One of the most challenging parts of managing a business is relocating an office. When you finally decide to move your businesses, you wil...
One of the most challenging parts of managing a business is relocating an office. When you finally decide to move your businesses, you will need to do several things to make sure that you have a seamless moving experience. All in all, moving your business shouldn’t give you a headache, so long as you plan well in advance.
Here are the important things that you should know when planning your commercial move.
Create a budget and a timeline
A commercial move can take days or weeks, depending on your timeline. Therefore, you need to create a timeline that works well for the business tasks that you need to be done without dragging the process. Generally, you will need several months to plan and move a smaller business, while a larger business can take up to nine months to move.
This shows the importance of creating a good timeline, as this can help you to outline the tasks and steps required for the move to be a success. This, in turn, will ensure that things are done in good order and minimize disruptions of your daily business activities. In addition to creating a realistic timeline, you also need to create a budget for your move. Even when you choose a DIY move, you will still need money, since your employees will need to stop working, and execute the move.
Besides, you will need to consider the cost of moving supplies and equipment that you need, like packing boxes, dollies, and tapes, among others. When you approach a commercial moving company for a quote, make sure that they include the cost of everything required for your move.
Familiarize yourself with the layout of the new location
When relocating a business or an office, make sure you know where your items will go to the new premises. If possible, get a copy of the office’s blueprint. By doing this, you can compare the measurements of your furniture with your new office, and determine how it will fit in the new office.
In case you cannot get hold of the blueprint, visit the new premises, take pictures and measurements. This enables you to get an idea of the space you have, as well as the location of important outlets. With this, you will have fewer chances of trial and error when moving into the new office. If the new space requires structural changes, ensure that you make the necessary arrangements in advance to avoid unwanted inconveniences after moving in.
Take inventory of your items
The experts from Torex Commercial Moving Company from Toronto say it’s important to take an inventory of your items when moving your business or office. When we say inventory, we talk of all your furniture, electronics, office supplies, appliances, and documents, among others. Make sure that you categorize these things, and get rid of items that you no longer use. You can choose to donate or sell these items. Now, for the other items that you remain with, sort them according to their usage—that is, short term or long term.
Get quotes from reputable commercial movers
Most commercial movers provide free quotes—and you shouldn’t skip this step. First, you should note that commercial moving isn’t cheap. Therefore, make sure that you get as many quotes as you can.
If possible, try to get binding quotes. And if you get a binding quote, make sure you account for the likely 10% extra cost that your movers might charge you. You will need to do this because of the 110% rule, which prevents movers from charging their clients more than 10% of their initial quote, binding, or for any other reason.
Review the moving plan with your staff
When you plan a commercial move, make sure you keep your employees updated with the plans for your move and any possible changes that take place. This ensures everyone stays on the same page, and also your staff is updated. As a result, your staff will be able to continue doing their tasks during the moving process. You should plan a meeting during the planning stage, in the course of the move, and as you settle into your new office.
Hire a reputable commercial moving company
This is one of the crucial things for any commercial move. Make sure you find a company that you can entrust with your commercial relocations. But, how do you find a reputable commercial moving company?
Here are a few things to consider:
Capacity and experience – a reputable commercial mover should have a professional and experienced team, with the relevant experience in conducting commercial moves.
Good reputation – check to see what previous clients have said about the mover. The best place to check is Yelp or Google—check whether the mover has good ratings.
Licensed – there’s no argument about this—professional commercial movers should be licensed to handle moves similar to yours.
