Of all the things that can go wrong on an office move, “the internet doesn’t work yet” is one of the most common — and one of the most avoidable. Network infrastructure, Wi-Fi, and AV systems all take real lead time to plan and install properly, and they’re frequently treated as an afterthought to the move itself, addressed only after furniture and finishes are already in place. By then, the easiest and cheapest options are usually already off the table.

Here’s a practical checklist for handling the technology side of a move with enough lead time to do it right.

8–12 Weeks Before the Move

Get the floor plan and start drop planning early. Structured cabling is far cheaper and easier to install before walls and ceilings are finished. If you have any influence over construction timing, this is the single biggest lever for keeping costs down.

Confirm internet service availability at the new address. Internet service providers sometimes need significant lead time to install new service, especially if the building doesn’t already have existing fiber or the carrier you want isn’t already serving that address. Don’t assume your current provider serves the new location — confirm it directly and early.

Walk the space with whoever is designing your cabling and Wi-Fi. Identify where workstations, conference rooms, access points, security cameras, and any specialty equipment will go, so drop counts and access point placement can be planned around the actual layout rather than guessed at.

Decide what’s moving and what’s new. Some equipment (network switches, phones, AV gear) may be due for replacement rather than relocation — decide this early so new equipment can be ordered with enough lead time.

4–8 Weeks Before the Move

Finalize the cabling and network design, including drop counts, access point placement, and any fiber backbone needs if the new space spans multiple floors or buildings.

Schedule cabling installation to happen before furniture delivery and, ideally, before finishes are complete — coordinate this directly with your general contractor or construction timeline if the space is being built out.

Plan your phone system transition. If you’re moving to or staying on VoIP, confirm whether phone numbers need to be ported, and build in time for that process, which can take longer than expected with some carriers.

Order any new network hardware, access points, or AV equipment with enough lead time to account for potential shipping delays.

2–4 Weeks Before the Move

Schedule installation of access points, security cameras, and access control hardware, ideally timed so the space is at least partially network-ready before the move-in date.

Test the network before anyone moves in. Verify Wi-Fi coverage throughout the space, confirm internet service is live and performing as expected, and check that phone lines or VoIP service are functioning — catching issues now, while the space is still empty, is far easier than troubleshooting with a full team trying to work.

Set up and test conference room AV if any rooms are being built out with new systems, so any integration issues with your video conferencing platform are caught before launch day.

Plan a soft transition if possible, such as a small pilot group working from the new space for a few days before the full team moves, to surface any issues with a smaller group affected.

Move Week

Have a clear point of contact for any day-one technology issues — someone (internal or your contractor) available to respond quickly if something doesn’t work as expected once the full team is in the space.

Confirm phone number porting completed successfully, if applicable, before assuming the transition is done — porting delays are one of the more common move-week surprises.

Walk the space once more with a fresh eye before declaring it done — Wi-Fi dead zones and AV issues sometimes only become apparent once furniture is in place and the space is actually being used as intended.

The Most Common Mistake

The single most common mistake in office moves is treating network and AV infrastructure as something to figure out closer to the move date, after the lease is signed and construction is already underway. By the time cabling needs become urgent, walls may already be closed up, timelines are tighter, and options are more limited and more expensive. Involving a low voltage contractor in the planning conversation as early as possible — ideally before construction begins — avoids most of the costly surprises that come up later.

Patriot helps offices across the Los Angeles area plan and execute the technology side of a move, from early cabling design through day-one testing. If you have a move coming up, reach out as early as possible — the earlier we’re involved, the smoother (and often cheaper) the technology side of your move will be.