5 smart tips to help you choose the right moving companies

There are so many things that can go wrong with an office move, or at least cause the moving project manager to have a lot of extra time, extra stress, and extra work.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the negative effects of an upcoming office move and increase your chances of it going off without a hitch. Planning ahead is one of them: the earlier you start, the more time you have to be thorough, and the more thorough you are, the better organized your move will be.

Another key element of your office relocation is the quality and caliber of the mover you choose. Your skill, knowledge, experience and professionalism (or lack of any of these) can often make the difference between a successful move and one that turns out to be a nightmare.

If you’re looking to hire office movers in the near future, these tips can help you choose the best company for your needs:

One: don’t be too swayed by the price.

Your budget is certainly important, but in some cases the cheapest mover is not necessarily the best mover. A low-budget company that shows up four hours late and breaks three pieces of furniture isn’t doing you any favors, and the $200 you saved hiring them will start looking like a bargaining chip the moment the cheap guys start giving you trouble.

Two: Ask for references.

This is where social media can really come in handy. Post a question to your friends and colleagues asking them to suggest companies to avoid or companies to check out. If you’re already considering a particular moving company, ask if anyone else has used it.

Three: Ask the movers a lot of questions.

Before you sign on the dotted line, ask questions about the company’s licenses, insurance, years of experience, how they hire crew members, how they quote, how they handle problems, etc. The answers, or lack thereof, will help you get a better idea of ​​the overall quality of the company you’re considering.

Four: Online research.

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, go online and check out the company’s reviews on Google or Yelp, its Better Business Bureau ranking, and so on. You can also ask the mover for a list of references or see if they have a list of their previous clients on their website. Call the office managers of some of those companies and see if they are willing to share their experiences with you.

Five: Ask the management of both your current building and the building you’re moving into for suggestions.

In many cases, the property management company has “seen it all” over the years: tenants who have moved successfully and tenants who have moved poorly. They may have some surprising ideas about who to call for a quote and who to avoid. If nothing else, the property manager can at least tell you which moving company names they see most often.