Cabling

Moving or Building Out an Office? Your Technology Checklist

An office move is the one time you get to do your technology infrastructure right from scratch — and the easiest time to get it wrong under deadline pressure. Here's the checklist we walk through with clients, in the order that prevents expensive surprises.

8+ weeks out: order internet service

Internet circuits have the longest lead times of anything on this list — sometimes 60–90 days for new construction. Order early, and consider a backup connection from a second provider if your business can't tolerate downtime.

6–8 weeks out: design the cabling plan

Walk the space (or the plans) and mark every location that needs a drop: desks, printers, WiFi access points, cameras, door controllers, TVs, and the equipment room. Add spares — drops cost little during construction and a lot after drywall. Choose cable grades now: typically CAT6 to desks, CAT6a to access points and cameras.

4–6 weeks out: schedule structured cabling installation

Cabling installs ideally happen after framing/electrical and before drywall in new construction, or on a scheduled visit in existing space. Insist on labeled, certified, documented work — you will thank yourself for a decade.

4 weeks out: plan the phone cutover

Decide whether the move is also the moment to upgrade your phone system (it usually is — you're already touching everything). Start number porting paperwork now; ports take time and your numbers must not lapse. Plan call routing for moving day so customers never hit a dead line.

2–3 weeks out: network, WiFi, and security systems

Rack and configure switches, firewall, and WiFi. Place access points based on the floor plan and materials, not guesswork. Install cameras and door access while ladders and lifts are already on site.

Move week: cutover and testing

Phones activated and tested, every drop verified, WiFi coverage walked and confirmed, cameras recording, doors locking, failover tested. Your team should sit down Monday morning to technology that simply works.

The single best decision

Use one accountable partner for cabling, network, phones, cameras, and access control. Multi-vendor moves fail in the gaps between vendors — one team, one plan, one phone number when anything needs attention. That's the white glove transition we've built our reputation on.