Label every device and cable with its destination desk or rack position.
- Photograph the existing comms cabinet front and back.
- Give staff simple instructions: what to pack, what to leave and what to expect on day one.
Moving day
- Shut down equipment in order and disconnect it carefully.
- Move network and server equipment first so the new comms room can be powered up early.
- Bring core network, internet and firewall online, then test before desks are set up.
- Set up desks: docks, monitors, phones and peripherals, following the labels.
- Test every desk: network, phone, printing and access to key applications.
The first week
- Have an engineer on site for the first morning to fix any loose ends quickly.
- Update your asset register, network diagrams and emergency contact details.
- Confirm the old site is cleared, circuits cancelled and any remaining equipment collected.
Moving several offices or sites?
Multi-site moves and branch refits are easier with one provider coordinating engineers at each location. Simplify Networks supplies vetted engineers for office moves, desk set-ups, cabling and IMAC work across the UK and worldwide, from one London contact. If you are moving server or network racks too, see our data centre migration checklist.
Moving office?
Tell us the dates and both addresses, and we will plan engineers for survey, move day and the first morning in.