Space & Move Management

Move Management Advice: Choosing a Corporate Moving Company

David Spence
September 19th, 2013

Moving is a big job, no matter whether it’s one person, a family, or an entire company doing the moving. The latter case can be especially intimidating, however. One wrong step and you could set up your office for disorganization and chaos. Besides having the right move management software to ease the transition, picking the right business is one of the best ways to ensure that the move goes smoothly. How do you know which business is best? Use the following guide to help you find out.

1.) Do Your Homework

Researching a company can help you pick the right ones from the start. Look to see if they’re listed with the Better Business Bureau, and see if there have been any complaints filed against them (You wouldn’t be the first person to want to check the BBB for this reason—according to office furniture rental company Cort, the BBB received 555,000 inquiries of this kind in 2012). If you have contacts at other companies that have moved, ask them about their experiences with the movers.

2.) Observe What They Do

Some companies may try to give you a price quote over the phone. According to the P.S. Installations, Inc. blog, this is a sign that the company isn’t the right one for you. Instead, reliable movers will come to your office for an on-site consultation, and give you an estimate based on their inspection.

3.) Ask About the Game Plan

Another great way to help you choose a mover? Ask them what their plan of action for moving the office would be. How many employees, trucks, and other resources will they provide for the move? How long do they think the move will take? If their answers don’t match what you’re looking for, you’ll know you can move on to the next company.

4.) Ask for Documentation

Corrigan Moving Systems also advises that you get three references of recent moves where they helped companies of your size. This will help you know that you’re working with an experienced moving company. Besides that, they should also be able to give you a copy of their insurance policies, which should protect your office assets in case something happens to them during the move.

5.) Be Smart About Costs

The company that seems more expensive might actually be the cheaper option. Why is this the case? Although a company with lower hourly rates may be attractive, you can’t know for certain how long a move will take. Do not think that you save money by choosing the least expensive rates.

6.) Ask These Questions

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of possible companies, you can interview them to further cut down the list. The questions you should ask include the following:

  •             What’s your experience with commercial moving?
  •             What payment options do you offer?
  •             Will the same people be handling the move throughout?
  •             Will the cargo stay in the same truck throughout?
  •             What services do you charge extra for?
  •             Can you provide documentation of your employees’ training?
  •             What’s your cancellation policy?
  •             Is there a number that we can call if there are any problems?
  •             Do you have any advice on how to make the move easier?

Your moving company should be safe, reliable, and helpful in the overall moving process. This isn’t something you can learn through one phone call, though. Give yourself enough time to research and talk to many different companies. If you do, you’ll avoid making any hasty decisions that could lead to a bad moving experience.

Photo: Pixabay