Your business may have grown, or you must be in a different location. It’s time to hire movers to help you relocate your office. Business relocation is stressful enough with no need to stress about how your office furniture, stock, and equipment are going to make it safely to the new location.
That’s why you need to be thorough when looking for professional movers. Ensure that they are able to answer the below questions thoroughly prior to signing any agreement with them.
1. WILL YOUR MOVERS PACK FOR YOU?
Some commercial moving services will only take pre-packed boxes and dismantled furniture. Although this reduces the costs of your business move, it’s worth looking at a much more comprehensive moving package.
Lacking any agreement to pack your furniture and office items for your company, you’ll have to ask others (namely your staff) for help. This introduces an element of risk and error that won’t be covered with insurance. A dropped photocopier, as an example, could be an expensive mistake – but this type of accident with a commercial mover will be covered by their insurance (and much less likely to take place in the first place!).
Asking staff to aid move furniture can violate safety and health policies. If an individual feels they must pitch in to help, they may risk injuring themselves – and you can face a substantial bill, plus sickness pay while your employee recovers.
You can also face increased operational downtime in case your staffs are those packing, taking them away from core daily obligations. A moving company that packs for you means all of your staff will pay attention to business continuity.
2. WHAT WILL YOUR COMMERCIAL MOVERS NOT MOVE?
Determined by your stock type as well as your state, there can be some restrictions on what your moving company will take with them. For instance, if you’re moving a retail business that includes alcohol products, make sure they’ll take those with them.
You’ll also need to create a strategy for the things you don’t want your movers to carry in their trucks. These materials could be sensitive archive files or even the items in your organization safe. Pack these products before your commercial movers arrive to pack your business. Otherwise, the moving company may take them.
3. WHAT IS THE COST BREAKDOWN?
Will your moving service impose a fee by the item, or by the hours? Is packaging included? Are there different levels of add-on insurance to look at? If a moving company gives one set price for the business move quote, ask them to break it down for your company. A cost breakdown will assist you to make reasonable comparisons to enable you to get the balance of service level that’s appropriate for your budget.
4. ARE PACKING MATERIALS INCLUDED?
Find out how your business furniture and equipment will be packed. If small objects are thrown into crates, are packing items like bubble wrap provided? This will mitigate the risk of damage during the move.
Some movers won’t supply packaging materials, or will only make use of the cheapest available. This risks your fragile assets, including breakable items that cost you thousands if a problem happens in the move.
Make sure your commercial movers use good-quality packaging materials to lower risk. You may also want to find out what their recycling policy is, particularly if your enterprise is ISO 14001 accredited!
5. WILL COMMERCIAL MOVERS REINSTALL FURNITURE ON ARRIVAL?
What happens when you’re moving trucks get to the new office? Will everything be placed into the foyer for you to look for a position for it? Or will your movers take things to the right spot?
An end-to-end commercial moving company is a good choice to go for in the event you require operational consistency. There’s little reason purchasing the full move service at the outset of it, simply to have to unpack all things yourself on the other end! It’ll make you susceptible to the same risks of delays and hazards just like you will have faced packing your own company.
