COMMERCIAL, OFFICE MOVING TIPS

Whether you are getting new furniture/appliances for your move, or simply decluttering, it can be daunting to know how to dispose of large, unwanted furniture. Thankfully, finding a good way to dispose of old office furniture and equipment doesn’t have to be such a problem. In fact, there are some pretty good ways to make disposal work to be beneficial to you and the company.

When it is time to relocate your office, one of the biggest logistical headaches can often be what to do with your old office furniture and equipment. That can be especially true if you don’t want to pay to have your old stuffs moved or are going to be getting new furniture delivery and installation at your new location.

Make a Complete Inventory of Furniture

The first step in disposing of old office furniture prior to a commercial move is making a detailed inventory of what you’ve got and what you don’t want to take with you. Include everything: desks, chairs, lamps, tables, cubicles, cabinets, and so on.

To create and record the inventory, assign one person in charge of collecting the information. However, for larger companies, put one person in charge for each floor in your building and have another person combine all of the lists together in a spreadsheet or database in other to avoid missing out any part of the process.

Sell to Your Employees First

Don’t overlook your employees when it comes to disposing your company’s old office furniture. Before you move your office, consider selling your old furniture to your employees at a good discount.

 

ULTIMATE OFFICE MOVING CHECKLIST

Like any other kind of relocation, office moving has its specific issues, and it can be a stressful affair if not planned in detail.

There may be valuable electronic items and lots of bulky items to pack with care. You may also not have sufficient time to do it systematically since offices do not usually shut down for packing and keep running till the last minute

These tips will guide you to make a smooth, hassle-free move. You also need to prepare an office moving checklist to ensure that you pack precious items appropriately and also remember to pack all items essential for the smooth functioning of your office.

Plan the initial steps to take: A detailed plan with the priorities should be made months before the actual day of moving to ensure there are no hiccups on a moving day.

It should include the following:

Make teams, assign tasks to each member, and choose who will lead each team for a smooth transit

Check the expiry period of your current office’s lease. See if you may need to move early to the new location and figure out the losses that may incur because of that

Shortlist the best office removalists, get quotes from them, and opt for one who will provide the best services for your money

Check if you have insured valuable furniture and other equipment

Make a detailed budget that will cover all possible costs and also allow for contingencies. This will help you to put a limit to your expenses and prevent any excess spending

 

Tips for Moving Office Furniture

If you have an upcoming office move, keep in mind that moving office furniture is not a task for your employees. Even if a person knows how to safely lift and move heavy objects, attempting to move your office furniture could result in a strained muscle or back injury. Professional movers have the training and equipment needed to safely move heavy office furniture without injuring themselves or others, and without damaging the furniture, offices and entryways.

In addition to eliminating the risk of (and liability for) an injury to one of your employees, hiring a professional to move your office furniture helps protect your investment and ensures your furniture will look and function as well in the new location as it does in your current one. Office movers employ highly-trained technicians who can disassemble and reassemble modular furniture systems to manufacturer recommendations.

The professional movers also know the importance of careful planning in an office move. For instance, reconfiguration of cubicles and office furniture systems will likely be required, depending on the space and layout of your current and new office as well as the location of existing electrical, network and phone outlets. Discuss this with the mover you hire

Make safety a priority and avoid the risk of added costs and lost production by hiring professional office furniture movers. Even when hiring professionals, you and your employees will still have lots to do in preparation of and after the move.

The following tips will help with that:

A day or two before moving day, provide each employee with a carton to pack his or her desk or cubicle contents. Your employees should remove all contents from their desks and pack them in the moving cartons, carefully wrapping any fragile items. If possible, they can consolidate office belongings with those of other employees being relocated in the immediate area at the new location to conserve carton space. Place small items such as pens and paper clips in envelops and put the envelopes in the carton. Tell your employees to take any personal possessions with them rather than include them in the office move.

In most cases, upright file cabinets can be moved with contents intact, but someone should remove contents of lateral cabinets and pack in cartons designed for files. Unbolt any file cabinets that are gang bolted together. Files will be moved in an upright position and can be locked if unbolting is completed.

Remove and pack all contents from supply cabinets. Lock, tape, or tie cabinet doors closed.

Remove all books from bookcases and pack the books in a carton, standing on their ends.

Complete all packing before moving day. Only personnel directly involved with the move should be present on moving day

 

Tips for making your office relocation go faster

Making your office relocation go faster – some things you can do

So, if you want to make your office relocation go faster, you can do several things. Moreover, if you do them on time, you will avoid some common obstacles with last-minute relocation

Call a moving company to help you. There is no shame in calling a moving company to do your relocation for you. Moreover, moving companies employ professionals in the fields of logistics and relocation, thus, they can take good care of your move.

Do the move on your own. Now, this can get really hard. Moving on your own is hard enough, but relocating an office alone is even more. Offices are usually packed with important machines, laptops, computers, documents, et cetera. Thus, you need to be extra careful when you are trying to move your office. Ask your colleagues for help (if you are working with any), or call some friends to help as well.

Never forget the following

There are some things you should not keep out of your mind. For example, it does not matter where you move – it matters that you do your relocation in the best possible manner

Yet another thing you should not forget is cleaning. Once you have packed and loaded everything from the office, you will need to clean it. Moving can be dirty work – start by dusting everything before washing the floors. In case you do not have any time for that process, make sure to call professional cleaning services.

 

Download your free office move budget calculator

If you think moving home is stressful, imagine what it’s like planning an office move. Making sure that all your colleagues, documents and furniture are rearranged into their new homes to everyone’s satisfaction, and doing all of that on a strict budget and within a tight timeframe! That’s why we’ve created this office move budget calculator to help you tot up all the costs of moving offices.

Moving offices can be hard and there’s no chance of a practice run. Your office move simply has to go smoothly the first time around.

Based on our extensive experience helping others move office, this office move budget calculator will take you through the important steps, help to calculate costs and make sure you’re planning everything necessary for such a huge undertaking.

Our office move budget calculator is a spreadsheet enabling you to enter the quantities of furniture, accessories, and fixtures required. It then works out what the cost would be in your choice of three price brackets (entry-level, mid-market, top-end). The calculator even estimates installation costs, legal fees and interior design prices meaning you won’t be too caught out by any cost that you weren’t expecting.

The calculator also contains a useful “things to remember” section at the end which acts as an office move checklist for you to follow and make sure you don’t miss anything vital.

Put together a dedicated project team: It’s really stressful for just one person to try and organise everything, make sure they’ve got support.  When building your project team, make sure you get the right people on board. Make sure that the means of communicating with all stakeholders is determined in advance to avoid confusion. Make it clear who the project leader is and what everyone else’s role is. And make sure the people involved have the relevant authority to make potentially speedy decisions without waiting days for a signature.

Getting staff onside: An office move can build morale by showing staff that you are investing in their environment. Make the reason for the office move clear to all members of staff to get them on board and keep communication open and frequent. Change can be unsettling and the company has to function whilst the move is happening so it’s imperative to have your people on board. Explain the move in terms of business objectives so that they can see the value to the business. Bill it as a nice opportunity to clear out their desks of unwanted paperwork, equipment and furniture, and scan any items of paperwork you think you might need to save cluttering up valuable space.

Many people find moving from one place to another as a very tedious process. There are many tasks which need to be carried out effectively with proper planning. This is the reason people consider it convenient to hire the services of a moving company. The movers can take care of all aspects related to the moving process to help you relax.

There are different types of moving companies that help in handling various packing, moving and relocating needs. Depending on your need and requirement, you may need the services of a specific type of moving company. The first step in planning a smooth move is to choose the right type of moving company. The type of move you are about to undertake will play an important role in selecting the right service. Moving abroad and moving to a building down the road are two different things and require different types of moving companies to handle the shifting.

Experience – A professional moving company has experience in moving heavy boxes and other household items from one place to another. The company’s employees are trained rigorously to properly handle all the belongings throughout the different stages of the relocation process. They do this job day in and day out and can be trusted completely.

Reliable – Hiring a professional moving company is the most reliable option while moving from one place to another. You can stay stress-free as they know all the techniques to keep your belongings safe.

Right Equipment and Packing Supplies – Professionals come equipped with all the things required in the moving process. They have pads, straps, plastic wrap, wrapping papers, markers for labeling, moving blankets, boxes and tape to pack and move things without any damage.

Safety – It is an important thing to take care of during the moving process. Hiring professionals will ensure the safety of your belongings as they come in teams to make the moving process as swift and successful as possible.

Insurance – When you move your belongings with the help of a professional moving company, your goods are covered under insurance to cover whatever might go wrong. If the truck meets with an accident or if something gets damaged during the move, you can file a claim.

No Hassle – Moving is a very stressful process. When you try to do the shifting work all by yourself, you may injure yourself while lifting heavy boxes or you may even break or damage something. Having professionals by your side, offers a lot of peace of mind. You can leave all the hard work for them and they will ensure a hassle free moving experience.

Interstate moving companies charge their customers a rate that is based on what they will be moving so to make it less expensive try to get rid of stuff you do not need before contacting a moving company. If this is the first time that you have moved, do not hire the first company that you see on the internet or in the phone book. You should get quotes from at least three different companies. You need to check their reputation, and how reliable they are.

Best Long Distance Moving Tips

1. Make a plan as soon as you know you’re moving

You’re about to move everything you own hundreds or thousands of miles away. That kind of enormous task requires a plan! Whether you like to go with the flow or you want every moving-related to-do recorded in a spreadsheet, you should write down every moving-related task you need to accomplish. We know that’s a lot to juggle, so to help you out, we’ve already created the ultimate moving checklist to help you through every phase of your move. Check it out below!

2. Stay on schedule

Now that you’ve got a plan, you need to stay on schedule. Tasks like utility installation and school enrollment are time sensitive, so you don’t want to be scrambling to complete everything at the last minute. To keep yourself from forgetting what you need to do and when, try scheduling chunks of time on your calendar for moving-related tasks or setting up reminders on your phone. Follow this long distance moving tip, and you’ll be on schedule and ready for a stress-free move in no time!

3. Get multiple in-home moving estimates

Since you’re moving such a long distance, you need to do everything you can to find the right moving company. Part of this process is getting in-home estimates from at least three different moving companies. We recommend scheduling your estimates four weeks before your move, but the earlier the better. Don’t forget to make sure the price estimate is as accurate as possible by preparing your home properly for the in-home estimate.

 

How to Prepare for a Long Distance Move

• Moving long distance is not a joke – you’re going to have to move hundreds or thousands of miles until you reach your new home. So, the only way to have a successful long distance move is to use this long distance moving checklist in order to prepare really well for the relocation challenges ahead of you.
• The preparation phase of your cross-country move is absolutely critical – it includes 25 tips for moving long distance, including MANAGING your pre-move time; INVENTORYING your entire home, GETTING RID OF (DECLUTTERING) all your unwanted items, FINDING high-quality packing supplies, and PACKING your things using a detailed packing timeline.
• Moving long distance is not a good time to test your DIY moving skills – the risks will be too high and the self-moving costs will become astronomical. So, the best way to prepare for a long distance move is to hire the services of a reputable, trustworthy, experienced and affordable long distance moving company.

 

DISTANCE MOVING TIPS TO HELP YOU AVOID DISASTER

INSURE YOUR BELONGINGS PROPERLY.

A lot can happen to your stuff over thousands of miles in the back of a truck when it’s being loaded and unloaded by a number of crews.  Moving is a high risk industry; according to statistics from the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), “More than 80% of all moves have no claim filed”- in other words, up to 20% do. Be ready for something to go wrong, and get the proper coverage. Under Federal law, basic moving valuation limits a mover’s liability to only $.60 per pound.  Determine well before your move if you want to purchase full-value coverage or stick to basic coverage. Take note of the deductibles and the amount of coverage you’re getting. If you’re unsure which is better for you, your moving company will explain the differences between the coverages, and you can make a more informed decision that will help you prevent your expensive long distance move from becoming a financial disaster.

INSPECT OUTDOOR FURNITURE

You will need to inspect your outdoor furniture, or any other suspect items, for signs of insect or larvae infestation. Certain moving regulations exist on furniture in order to prevent transporting contaminants across state lines. Government pamphlets are available to provide more information on these regulations and how you can rid your furniture of larvae, moths, or other pests.

CREATE AN INVENTORY LIST

Moving companies handling your long distance move will want to know how much stuff you have. The only way to truly know how much stuff you have is to make a list of all of it. An inventory list won’t just be helpful for getting accurate price estimates from movers; it will help you stay organized while packing for your move, and allow you to keep track of your items along their long distance journey. If you check something off at the origin and destination, you won’t be worried about whether or not it safely made the trip.

SAVE MONEY BY PURGING UNNECESSARY ITEMS

The more items you take with you across the country, the more it will cost you. Cutting down on your list of items can be easy if you approach this task the right way. The three best ways to get rid of items are donating, selling, and tossing. Media items like CDs, DVDs, video games and books are easy to sell, since they’re mass produced and one size fits all. Blankets and winter coats are in major demand by charities in cold weather cities. Cheap, bulky furniture items often aren’t worth the work it takes to move them, and these can often be donated as well.

 

How to Plan a Long-distance Move

Moving to the other side of town can be a very different experience from moving across the country — or to a different country. If you’re in for a big change of scenery, it pays to take stock of your situation sooner rather than later. A move to Alaska may seem exotic if you’ve never seen snow, but culture shock may have you racing back to the hot and humid South if you’re not careful. Every area has something valuable to offer, but make sure you understand a locale’s unique challenges by doing a little recon before you pack up the kids and hit the road.

We may come into the world naked, but we don’t stay that way for long. From the moment we arrive, we start accumulating possessions. Some of them stay with us a lifetime, while others don’t. One sure way to make your long-distance move a strategic disaster is to misjudge which items are keepers and which ones aren’t. From packing smart to knowing what to pitch, let’s take a look at a few strategies for implementing a long-haul move that won’t make you wish you’d stayed put where life was dull but predictable. Don’t cringe — yet. Moving is an adventure. All you need is a reliable plan.

 

Tips for Planning a Long Distance Move

Give Yourself Lots of Time

Because there are so many steps involved in planning and executing a long distance move, you’ll need more time. With a local move, I usually recommend at least 8 weeks but for a long distance move, 12-16 weeks is ideal, particularly if you’re moving to a new state or across an international border. The more complicated your move, the more time you’ll need.

Understand What Type of Move You’re Making

There are two types of moves: intrastate—meaning that you’re moving within the same state – interstate means that you’re crossing a state or international border during your move. Most long-distance moves are interstate moves and require a specialized mover who can move you across borders. The type of move will determine how you get your household stuff from your old to the new home and the costs involved. So know before you start planning.

Determine Your Moving Budget

Before you start planning too much, you should sit down and figure out how much you can afford to spend on your move which will help determine how you can move regarding whether you’ll hire movers or move yourself. Remember that a long distance move will always be more costly. Not only is there the travel costs between your old and new home but also the time and higher cost services you may need to hire.

Decide How Best to Move Your Things

Now that you know what type of move you’ll be making and what your budget looks like, you can assess your options for moving which can include moving yourself, hiring long distance movers, or shipping your goods through a shipping service. When considering how to move, make sure you look at how much time you have, your moving budget and how much you’ll need to be involved. Interstate movers are more expensive than local movers. However, they will also be able to advise you about any paperwork you may need to complete if you’re moving your stuff across an international border for instance. Some states also have particular rules for what can be shipped across their borders. Know the rules and what you’ll need before you decide how to move.