Commercial Moving Insurance: What's Covered and What You Need to Know
Downtime during an office move can cost your business thousands of dollars in lost productivity and revenue. With proper planning and strategic execution, you can keep your operations running smoothly throughout the relocation process. Here's how the experts minimize disruption during commercial moves.

Plan Your Move During Off-Peak Hours
The most effective way to minimize downtime is to schedule your move during times when your business is naturally less active. Consider weekend moves, after-hours relocations, or during your slowest business season. This allows your team to continue serving customers without interruption while the physical move happens in the background.
Optimal Moving Times
- •Weekend moves: Friday evening through Sunday allows setup time before Monday
- •Holiday periods: Thanksgiving or Christmas week when business slows down
- •After-hours: 6 PM to 6 AM for critical systems that can't go offline
- •Phased approach: Move departments one at a time to maintain partial operations
Implement a Phased Moving Strategy
Instead of moving everything at once, consider a phased approach where different departments relocate on different days. This allows some teams to continue working while others are in transition. Start with departments that have the least customer interaction, then move customer-facing teams last.
Set Up Critical Systems First
Prioritize getting your essential business systems operational in the new location before the move. This includes internet connectivity, phone systems, servers, and key workstations. Have your IT team set up and test these systems ahead of time so they're ready when employees arrive.
Priority Setup Checklist
- •Internet and network: Install and test 2 weeks before move
- •Phone system: Port numbers and test call routing
- •Servers and data: Move during lowest traffic period
- •Security systems: Activate before moving valuable equipment
Enable Remote Work Capabilities
If your business allows, have employees work remotely during the move. This eliminates downtime entirely for knowledge workers who can access systems from anywhere. Ensure everyone has laptops, VPN access, and cloud-based tools set up before the move begins.
Communicate Timeline to Customers
Transparency with customers prevents frustration and maintains trust. Notify clients 2-3 weeks in advance about your move, expected downtime (if any), and how they can reach you during the transition. Update your website, email signatures, and voicemail with temporary contact information.
Hire Professional Commercial Movers
Experienced commercial movers can complete your relocation 50-75% faster than a DIY approach. They have the equipment, expertise, and team size to move efficiently, reducing your downtime from days to hours. Professional movers also handle IT equipment, furniture assembly, and complex logistics that would otherwise slow your team down.
Conclusion
Minimizing downtime during an office move requires strategic planning, phased execution, and professional support. By scheduling moves during off-peak hours, prioritizing critical systems, enabling remote work, and hiring experienced commercial movers, you can keep your business operational throughout the relocation. The investment in proper planning pays for itself many times over in maintained productivity and customer satisfaction.
Ready to Plan Your Office Move?
Our commercial moving experts will create a customized timeline and handle every detail of your relocation.
