---
title: "Office Moving Checklist: Timeline and Tasks | commercial-movers.ca"
description: "An office moving checklist with a timeline: lease and budget, movers and building bookings, IT and furniture plans, packing, move day and the first week after."
url: https://commercial-movers.ca/guides/office-moving-checklist/
last_updated: 2026-10-23
---

# Office moving checklist

A timeline for an office move, from the first lease decision to the first week in the new space. Shorten it for a small office; stretch it for several floors.

## Six months before

- **Read both leases**: Check the end date and notice period of the old lease, restoration duties (what must be removed or repaired) and the start date of the new one.
- **Name one move lead**: One person who makes decisions and talks to the movers, the buildings and IT.
- **Set a budget**: Moving, IT, furniture, disposal, new cabling and overlap rent. See [what a commercial move costs](https://commercial-movers.ca/guides/commercial-moving-cost/).

## Three months before

- **Get moving quotes**: Ask for a walkthrough and a written quote listing each part of the move.
- **Plan the new floor**: Desk numbers, rooms and where shared equipment goes. This becomes the label plan.
- **Plan the IT**: Internet and phone lines ordered for the new space, cabling, and the shutdown order. See [how to plan an IT move](https://commercial-movers.ca/guides/it-relocation-planning/).
- **Decide what not to move**: Old furniture and equipment for [disposal](https://commercial-movers.ca/services/furniture-disposal/), donation or resale.

## One month before

- **Book both buildings**: Freight elevators, loading docks and move hours at the old and the new site. Ask what insurance paperwork each building needs from the movers.
- **Street permits**: If the truck will occupy a lane, a sidewalk or a metered space, check the city's permit rules. See your city on the [locations](https://commercial-movers.ca/locations/) page.
- **Tell people**: Staff, clients, suppliers, the post office and anyone who delivers to you. Update your address online.

## One to two weeks before

- **Crates arrive**: Staff pack their desks and label each crate with the new desk number. See [packing and crates](https://commercial-movers.ca/services/packing-and-crates/).
- **Clear out**: Shred old paper, empty the kitchen, and finish anything that does not need to move.
- **Confirm the schedule**: Times for IT shutdown, movers and building access, sent to everyone involved.

## Move day and after

- **Shut down IT**: At the agreed time, in the agreed order.
- **Move**: Furniture and crates go to the labelled rooms and desks. See [after-hours moves](https://commercial-movers.ca/services/after-hours-moving/).
- **Walk through**: Check both sites with the crew lead: the new one is set up, the old one is empty.
- **First week**: Collect the crates, fix small issues, and hand the old space back to the landlord.

## Related

- [Office relocation](https://commercial-movers.ca/services/office-relocation/)
- [What a commercial move costs](https://commercial-movers.ca/guides/commercial-moving-cost/)
- [How to plan an IT move](https://commercial-movers.ca/guides/it-relocation-planning/)
- [Office movers](https://commercial-movers.ca/industries/offices/)

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