60 Day Office Move-In Checklist: From Signed Lease to Move-In

Introduction

A signed office lease does not put a company into its new workplace. It starts the part of the process where time can be lost quickly.

Design decisions have to be made. Drawings need approval. Materials need to be ordered. Electrical, HVAC, networking, furniture and access systems have to come together. At the same time, the landlord needs to coordinate building access, compliance requirements and facility readiness.

This matters more in a market where quality office space remains in demand. CBRE recorded 20.7 million sq ft of office absorption across India in Q1 2026, with Delhi NCR among the three largest contributors. JLL recorded 3.05 million sq ft of gross leasing in Delhi NCR during the same quarter. (CBRE)

For an occupier, the practical question is therefore not simply where to lease.

It is how quickly the chosen space can become a functioning office.

At Quattro Spaces, our 60 day move in target begins from the signed lease. It is supported by our in-house design build and facility teams, allowing the landlord, design team, project team and facilities team to work within one operating structure.

This is the process we recommend occupiers use when planning an office move.

The 60 Day Office Move In Process

A 60 day move in is achievable when the work is sequenced before the lease is signed and decisions are made quickly after signing.

The timeline below is a practical model rather than a universal construction schedule. The exact sequence depends on the condition of the premises, the scope of work, approvals and the occupier's requirements.

The key principle is simple: activities that can happen in parallel should not be forced into a sequence.

Days 1 to 5: Turn the Lease Into a Project Brief

Once the lease is signed, the first requirement is clarity.

The project team needs to know how the office will be used, not just how many seats are required.

A typical brief should establish:

• Employee headcount and expected growth

• Seating configuration

• Cabins and meeting rooms

• Reception and visitor areas

• Collaboration and breakout areas

• Pantry and support spaces

• IT and server requirements

• Security and access requirements

• Brand and finish preferences

• Furniture requirements

• Move in date

This is also where the site is measured and existing services are checked.

For an occupier, this stage is often where future delays can be prevented. A change made on paper during the first week is considerably easier to manage than a change made after fit out work has started.

Days 6 to 15: Design, Approvals and Technical Planning

The design stage converts the brief into a buildable office.

At Quattro Spaces, our design and build teams work from the same project structure. This allows design decisions to be tested against construction requirements before work begins.

The process typically moves through:

Space planning

The team establishes the seating plan, meeting rooms, leadership areas, support spaces and circulation.

Design development

Materials, finishes, furniture, lighting and visual elements are defined.

Technical coordination

Electrical loads, HVAC requirements, data points, access control, fire and other building services are coordinated with the building.

Approval

The occupier reviews the agreed design and the project moves into execution.

This stage deserves more attention than it usually receives.

A beautiful drawing that cannot be built within the available programme is not a useful design. For a 60 day delivery, design has to be developed with construction, procurement and building requirements in mind.

Days 16 to 25: Procurement and Site Preparation

Once the design is approved, procurement becomes one of the most time sensitive activities.

Materials with longer lead times should be identified early. Furniture, lighting, hardware, IT equipment and specialist finishes can all affect the final programme.

At the same time, the site is prepared for execution.

This is where having design, construction and facilities teams within the same landlord organisation can make a practical difference. Questions can be resolved within the project team rather than moving between unrelated vendors.

For occupiers, this is also the point to finalise requirements that sit outside the physical fit out.

That includes:

• Internet and telecoms

• IT equipment

• Access cards

• Security protocols

• Housekeeping requirements

• Signage

• Employee move logistics

• Vendor access

• Delivery schedules

The office should be treated as an operating workplace, not simply a completed interior.

Days 26 to 45: Fit Out and Services Installation

This is generally the most visible part of the 60 day programme.

Civil, electrical, HVAC, flooring, ceilings, partitions, lighting, painting and other fit out activities progress across the site.

The order matters.

For example, services need to be coordinated before ceilings are closed. Data and electrical requirements need to be resolved before finishes are completed. Furniture installation needs a finished and accessible area.

This is why daily project coordination matters.

A delay of two days in one activity can create a longer delay if it affects several activities that follow it.

The occupier's role during this period is mainly to remain available for decisions. Site reviews should focus on material deviations, approvals and functional requirements rather than repeatedly changing the brief.

Days 46 to 53: Furniture, IT and Facility Readiness

The office may look substantially complete at this point, but it still needs to work.

Furniture is installed. IT infrastructure is tested. Access control is configured. Meeting rooms are checked. Pantry equipment and common facilities are prepared.

This is also where the facility team becomes particularly important.

A building can have a finished interior and still have operational gaps.

Our facilities team looks at the space from the perspective of daily use. Access, housekeeping, security, maintenance processes and common area readiness all need to be established before employees arrive.

This distinction is important for occupiers.

The move in date should mean employees can actually work from the office, rather than entering a finished construction site with operational tasks still pending.

Days 54 to 57: Testing, Snagging and Final Checks

The final inspection should be systematic.

The project team checks the office against the approved design and identifies outstanding items.

A useful snagging checklist includes:

Physical space

• Flooring and ceilings complete

• Partitions and doors functioning

• Paint and finishes complete

• Furniture installed

• Signage installed

Building services

• Lighting tested

• Electrical points checked

• HVAC functioning

• Fire and safety systems coordinated

• Access control tested

Technology

• Internet connection tested

• Data points checked

• Meeting room technology tested

• Server and networking requirements completed

Operations

• Housekeeping arranged

• Security process confirmed

• Access cards issued

• Facility contacts established

• Common areas ready

Snagging should happen before handover, not after employees have arrived.

Days 58 to 60: Handover and Move In

The final three days are about operational readiness.

The project team closes remaining snags, completes documentation and confirms that the space is ready for occupation.

The occupier should have:

• Access to the premises

• Employee access credentials

• IT connectivity

• Furniture in place

• Meeting rooms operational

• Housekeeping active

• Facility contacts confirmed

• Move logistics scheduled

At this stage, the office should be ready for people, not just ready for photographs.

The Quattro Perspective

We have delivered more than 550 offices across our portfolio and approximately 3 million sq ft of office space. Our experience as a landlord has shown us that the biggest delays are often created by decisions made too late, rather than by construction itself.

A few principles consistently help.

Start design before the lease is signed where possible.

The commercial decision and the physical delivery plan should develop together. Understanding the space, its condition and likely fit out requirements before signing gives the project a head start.

Freeze the brief early.

Every late change has a cost in time, coordination or both. The earlier the seating plan, room requirements and technical brief are agreed, the more predictable the build becomes.

Keep design and construction connected.

Design teams need to understand what can actually be delivered within the programme. Construction teams need quick access to design decisions. Keeping these functions within Quattro Spaces reduces unnecessary handoffs.

Bring facilities into the process before handover.

The people who will run the building should understand the occupier's requirements before employees arrive. This helps move the office from physical completion to operational readiness.

Measure readiness by the employee's first day.

A 60 day programme should end with a functioning office. That means connectivity, access, furniture, meeting rooms, housekeeping and facilities all need to be ready alongside the fit out.

Our 60 day move in process is built around this principle.

Office Move In Decision Framework

When evaluating an office, occupiers should assess the delivery process alongside the property itself.

This evaluation is particularly useful when comparing Grade-A office options across Gurugram, Noida and New Delhi.

A property in Golf Course Road may suit one occupier because of its location and building quality. Others may prefer Golf Course Extension Road, Udyog Vihar, MG Road or Cyber City based on employee access, budget and business requirements.

In Noida, the decision may centre on Electronic City or the Noida Expressway.

The right building is therefore only one part of the decision. The delivery process determines how quickly that building becomes useful to the business.

60 Day Office Move In Checklist

Before signing:

•  Confirm location and micro-market

•  Confirm required area and headcount

•  Review building specifications

•  Inspect the actual premises

•  Understand existing services

•  Confirm lease terms

•  Review fit out scope

•  Establish target move in date

•  Identify occupier approvals

After signing:

•  Complete site measurement

•  Finalise workplace brief

•  Approve space plan

•  Approve design

•  Freeze technical requirements

•  Release procurement

•  Begin fit out

•  Coordinate IT and telecoms

•  Install furniture

•  Test building services

•  Complete snagging

•  Issue access credentials

•  Confirm facility operations

•  Complete handover

•  Move employees

Summary: What a 60 Day Move In Requires

The most important part of the timeline is the coordination between these stages.

For an occupier, that coordination can matter as much as the fit out itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to move into a new office?

The timeline depends on the condition of the premises, fit out scope, approvals and occupier requirements. At Quattro Spaces, our target is a 60 day move in from the signed lease for suitable office requirements. Achieving that timeline requires early design decisions, coordinated procurement, parallel project activities and timely occupier approvals.

What happens immediately after signing an office lease?

The project typically moves into briefing, site measurement and design development. The occupier's headcount, seating requirements, meeting rooms, technology needs, branding and other workplace requirements are confirmed. Design and technical planning then progress towards approval so that procurement and fit out can begin without unnecessary delay.

Which factors can delay an office move in?

Late design changes are a common source of delay. Procurement lead times, building approvals, changes to technical requirements, IT dependencies and incomplete snagging can also affect the programme. The practical way to reduce these risks is to identify dependencies early and keep decisions moving throughout the project.

Why does the landlord matter during office fit out?

The landlord controls the building environment in which the fit out takes place. Building access, services, facility operations and technical coordination all affect delivery. When the landlord also has in house design, construction and facility capabilities, project decisions can be coordinated within the same organisation.

What should I check before signing an office lease?

Check the building, location, premises condition, lease terms, fit out scope, delivery timeline, building services and the process for approvals. It is also useful to understand who will manage the space after completion. The office decision should account for both the physical property and the people responsible for delivering and operating it.

Is a 60 day office move realistic?

It can be realistic for suitable premises and a defined fit out scope. The timeline is most achievable when the project starts with a clear brief, design decisions are made quickly, procurement begins early and design, construction, technology and facilities work in coordination. It should be treated as a managed delivery programme rather than an assumption about every office project.

What is included in an office move in the checklist?

A practical checklist covers the lease, site measurement, workplace brief, design approval, procurement, construction, electrical and HVAC requirements, IT, furniture, access control, facility setup, snagging and handover. The final test is whether employees can enter the office and begin working on the planned move in date.

How does Quattro Spaces achieve a 60 day move in?

Quattro Spaces combines the landlord relationship with in house design-build and facility management capabilities. The project begins from the signed lease and moves through briefing, design, procurement, fit out, testing and handover within a coordinated process. This approach is supported by our experience delivering 550+ offices across approximately 3 million sq ft.

A Better Way to Approach the Office Decision

An office decision should begin before the property listing stage and continue beyond the lease signature.

Location, building quality and commercial terms matter. So do the people responsible for turning an empty or unfinished premises into a functioning workplace.

Quattro Spaces is an institutional landlord with 15+ buildings in its landlord portfolio and more than 20 addresses across Delhi-NCR. Since 2013, we have delivered 550+ offices for 250+ clients across approximately 3 million sq ft.

Our design-build capability through Quattrospaces and facility management through Quattrocare sit within the same organisation that leases the space.

For an occupier, that means the conversation can begin with the building, continue through the fit out and carry into daily operations.

That is where a better office decision starts.

Sources

CBRE | JLL | Colliers | Knight Frank | Savills | ANAROCK | ICRA Research | NASSCOM | DMRC | Government of India