Moving from house to house is stressful enough. When a business makes a move, it's a lot more complicated. Some commercial moving firms specialize in company moves to both domestic and international destinations. Hire the right one and you'll take the logistical burden and much of the accompanying stress off your shoulders. The following is a brief outline of what to look for in a commercial mover, as well as information on both domestic and international moves.
Commercial Moving Basics
You probably know the basics about hiring a moving service. But there are two areas you should explore to find out if a firm you're considering works well with businesses.
Do They Work After Hours?
Your commercial moving service should be comfortable working with corporate clients. Find one that will work after hours so you can make your move without disturbing other tenants in your building.
Can They Handle Supplemental Employee Moves?
Find out if the commercial mover also does residential moves for employees that are staying with the firm. If your firm is paying for the employee moves, find out if they offer a more cost effective rate for multiple moves combined.
To Pack or Not to Pack
Most commercial moving services will offer a quote for simply moving your belongings and another that includes packing. If you plan on doing your own packing, find out if the mover provides delivered packing supplies, such as boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, and stretch wrap. The latter is plastic sheeting that you wrap around packed boxes and other items to prevent water damage.
Once you start thinking about how much work it is to pack up and move an office, you might rethink those packing plans, especially if your office is going to be open during much of the move. It might be more cost effective, as well as easier on your employees and clients, if you have the moving firm pack everything up after hours. You could always compromise by contracting out the packing and moving of the more fragile items like computers, printers, and other types of office electronics.
Is Your Move Domestic or International?
Domestic Moves
If your move is within the continental United States, chances are the packing and shipping are all you have to worry about. Moves to Hawaii are a bit more complicated because your items will most likely have to go by ship. It's the same story if you are moving to Puerto Rico. A move to Alaska could either mean transport by ship or by truck or train. Then you have to be prepared for crossing into Canada. For professional moving companies this isn't usually an issue. As long as the cargo manifest is up to date and it clearly states you are headed to Alaska, clearing customs is fairly simple.
Air transport is another option for all these places but can be expensive. It can also be impractical if you have a large move. A plane can only carry so much weight, even if it is a freight carrier.
International Moves
Moving to another country means more paperwork. Using Canada as an example, if your destination is within that country, your trip through customs becomes a bit more complicated. Again, your commercial moving service can make this easier. They'll also take care of specialty transport to parts of Canada that are more difficult to get to.
For example, if your move is to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, your goods have to come by ferry or air. If your destination is Churchill, Manitoba, on the edge of Hudson Bay, your items must come by rail or air. There are no roads this far north. This may seem out of the ordinary, but energy firms and scientific researchers often head to remote parts of Canada in pursuit of their interests.
If your move takes you to another continent, then your items will usually go by ship. Commercial moving firms that deal with international moves have counterparts at arrival destinations that deal with the customs documentation and clearance. It's also possible to arrange storage for your goods at the arrival city if they can't be delivered directly to your office.
Share5 June 2017
Finding out you have to move again can bring on feelings of anxiety, panic and frustration. You may be tempted to put it off, packing and scrambling at the last minute, or waiting for your "help" to take a day off so they can help you pack. Then there's the friend or family member that always wants to help you by purging all of your stuff and dropping it curbside. Stop the insanity before it starts. Moving and storage companies understand the stress of moving and can help you get started before the move. Then they move all of your stuff without question and will not "purge" anything you do not want them to. It makes for a smoother, easier, less frustrating transition all around.
