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How to Choose a Reliable Office Moving Company

At the moment there are so many horror stories circulating about unprofessional movers that customers find it difficult to trust any moving company at all. So how can you avoid being the next victim of unprofessional movers?

More importantly, how can you make sure the company you hire is on the up and up and won’t engage in illegal tactics to steal your money? As with everything in life, there are no guarantees, but the following four guidelines can help ensure you find a credible, professional company that can provide you with a stress-free moving experience:

Check Out the Company on the BBB

Your first stop in researching your prospective moving company should be the BBB (Better Business Bureau) website. The BBB is a 3rd party organization that aims to provide accountability for businesses. This agency reviews, rates, and gives accreditation to businesses that have shown to conduct themselves at the highest levels of professionalism and customer service.

Are They Insured?

One question you should be asking any company you speak with immediately is whether they carry proper insurance coverage for their workforce. In Ontario this is governed by the WSIB (Workplace Safety Insurance Board).

If employees are working illegally for a company, or the company has not properly set up coverage for their workers, you could potentially be sued if anyone is injured on your property or in the course of carrying out your move. This is an issue that is not as well publicised but also important to look out for. Asking questions about workers’ insurance is a good way to avoid this issue and also speaks to the overall professionalism of the company.

How Are Their Reviews?

The best way to determine if a company is providing great customer service is by researching them online. There are many independently audited 3rd party websites that allow users to post reviews of moving companies (both positive and negative) such as www.yelp.ca and www.homestars.com. Chances are if the company is doing something right (or wrong) somebody has taken the time to log on to one of these websites to write about it.

If a company is well reviewed, has a high volume of reviews, and the reviews are recent, you’re probably looking at a professional organization.

Evaluate Their Prices

Pricing is always a factor when deciding on hiring a moving company, however it can also serve as a great indicator of the level of service you can expect.

One of the hallmarks of disreputable companies is offering extremely cheap hourly rates (sometimes ½ or ¼ of the price of the competition), and this is the primary way these companies market themselves. That doesn’t mean that you should simply hire the most expensive company you encounter in order to ensure you get a good experience, but if a company’s rates are significantly cheaper than the competition something is very wrong.

For more on our commercial moving services, check out our website or call us on (647) 497-7747 or fill out our Contact Form for a free consultation.

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Commercial Moving Strategy: 5 Tips For A Successful Move

Let’s be honest – many businesses border on obsessive with their strategy planning. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing! But strangely, when it comes to moving location, some business owners let go of the reins, not realizing that a commercial moving strategy is key to making it successful.

Of course, planning is important for every type of move, but because not all moves are the same, preparations can differ. For example, an office move will involve disassembling and packing desks, filing cabinets and electronic office equipment, but a café or restaurant will typically involve moving very heavy kitchen equipment and furniture.

The challenge for any moving company is to safely deliver items to their new location, but business owners face particular challenges of their own.

Why Bother with a Commercial Moving Strategy?

Basically, it comes down to the old business adage that time is money. Any move is going to cause disruption to the normal daily routine, but for a business it inevitably involves downtime, which ultimately translates to lost revenue.

A commercial or office moving strategy is influenced by a number of factors, including:

  • the type of business – dictates what items needs to be packed, disassembled and moved
  • the number of employees – how efficiently they can carry out normal duties in the run-up to the move
  • distance to travel – how long the physical move takes will affect your timetable

So how can these challenges be overcome? What are the key elements to an effective moving strategy?

5 Tips For A Successful Commercial Move

  1. Start Early – Commercial moves require military-like precision planning, and that needs time. We recommend starting 60 days before moving day so you have time to triple check every detail. Remember, the more employees, workstations, desks and furniture, the more details there are to cover.
  2. Select 2 Moving Coordinators – You’ve got a business to run, so you cannot spend your time obsessing over how many printers to pack and what cable goes with what. Select two trusted members of staff to oversee things, and schedule regular progress meetings. Why 2 people? Getting set up at the new premises is a challenge too, so one can focus on the departure and the other on the arrival.
  3. Your Staff Input – A commercial moving strategy never overlooks staff. The moving company will take care of most packing, but it’s a good idea to ask staff to put everything in order first. Ask them to pack away their personal desk items themselves (photos, penholders etc), and if feasible colour-code work-related equipment components (like computer, computer cables etc…) so nothing gets lost.
  4. Have Destination Ready – Make sure everything is ready at your destination so you get fully operational as quickly as possible. Check the power and water is working 2 or 3 days before moving day. Also, prioritize your unpacking to avoid cluttering up the new space.
  5. Let Your Clients Know – There is going to be some downtime, so make sure your clients know what’s going on – and in plenty of time. Once you’ve settled on a moving date, send an email, post a notice on your website and on social media. Also, tell your bank, your creditors and the post office so important mail goes to the new address.

Planning Office Moves Toronto
At Office Movers Toronto, we like to think of ourselves as our clients’ moving partners. That’s why we’ve worked with dozens of businesses in putting together an effective commercial moving strategy, helping to ensure their move across Toronto runs as smoothly as possible with minimal downtime.

For more on our commercial moving services, check out our website or call us on (647) 497-7747 or fill out our Contact Form for a free consultation.

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5 Tips to help Relocate your Small Business

Whether you’re moving from a home office to a new workspace or relocating from one commercial building to another, choosing an office space for your business isn’t easy. Since your whole business, or parts of it at various times, will be non-operational during the move, you want to make sure the process is as efficient as possible.

Office Moving Tips Toronto - Office Movers Toronto

Here are five moving tips to help you relocate your small business office efficiently and quickly:

1. Create a timeline for when packing and the move will take place

Now that you know where you are moving, coordinating a move can be a challenge with all the equipment and furniture contained within an office. Evaluate the current situation of your company’s office to see how you want the new office to be laid out and how you plan to make it happen within your designated budget. 4-6 months before the move, you’ll need to make sure employees are well aware of when changes will be occurring. Schedule time for updating the internet and phone services and obtaining the necessary permits, licenses and insurance policies. The larger the office you have, the more time you will need to plan.

2. Allocate resources accordingly

From budgeting for movers and equipment transportation to making time for your employees, make sure you are putting your resources in the right places. Don’t be afraid to ask an employee or two for assistance.

3. Hire movers and cleaners 1 to 3 months before the move

Planning ahead is important as the transition from one office space to another should go off without a hitch. If you are planning to hire movers or a cleaning service to help with the process, now is the time to do it. Make sure you research the companies and go with a business that can provide recommendations.

4. Update your vendors 1 to 3 months before you move

You don’t want to be missing any important necessities when you arrive at your new office, so let your vendors know well in advance so they can make the adjustments to your shipping and billing address. If you’ll need new furniture or a sign, order it now so that it has plenty of time to arrive and be arranged before your business makes the move.

5. Update your website, letterhead and business cards 1-2 weeks before moving

During the final week, it is imperative that everything be in place so that once employees enter the new office, they don’t have to spend too much time adjusting and can get back to business. Make sure the post office and clients are aware that a move is taking place and when. Finish or reschedule any last minute tasks including vendor deliveries, client meetings, or interviews.

If you’ve planned well, the day of the move should be a snap. While relocating an office may seem daunting, making a checklist of what needs to be done can expedite the process.

For more on our commercial moving services, check out our website or call us on (647) 497-7747 or fill out our Contact Form for a free consultation.

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Planning a Successful Business Move

If you need to move your business, the best place to start to plan how to pack and move is right here. I’ve had a lot of requests from individuals who have been given the task of moving their company office, which is a large undertaking that may require additional help in the form of other colleagues (creating a committee) or by hiring professional packers. In our experience the key to a successful move is to build some alliances who can help motivate and coordinate the rest of the office staff.

Planning a Successful Business Move - Office Movers Toronto

Here are some basic steps to help streamline your office move:

Plan the Move

Create a timeline that will allow for all the necessary stages of your move. This will need to be discussed with the rest of your moving team or with the managers and supervisors to ensure that it is feasible. For a small office, you’ll need at least three months to prepare; and for a medium to large office, at least six to eight months.

The key is to start as early as possible.

The next step is to collect all information on the new space. Try to acquire blue prints or floor layout so you can identify key components such as electrical outlets, storage space, etc. and most importantly, to determine the new office layout. It is also a good idea to have a general layout plan for your current space so you can compare the two; if there are areas in the current office that are not working, identify them so that they can be resolved in your new space.

Also make a list of potential problems with the new space, such as a smaller reception area or less storage area or perhaps a larger open space that may require more cubicles or temporary walls. It may be necessary to hire carpenters or painters if walls need to be constructed or painted. This may have been addressed when the new space was acquired, but just make sure that no additional construction or cosmetic changes need to be completed prior to the move.

Gather Your Team

For medium to large offices, I recommend appointing (or ask for volunteers), someone from each department or division to coordinate their particular area. This could be assigned to the department supervisor or manager who can then ensure that each employee takes responsibility for packing their desk, files and personal items. For smaller offices, you may be on your own. If so, identify a few key people who may be able to help with coordinating the move.
Your team can also assist in identifying current issues with the old space and provide possible solutions for the new office. This is a great way to incorporate other viewpoints and to achieve consensus on the move if some are not quite excited about the change.

Have Regular Meetings

In your schedule, set regular meetings and make sure that employees are notified of meeting details and to ensure everyone knows what they need to do to pack up their office or workspace. It is important to keep everyone informed to limit any worries or concerns; moving is stressful for everyone involved especially if decisions are not being communicated.

Determine Your Budget

If you have a specific budget amount assigned for your move, it will be important to identify costs before you hire movers, or even before you pack the first box. If you’re uncertain of your budget and what the move might entail, e-mail us for an Office Moving Budget template that will help organize your costs.

Assign Tasks

Have your moving committee create a list of tasks that need to be completed and make sure they are added to the time line/schedule. You may require specialty service providers, such as telephone line installers or computer network specialists. Ask each department manager or supervisor what is required from their area. Make sure common areas are covered, such as the reception area, lobby, and storage areas.

One of the most critical tasks is to hire the movers. There are moving companies that specialize in office moves (like us!). Just make sure you do your research, ask the right questions, and have the company come to your office to assess your move. Like any household move, you need to make sure the company is reliable and that you are receiving the best service for the cost. This task can be assigned to a few people, each calling specific companies then comparing notes. Start early to make sure you get the best price possible.

Make a Contact List

You’ll need to make sure that everyone you do business with, both suppliers and clients, know that you’re moving. It’s a good idea to assign this task to one person to oversee. Notifying customers and clients requires specific communications around where you’re moving to and how business will operate during the move. Such information is essential to ensure your customers don’t go elsewhere for your services.

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