Moving Out of Your Office? Here’s What You Should Take Care Of Before You Leave

Moving out of an office sounds pretty straightforward. Pack everything up, move it to the new place, clean up, and hand over the keys.

In reality, there are a lot of little things that can get overlooked during an office move. Between packing, employees, equipment, internet, utilities, the lease, and getting the new space ready, cleaning can easily become an afterthought.

If you're getting ready to move out of an office in Boise or the Treasure Valley, here are some of the things you should have on your checklist before you officially leave.

1. Start With Your Lease

Before you start moving everything out, take another look at your lease.

Your landlord may have specific requirements for how the space needs to be left. You may be responsible for removing certain fixtures, repairing damage, replacing keys, or having the space professionally cleaned.

Some leases may also require the office to be returned to a certain condition.

Knowing this ahead of time can save you from finding out about a problem during your final walkthrough.

2. Schedule Your Office Move Out Cleaning

Once everything is out of the office, you'll be able to see what actually needs to be cleaned.

This is where a professional office move out cleaning can make a big difference.

A proper move out cleaning can include things like:

• Vacuuming and mopping floors

• Cleaning restrooms

• Wiping down desks, counters, and other surfaces

• Cleaning break rooms and kitchen areas

• Removing trash and leftover materials

• Cleaning doors and entry areas

• Spot cleaning walls and other surfaces

• Dusting throughout the office

• Cleaning interior glass where needed

It's also a good time to take care of areas that may not receive as much attention during normal recurring office cleaning.

Once the furniture, desks, and equipment are gone, it's much easier to see dust, buildup, marks, and other things that were hidden behind them.

3. Don't Forget About the Internet

Internet service is an easy thing to forget when you're focused on physically moving the office.

Make sure you've contacted your internet provider early enough to either transfer service to your new location or cancel it.

If you're moving to another building, don't assume your existing service can simply be transferred on the day you move. Depending on the provider and location, installation at the new office may need to be scheduled ahead of time.

Also remember to account for phones, business internet, Wi Fi equipment, routers, and any other services connected to your current location.

4. Take Care of Utilities and Building Services

Depending on your lease, you may be responsible for some or all of the utilities.

Make sure you know when electricity, water, gas, trash service, security systems, and other services should be transferred or shut off.

You don't want to keep paying for services at an office you're no longer using, but you also don't want to shut something off too early if the building still needs access to it for the final cleaning or walkthrough.

5. Remove Everything You Don't Want to Leave Behind

This sounds obvious, but it's surprisingly easy to leave things behind.

Check:

• Desks and cabinets

• Storage rooms

• Closets

• Break rooms

• Refrigerators

• Shelves

• Conference rooms

• Server or equipment rooms

• Garages or storage areas

Don't forget about old supplies, boxes, paperwork, electronics, decorations, and miscellaneous items that may have been sitting around for years.

If you're getting rid of sensitive documents, make sure they're disposed of appropriately rather than simply throwing them in the trash.

6. Check Keys, Access Cards, and Security

Before leaving, figure out exactly what needs to be returned.

This can include building keys, office keys, access cards, parking passes, garage remotes, alarm information, and other access devices.

If employees have keys or access cards, make sure those are collected as part of the move.

It's also worth confirming with the landlord or property manager what they expect to receive at the end of the lease.

7. Check for Repairs or Damage

Once the office is empty, walk through the entire space.

Look for things like damaged walls, holes from mounted equipment, broken fixtures, damaged flooring, missing ceiling tiles, or anything else that may need attention.

Some things are much easier and less expensive to fix before the final walkthrough than after the landlord points them out.

If you're unsure whether something counts as normal wear and tear or damage, ask your property manager before making assumptions.

8. Do a Final Walkthrough

Before you hand over the space, walk through it one more time.

Open cabinets. Check closets. Look behind doors. Look inside storage areas.

Make sure everything that needs to be removed is gone, the cleaning is complete, repairs have been addressed, and the space is ready for the next step.

Taking a few photos after everything has been removed and cleaned can also be useful for your records.

A Clean Office Makes for a Better Move Out

Moving an office is already a lot of work. The last thing you want is to finish the move and realize you still have to spend an entire day cleaning the old space.

That's where professional office move out cleaning in Boise can help.

At Cornerstone Commercial Cleaning, we can take care of the cleaning after you've moved your furniture and belongings out, leaving you with a clean space that's ready for the final walkthrough.

Whether you're moving to a larger office, downsizing, or simply changing locations, getting the cleaning scheduled ahead of time can make the last part of the move a lot easier.

If you're planning an office move in Boise or the Treasure Valley, give us a call at (208) 278-6493 or visit cornerstone-commercial-cleaning.com.