Table of Contents
Moving an office or small business involves more than just transporting items from one place to another; it’s about keeping your business going without disruption. Before making your move, make sure you understand:
- Why professional moving services are important
- What services moving companies offer
- How a moving company fits into your budget
- What is your moving timeline
If you can nail these questions, you’ll have all the answers you need to execute a smooth commercial move. Fortunately, we’ve put all the answers together for you.
About Commercial Moving
Commercial moving involves relocating businesses. Unlike residential moving, which focuses on personal belongings, commercial moving deals with office furniture, equipment, sensitive documents, and IT systems. While your friends can show up and help you move homes for a couple of pizzas, they might accidentally damage or disrupt your business during a commercial move. That’s where the professionals come in.
Benefits of Hiring Professional Commercial Movers
Commercial movers are specifically trained to handle the logistics and special complexities of moving a business.
Efficiency and Time-Saving
Professional movers streamline the relocation process. They efficiently handle packing, loading, and transporting, allowing businesses to resume operations quickly. Their expertise ensures that the move is completed within the scheduled time frame.
Minimal Downtime
Downtime is costly. Professional movers plan to minimize business disruptions. They coordinate every aspect of the move to make sure critical services and infrastructure are offline as little as possible.
Safe Handling of Office Equipment and Furniture
Office equipment, including computers, servers, and specialized machinery, requires careful handling. Professional movers use effective packing materials and techniques to protect these assets. They also dismantle and reassemble office furniture, coordinating with your team to set things up correctly at the new location.
Access to Specialized Moving Equipment
Commercial movers have access to equipment that makes the moving process smoother. This includes dollies, ramps, and lift gates. These tools are essential for safely moving heavy or bulky items, reducing the risk of damage.
Insurance and Liability Coverage
Accidents can happen during a move. Reputable moving companies offer insurance and liability coverage to protect your assets. This coverage provides peace of mind, knowing that any potential damages or losses will be compensated.
How To Choose a Commercial Moving Company
When choosing a commercial moving company, follow these steps to get it right:
- Read reviews on platforms such as Yelp, Google, and the Better Business Bureau. Customer feedback provides insights into the company’s reliability and service quality. Look for consistent positive comments and how the company handles complaints.
- Verify that the moving company has the necessary licenses and certifications. Check for a valid U.S. Department of Transportation number and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration authorization.
- Verify the mover offers the services you need. A full-service commercial moving company should offer disassembly/assembly, packing, storage, and logistics services.
- Obtain detailed estimates from several moving companies. Transparent pricing helps you understand what you’re paying for and avoid hidden costs.
What Services do Commercial Movers Offer?
Commercial movers provide the specialized equipment handling services businesses need.
Packing and Unpacking
Professional movers offer packing and unpacking services. They use high-quality packing materials to protect sensitive items during transit and handle the unpacking, allowing you to focus on settling into your new space.
Office Relocation
Office relocation involves more than just moving desks and chairs. Movers coordinate the entire process, including dismantling and reassembling furniture. They also make sure everything is arranged according to your new office layout.
IT Equipment and Server Relocation
Moving IT equipment requires expertise. Movers handle servers, computers, and other electronics with care. This minimizes the risk of damage and technical issues.
Furniture Installation and Reconfiguration
Movers also offer furniture installation and reconfiguration services. They assemble and arrange furniture according to your specifications, helping create an efficient and organized workspace.
How To Prepare for a Commercial Move
Before the move, you’ll want to check some boxes off this list. Follow these steps for a smooth company relocation:
- Develop a plan and timeline: Outline all tasks and assign deadlines to keep everything on track. A timeline helps coordinate activities and avoid last-minute chaos.
- Assign a moving coordinator: Designate a moving coordinator or team to oversee the relocation. This team will handle communication with the moving company, manage logistics, and keep all tasks on schedule.
- Conduct a pre-move inventory: Inventory all items to be moved. This helps track everything during the move and prevents items from getting lost. It also assists in organizing the packing and unpacking process.
- Communicate the move: Inform employees, stakeholders, and customers about the move. Clear communication helps manage expectations and reduces confusion. Provide regular updates to keep everyone informed.
- Coordinate with building management and landlords: Coordinate with building management at both the old and new locations. Confirm move-in and move-out dates, reserve elevators if necessary, and confirm compliance with building regulations.
Movers do the heavy lifting, but your employees, stakeholders, and customers can help or hurt the move depending on whether or not they were properly briefed.
Cost of Commercial Moving
The distance between locations, volume of items being moved, and complexity of the move affect the cost of the commercial move.
Cost-Saving Tips and Strategies
Here are a few tips on how to keep costs low during the move:
- Declutter and sell off old equipment. Plan system or equipment upgrades around the move to avoid moving equipment that will soon be replaced.
- Handle some tasks in house. Have employees handle their desks, so only essential company property remains.
- Use the “Rule of Three.” Get at least three estimates from different relocation companies before settling.
Conclusion
Choosing the right commercial moving company is all about trust and understanding. If you know your business and the services you need, then you can find a reputable mover that checks the right boxes.
One company that checked all of my boxes is Zip To Zip Moving. They helped me move my small business and did a great job working with me to get things up and running again. If you’d like to save time researching companies, give them a shot and see if they can do what you need.