The relocation of your business is a major event. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right corporate moving company. If it goes smoothly, your business can continue to earn revenue with minimal interruption. If it goes poorly, your business can come to a standstill and the short-term implications can be significant. With that in mind, here are seven questions to ask prior to hiring a corporate moving company.
1. How is cost determined?
Moving companies often calculate rates based on the overall volume or the cubic feet of space requiring relocation. Distance can also be a factor, but this tends not be a major factor for local office moves. Building access will be a factor. For large moves, some companies will provide flat, binding costs while others will provide an estimate but charge through actual time and equipment/materials spent.
2. What packaging does a commercial mover use?
The top commercial movers use high-quality plastic moving cartons and, when necessary, quickset boxes. The will be delivered to and pick up from the client before and after the move. It is important that the client affix the appropriate appropriate labels and tags to each unit. Furthermore, in key situations, a quality commercial mover should maintain an inventory in order to avoid losses.
3. How does the moving service relocate the items?
How are the contents moved out of the origin site into the moving vehicles? What kind of vehicles are utilized? How are the contents transported from the origin site to the destination site? A quality mover will use air-ride suspension moving vans (no trailers!) with mounted, hydraulic lift gates.
4. What type of proposal will the service provide?
Keep in mind that an estimate is not a cost guarantee, but moving companies should always provide a proposal. It should include an estimate of time and materials as well as a guarantee not to exceed certain levels. An experienced salesman with a quality commercial moving company should be confident in his ability to ascertain scope and will provide a binding proposal. In cases where scope is dynamic, a time and materials billing scheme might work best for both parties.
5. Does the company meet insurance requirements?
Ensure that the company is insured. Ask for a certificate of insurance. Know the company’s policy for when something is lost or damaged. What does the claim process entail? Are any losses and damages fully covered by the service’s insurance? Be aware of the local laws regarding these matters as well.
6. How is reinstallation of furniture handled?
Ensure that the service does include reinstallation of furniture when needed. Secondly, ensure that the company provides professional office furniture installers and makes guarantees concerning fit and form. If the new site has special needs regarding existing furniture, those issues should be accounted for prior to signing the contract.
7. Who will supervise the move?
Ideally, a corporate moving company will have a project manager as well as group supervisors and team leaders who oversee each aspect of the move and ensure quality, maintain and verify any inventories. The experience of these folks is paramount as moving a large office takes know how, planning and execution in order to meet times frames and budgets.