Last year, Oracle Group and Hewlett Packard Enterprise moved to Texas. Whether these moves were due to the pandemic or otherwise, Texas is becoming a new business hub for large corporations. You might also be considering a move for your business to ensure sustainability after last year's major economic shift.
Almost 13% of Americans move yearly; that's over 40 million people. Moving can't be that hard if so many people do it annually. Right?
However, there are things a business will need to consider when moving that a homeowner won't. It may seem overwhelming, but expert commercial movers can easily make this transition for you. There are over 7,000 commercial moving companies you can choose from.
But there are some things you should know before selecting the one that's best for you. Read on to find out more.
19 Questions About Commercial Moving Companies
Get the answers to these 19 questions before hiring a commercial relocation company.
1. What does “Commercial” mean?
The word "commercial" encompasses all types of companies, big and small. "Commercial" applies to everything from retail outlets and software companies to mom-and-pop restaurants. Any business with an office, a customer service space, and/or a general business presence is considered "commercial."
2. What is a Commercial Move?
A commercial move involves the relocation of office equipment to a new location. This can include office furniture, electronic equipment, IT systems, photocopiers, scanners, and printers. It often requires specialized equipment and transportation to move these items safely.
It's one reason commercial moves vastly differ from residential ones.
3. What Is the Difference Between Commercial and Residential Moving?
The main difference between commercial and residential moving services is that commercial movers focus on businesses that are relocating. In contrast, residential moving companies assist homeowners in relocating from one home to another.
Commercial movers provide specific services for businesses of all sizes. The top commercial relocation services use considerable expertise to facilitate the unique needs of companies. Commercial moves often involve business equipment, machinery, oversized furniture, and electronics.
These items require specialized equipment for careful handling to minimize any damage. However, despite this, commercial moving companies also have to provide quick turnover so that your business has the shortest downtime possible. This is especially important if your company has only one business location.
The moving process is quite different for relocating homeowners. These types of moves are more common, and many companies or specialized family movers provide this service. They usually don't require specialized equipment.
4. How Do You Find the Best Commercial Relocation Company?
If this is the first time you've had to move your business, you may be asking, "How do I find commercial movers near me?" There are many ways to find the best commercial relocation company for your business needs. You can:
- Get recommendations from business colleagues
- Research companies online
- Verify companies with your local chamber or through the Better Business Bureau.
- Look at reviews
- Examine the track record of your shortlisted moving companies
Once you have a list of companies, have them provide you with an itemized quotation before you decide on one. Ensure they can meet your business needs. Also, find a company that specializes in your area of need. Contract with local commercial movers if you're moving across the city, and seek out commercial appliance movers with the right equipment to safely move your belongings to your new office space.
There are even antique furniture movers who are also licensed commercial moving specialists!
Also, beware of scammers. Once you hire a company, they should not include hidden costs during the moving process.
5. How Much Do Commercial Movers Cost?
The cost of commercial movers will vary based on the number of office locations involved or whether the relocation is local or long-distance. It will also be dependent on the services you require.
Packaging and moving a 3,000-square-foot office space can range from $1,500 to $9,000. An ample space with numerous workstations could cost as much as $30,000. When moving from state to state or across the country, these numbers fluctuate considerably based on distance and time of year.
6. How Much Should You Pay a Mover?
Most business movers base their costs on weight, mileage, and labor. Some moving companies may charge a flat rate based on the estimated number of hours the move will take, multiplied by their hourly rate. You can also cater for an average of $50 to $750 per employee.
7. What Is a Good Hourly Rate For Business Movers?
For movers that charge an hourly rate, the national average ranges from $90 to $100. Again, this will vary based on the number of movers required. The number of hours worked will also vary based on how far your destination location is from your current location.
Many business moving companies that also have an online presence provide a moving cost calculator on their websites. This will give you a good idea of how much your move will cost based on the abovementioned factors.
8. How Much Should I Tip Business Movers?
You are never obligated to tip your business relocation movers. You are only required to pay the total commercial moving costs assessed by the commercial business moving company servicing your order.
However, tips are customary and appreciated. Corporate office movers are some of the hardest working professionals in the moving business, and tips let them know that you appreciate their efforts. In general, average tips range from 5-15% of the total cost of commercial relocation services.
9. What Are Some of the Legal Requirements of All Moving Companies?
Researching the cost of commercial moving services is essential. But there is also other information you should find out before hiring a moving company. There are also some general legal requirements all moving companies need to follow.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the United States Department of Transportation regulate moving companies. The Illinois Commerce Commission governs the movement of goods intrastate and locally. Check that your moving company has the required certificates before hiring them.
10. Do Moving Companies Require a License and Insurance?
No matter how reputable the moving company you choose may be, it would be best if you still catered for unforeseen accidents or mishaps. You can protect your equipment by ensuring your selected company is licensed and insured. Liability coverage is a legal requirement for commercial freight movers.
Most offer both Released Value coverage and Full Value protection. The latter holds the moving company liable for any damage incurred. The former provides minimal protection that translates to $0.60c per pound for every item moved.
11. Do Commercial Freight Movers Provide Additional Services?
Many commercial freight movers do more than move equipment and office furniture . Some commercial moving and storage companies also provide the following:
- Specialized transportation
- Record management and storage solutions
- Packing supplies and services
- Storage options
Some local movers will also remove unwanted items and facilitate long-distance or overseas shipments.
12. What Types of Businesses Do Commercial Office Movers Provide Services For?
Whether you are a sole proprietor or a corporation with several locations, commercial office movers can provide services to help you relocate. Many types of companies use moving companies, including:
- Non-profit organizations
- Professional business offices
- Educational institutions
- Retail outlets
- Medical offices and hospitals
Regardless of how unique your moving requirements are, commercial equipment movers have the expertise to ensure your move is seamless.
13. What Information Should You Provide to Commercial Equipment Movers?
There are many questions you should ask your commercial equipment movers. However, there is also pertinent information that you should also provide to them. This will give them a complete picture of what your move entails .
Let them know:
- If there are specific times the move needs to take place based on the rules of your office building
- If there is a particular location where they can park their trucks
- The location of loading docks, if any
These things can make moving logistics easier for the company. You should also have a list of the items in your office for yourself and the moving company. This will give them an idea of what equipment they need and how to handle specific things.
14. Do Commercial Office Movers Pack Your Office for You?
When inquiring about prices, you should also determine the cost of specific services. If you have a large business or one with multiple items to move, you may want to hire commercial office movers who will pack your office for you.
Be sure to learn about this service, as many commercial movers only deal with disassembled furniture and prepacked boxes. This is a cheaper option but can be a lot more stressful. Also, remember that if you choose to do your packing, coverage doesn't extend to any broken or misplaced items.
15. What Type of Packing/Unpacking Services Do Commercial Movers Provide?
The best commercial movers offer full-service commercial moving and storage services. You can pack your office and save money, or let a top team of commercial packers and movers take a load off your shoulders.
Commercial office moving companies use high-quality boxes and packing materials to safeguard items big and small. Commercial moving services double as commercial furniture movers, carefully loading everything from couches to conference tables and unloading them safely at your destination. Whether you're on a tight schedule and need to move in one day, or you want to move cross country in the most efficient way possible, the best commercial moving companies have it covered.
16. Are Commercial Freight Movers Required to Reinstall Furniture at Your New Location?
One of the many moving tips you should heed is to specify what services you need. Not all commercial moving services are the same. Most movers will disassemble your office furniture to make transportation easier.
If you want to avoid arriving at your new office location and figuring out how to reassemble your furniture, you should hire an end-to-end commercial mover. This will also eliminate the need to unpack boxes of equipment. These types of companies transport your gear and unpack and install it for you.
17. Do Companies That Provide Commercial Moving Services Also Set Up Your IT System?
The answer to this question can affect your business continuity. Moving a business can be unpredictable. Delays may be inevitable.
But you can try to circumvent these by hiring a commercial moving services company that does more than move your equipment from one location to another. Some companies can unpack your items and set up your IT system. This will go a long way in minimizing your downtime.
18. Are There Items a Commercial Relocation Company Will Not Move?
In addition to finding out the services your chosen commercial relocation company will provide, find out if there are certain items they will not move. This will be important based on the type of business you have. Items with specific restrictions include alcohol.
Some states prohibit the movement of these items by commercial movers.
19. Do Business Moving Companies Move Offices On Weekends?
Different movers, commercial and otherwise, operate at different hours. Some local commercial moving companies limit their hours to weekday or weekend moves. Other business moving companies provide on-demand services around the clock, every day of the week. When searching for the cheapest ways to move locally or across the country, inquire about a company's hours of operation. This will ensure you contract with the right commercial moving services for your schedule.
Hiring the Best Commercial Movers for Your Business
Moving your business doesn't have to be a hassle. Having a moving plan can make the process more organized and help make the move much more manageable. Also, ensure you research to know what you should expect from any commercial moving companies.
There are many commercial movers available. However, you should hire a company that suits your business needs. This will also help you to protect your investment. Use our commercial moving cost estimator to get started now!
Whether you need to move cars and furniture or want to move plants and some chairs, we've got solutions. Nexus is more than just the most reliable auto transport company in the United States. We’re a five-star customer service provider that’s always ready to help. Contact us today!
