The Reality: 3 Months is Not Enough

The biggest mistake companies make is treating a corporate relocation like a residential move. You cannot pack a 20,000 sq. ft. office in a weekend.

In Southern California, lead times dictate your schedule.

• Permits: City of LA and Santa Monica can take 4–6 weeks for simple encroachment permits.

• Furniture: Commercial furniture often has a 12–16 week manufacturing lead time.

• IT Circuits: ISPs (Internet Service Providers) can take 90 days to install fiber at a new address.

If you start planning 3 months before your lease ends, you are already in crisis mode. Here is the CPM One Source Standard Timeline.

Phase 1: The Strategy (12–9 Months Out)

Do not hire a mover yet. Build the plan.

• 12 Months Out:

  • Lease Audit: Confirm your "Restoration Clause" requirements at the current site. (Do you need to remove cabling?)

  • The Committee: Assign a Move Manager (internal) and form the committee (IT, HR, Marketing).

  • The Budget: Define the CapEx for new furniture vs. the OpEx for the move logistics.

• 9 Months Out:

  • Furniture Audit: Decide what stays and what goes.

  • The Architect: Finalize the test-fit for the new space.

Phase 2: The Vendors (6–4 Months Out)

This is when you lock in your partners.

• 6 Months Out:

  • IT Provisioning: Order your new internet circuits now. This is the #1 cause of move delays.

  • RFP for Movers: Interview commercial relocation specialists. (Don't just look for "trucks"; look for Project Management).

  • Furniture Orders: Place orders for new workstations to ensure delivery aligns with the move date.

• 4 Months Out:

  • File Purge: Start the "shredding campaign" to reduce file volume by 30%.

  • Vendor Notifications: Notify vendors (copiers, plants, water delivery) of the upcoming address change.

Phase 3: The Logistics (3–1 Months Out)

The "Go/No-Go" phase.

• 3 Months Out:

  • The Handbook: Distribute the "Employee Move Guide" with parking maps and packing rules.

  • IT Server Plan: Finalize the "shut down / start up" sequence for the server room.

• 1 Month Out:

  • Crate Delivery: CPM One Source delivers crates and labels.

  • The Tagging: Every piece of furniture gets a color-coded label mapped to the new floor plan.

  • The Walkthrough: Final walk-through with the mover to flag building access issues (elevator height, loading dock hours).

The Bottom Line

A successful move is 90% planning and 10% moving.

If you are staring at a lease expiration in 2027, the clock is already ticking. Download our detailed timeline or contact CPM One Source to manage the schedule for you. We don't just drive the trucks; we drive the calendar.