How to Prepare for an Office Move

Get Your Equipment Ready to Move Offices

Equipment Moved by Professional Movers

When large-scale moves occur, a third-party moving company will move equipment from one place to another. These moving companies will put items where they are directed to. The movers will move things in accordance with the moving labels or written location. Your items should be well labeled and you should take an inventory of what is being moved. Do this to ensure that your equipment is moved properly.

Before Moving

Check for small USB receivers plugged into the back of monitors/docks
- Remove keyboard/mouse receivers and put them into the mouse
- There is generally one receiver for each mouse and keyboard pair
Make note of the serial number/SWAT Tag of your equipment
Disconnect cables connected to your devices
Securely pack cables, mice, keyboards, and other device peripherals into the same box or plastic tote
- If you have a phone, place it and its cables into the box
Neatly label the box with your name, general contents, and, if possible, the exact moving destination
- If the movers provided reusable plastic totes, use the moving labels provided by the mover
- Do not write on the reusable plastic totes
Neatly label monitors and computers with your name and, if possible, the exact moving destination
- If the movers provided moving labels, use the moving labels
- If the movers provided bubble sheets, protect your device by putting it into the bubble sheet
- Do not apply labels on the screen of any device - the adhesive will damage the screen
Ensure all of your items are properly labeled with your name and, if possible, their moving destination
Count how many boxes, totes, and devices you have made ready to move

After Moving

Verify the number of boxes, totes, and devices are what you were expecting
- Everything may not be delivered all at once
- If you are missing something you were expecting, wait for the movers to confirm that they have moved everything
- If you are still missing something you were expecting, it may have been delivered to another area in the move
Verify your name is on each box, tote, and device before you open it
- The movers can mistakenly put items where they do not belong
- If you find something that is not yours, someone or a mover can place it where it belongs
- If you are missing something you were expecting, it may have been delivered to another area in the move
Remove protective wrapping and arrange your devices in your new space before opening boxes
Open your boxes and totes and unpack your belongings
Reconnect your devices, mice, keyboards, and peripherals
- If you are having difficulty, reach out to ITS

Equipment Moved by Faculty and Staff

For flexibility and expediency, ITS asks faculty and staff to move their own computer and related devices when changing offices. Follow the directions below to prepare and carefully move equipment.

Notify ITS to update the location associated with your college-owned equipment

To better assist you, ITS needs accurate records of your equipment and their current location
Submit a ticket with the Serial Number or SWAT Tag of your equipment and its new location so ITS can update the information

Prepare the Computer

Save your documents and other work
Shut down your computer
Dust your computer to remove any dust or debris
Unplug the computer from the wall
Unplug the ethernet cable in computer from the phone, if it is connected to the phone
Unplug any accessories connected to the computer and set them near the computer
Wrap the computer power cable and the ethernet cable around the computer's base

Prepare the Phone

Dust the phone to remove any dust or debris
Unplug the phone from the wall
Wrap the ethernet cable around the phone

Gather Other Devices

Collect smaller devices, peripherals, and devices and pack them into the same box, if possible
If putting devices and cables into a box is not possible, neatly wrap cables together

Move your equipment

Carefully move your equipment from the old location to the new location
If you are having difficulty, reach out to ITS

Equipment Moved by ITS

When you are not able to move your college-issued computer and related equipment, submit a Service Request for a Computer Move. Computer Move requests can take up to a week, depending on the time of year and Help Desk staff availability.

Navigate to support.swarthmore.edu
Click on Request a Service
Select Computer Move
Enter information in the form
- In the Additional Notes field, please note any other equipment that need to be moved; e.g, printers, copiers, scanners, etc.
Follow the steps in Equipment Moved by Faculty and Staff to prepare your devices for the move
Gather together the devices that will be moved, if possible
Place these devices in an easily accessible spot for pick up, if possible
If there are multiple pieces of equipment to be moved, it is helpful to have them labeled
- Do not apply labels on the screen of any device - the adhesive will damage the screen
ITS will pick up and move the equipment at the designated time and place
ITS will set up the equipment to the best of its ability at the new location