JULY 2026
Why Move Day is the Least Important Day of the Move
Key Steps of Proactive Strategic Planning
Mary-Kate Sutter
Project Manager I
Mary-Kate is an accomplished project manager with a strong focus on strategy services. Her blend of technical expertise, problem-solving ability, and collaborative approach make her a well-rounded and highly effective project manager.
We’ve all been there. It’s early in the morning and the promise of free pizza just isn’t as enticing as it was when you committed to helping your friend move. You shimmy past upended furniture and boxes hoping for free coffee as well, and realize: the boxes are mostly empty, the furniture has not been dismantled, there are dishes in the cabinets. Your friend knew about this day for months and yet here you are shoving clothes still on the hangers into suitcases, throwing jars of spices into bags. You get through the day and tell yourself there is no bribe great enough to enlist your services for the even bigger nightmare that will be unpacking.
Obviously, the scale and complexity are magnified for workplace moves. Now there’s technology, specialty equipment, dusty files, the beloved office plant, and workstations with countless parts and pieces. Regardless, if the workplace is a small office, large office, school, healthcare facility, studio, or warehouse, moving requires a high level of preparation, which is why Move Day is the least important day of the move.
But where to start? Below is a timeline framework that illustrates at a high level what is important to focus on and when. It’s great if you start packing five months in advance but if you wait too long to engage all your vendors, you’re likely to have coordination issues. It isn’t just about being proactive, timing matters.
FIRST STEPS
• Reach out to building management at both locations
• Walkthrough the current space (Origin) and the new space (Destination). What stuff is moving? What needs to be purged?
• Identify specialty equipment moving – who needs to move it? Does the Destination have the proper infrastructure?
• Discuss roles and responsibilities
• Review Origin lease – are they any decommissioning requirements?
NEXT STEPS
• Reach out to vendors
• Meet with all stakeholders regularly
• Confirm schedule, especially if the Destination requires renovation prior to move-in
• Finalize seat assignments
• Finalize To/From list
• Create move placards
FINAL STEPS
• Meet with all stakeholders often
• Finalize move plans
Follow these steps and anything and everything will move exactly where you need it to.
Questions or comments? Reach out to us!