Moving to a new commercial office, but dreading the hassle of moving? Here are common commercial moving mistakes and how to avoid them, making you an expert not only in your business, but in your move as well.
Is your company planning to relocate premises? In the wake of the pandemic, many businesses are uprooting and moving to fresh locations that suit their changing needs. According to estimates, corporations are currently accounting for 38% of total moves.
Moving to a new office location can be exciting and bring a host of benefits such as more space, better amenities, and enhanced branding.
However, the actual move itself can be highly stressful and disruptive for company productivity. Fortunately, with the right planning, you can pave the way for a smooth move for yourself and your employees.
Continue reading for 8 commercial moving mistakes and how you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Rushing the Move
One of the first and biggest commercial moving mistakes to avoid is rushing the relocation. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but ideally you should plan the move out well in advance. A commercial moving process is usually far more involved than residential moves, as there tends to be more risk and more people involved in the decision-making.
If there is a hold-up in the move, this can cause widespread disruption to your operations.
The exact amount of time you should allow for the entire relocation process will depend very much on the size of your business and number of employees, but utilizing a professional moving company like Atlanta Furniture Taxi can help with planning and preparation.
If your team is between 20-50 people, you will need to dedicate at least one month to the premises search.
Mistake #2: Hiring a Commercial Moving Company That Doesn’t Have Third-Party Liability Coverage
Most commercial moving companies offer replacement coverage for equipment damages or losses during the transportation of property. However, this coverage does not extend to the premises you are moving into or out of. This is where third-party liability coverage comes in.
All businesses should hold a minimum level of third-party liability insurance, and movers are no exception. If there is any damage to the office spaces or injury to a third party as a result of the mover’s activities, the moving company’s insurance should cover this.
If the mover does not hold third-party liability coverage, you will be liable for the cost so be sure to confirm specifics of the coverage beforhand.
Mistake #3: Not Looking for Movers With Commercial Experience
Besides being fully licensed and insured, the moving company you choose should also have experience in commercial moves. If the company doesn’t specialize in commercial moves, they probably won’t have the expertise or manpower to complete your move smoothly.
Commercial moving is not the same as residential moves. It usually involves a far larger volume of items and a lot more assembly and disassembly. Some commercial moves require heavy-duty equipment, such as forklifts, hand trucks, or toe jacks.
Commercial moving staff also need specialized training. Shifting inventory, dissembling office cubicles, and moving sensitive or heavy equipment is a different forte than moving household belongings.
The takeaway? Commercial moves can be large-scale, and you need to work with a company that can accurately staff the amount of high-quality movers you need.
Mistake #4: Failing to get an Onsite Estimate
If you’re trying to quickly calculate your commercial moving budget, it can be tempting to rely on online cost estimates and quick quotes. However, while online quotes can give you a general figure to work with, you should get an onsite estimate done as well.
An onsite estimate will not only supply you with a more accurate quote, but it will also eliminate potential hiccups in the commercial moving process. During an onsite inspection, the moving company will be able to evaluate exactly what tools are required for disassembly and reassembly of equipment in the new office location.
If you can’t get an onsite estimate, make sure you supply the mover with detailed photos of all furniture and equipment you plan to bring.
Mistake #5: Improper Packing
If your team is doing some of the packing, you need to oversee this with an eagle eye. Ensure that all items are packed correctly and have plenty of protection. Elevators and truck rides can jostle items, resulting in breakages on the other side.
Any sensitive/fragile items need to be packed tightly so they don’t have room to rattle around. Items such as TV’s which will need specific boxes and packaging materials to prevent damage during transportation, so it is important to plan and prepare.
Alternatively, you can also ask the moving company if they offer a packing service. This can help streamline your commercial moving process and reduce the chance of damage.
Mistake #6: Forgoing Labels on Boxes
One of the secrets to an organized move is thorough labeling. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using regular boxes or rented packing crates, labeling is key.
Boxes without labels are a recipe for confusion, disruption, and chaos in the new location. There’s nothing worse than not having a client’s file or an important document and having to wade through hundreds of boxes to track it down.
If you want to streamline things even further, consider color coding labels on boxes by department so movers and team members can see at a glance what boxes go where in the new location.
Mistake #7: Arriving at the New Office Without a Space Plan
Space planning is a critical part of the commercial moving process. If there isn’t a designated space for furniture, equipment, stock, etc., the movers won’t be able to complete their job until you’ve decided where everything needs to get placed.
The best way to avoid confusion, stress, and turmoil is to create a detailed space plan ahead of time.
As professional commercial movers, we know how important space planning is to a fast office move, which is why Atlanta’s Furniture Taxi includes it as part of our service.
Mistake #8: Forgetting About IT
Out of all the possible commercial moving mistakes you can make, forgetting about IT is perhaps the most disastrous. One of the key objectives in a commercial move is to get everybody back up and running at their new stations in the least amount of time.
Every hour of every day lost to moving delays is money and time wasted for the business. Ongoing IT issues are the last thing you want to face during the first few days in a new office location. According to research, one hour of internet downtime can cost a business anywhere between $100,000-$540,000.
Therefore, make sure you have a plan for getting your IT infrastructure up and running on the other side. Your IT department will play a key role, but the mover you choose can also make a huge difference.
With years of experience in commercial moving, we are experts at IT station disconnection and reconnection.
Avoid These Commercial Moving Mistakes
Commercial moving mistakes can be expensive, trigger delays in operation, result in damages, and set your company back before it’s even gotten started in a new location.
The easiest way to avoid all of this is by hiring an experienced moving company that specializes in commercial moves.
Here at Atlanta’s Furniture Taxi, we have the manpower, equipment, and expertise to move your business without a hitch.
Contact us for a free site estimate today.
