Moving your office in the Portland and Vancouver area: an IT checklist

Office moves go sideways for the same reasons almost every time: internet that wasn’t ordered early enough, cabling that wasn’t planned before the walls closed up, and phones that don’t work on day one. This checklist is built for businesses moving around Portland, Vancouver and Clark County, but most of it applies anywhere.

90 days or more before the move

• Check internet options at the new address, by address, not by neighborhood. Availability can change from one building to the next. See Business internet options in Clark County.
• Order internet service now. New business connections, especially fiber that needs construction, can take weeks to months.
• Walk the space with your IT and cabling team. Plan network drops, Wi-Fi access points, cameras and the network closet before construction or furniture plans are final. See Planning network cabling for a new office.
• Review your equipment. A move is a good time to retire old servers, printers and phones instead of moving them.

30 to 60 days before

• Schedule cabling installation after walls are framed and before ceilings close, if you’re building out.
• Plan your phones. If you’re on VoIP, your numbers move with you. If you still have traditional lines, a move is a natural time to switch. See VoIP vs. traditional phone lines.
• Plan conference rooms and any AV.
• Decide what moves when, and who’s responsible for each piece of equipment.

1 to 2 weeks before

• Confirm internet is installed and tested at the new space.
• Set up the network, firewall and Wi-Fi ahead of time, so day one is just plugging in.
• Make sure everyone’s files are in OneDrive or SharePoint, not only on their desk computer.
• Label every computer and its cables with the person and new desk location.

Moving day and the first week

• Move and connect computers, then test each desk before people arrive.
• Test printers, phones, door access and conference rooms.
• Keep the old internet connection for a few days if you can, in case something was missed.
• Have someone on site the first morning to fix problems quickly.

Update your address everywhere

It’s easy to forget, and it affects how customers find you:

• Your 911 address for every phone, with your phone provider. This one is a safety issue.
• Google Business Profile, Bing Places and Apple Maps
• Your website, email signatures and invoices
• Your bank, insurance, vendors and software licenses
• Shipping accounts, and mail forwarding with USPS

Planning a move in the Portland and Vancouver area? Learn more about our IT project services or our IT support in Vancouver, WA and Portland.