Breaking the News about Interstate Moving

icon-newsSome of the challenges associated with interstate moving are going to be interpersonal. If you are a leader in your company and you have to break the news to your employees about upcoming office relocation, you may be unprepared for how some of your employees will react when they hear the news. Some employees may have to move now themselves, which is never an easy decision for any employee to make. There is still a job shortage, and many employees today will be willing to move to a new location in order to keep their jobs. However, it’s possible they will be all the more frustrated with having to make that decision as a result of their external circumstances. Some employees will have to commute to the new office location, which few people will enjoy. People that chose their jobs specifically because a given location was convenient for them may find themselves in a particularly difficult position.

Other employees may decide to leave the company altogether in response to the corporate relocation. Managers should prepare for that sort of thing and try to break the news of the move as gently as possible. They should also prepare for the fact that some employees may have to give notice as a result of the move. Managers should partly prepare for an upcoming move by preparing to hire new people in their new locations. Managers should also do other things around the office to try to boost morale. Employees will be able to adjust to the new location much more easily if they feel that upper management understands their predicament and is willing to make the transition easier for them.

Some employees may be frustrated about having to take additional time out of their days in order to help the company complete their office relocation projects. Offering rewards and incentives to those people can go a long way towards boosting morale throughout the company. It is possible that the move itself may have some other benefits connected to it. If managers are able to provide any evidence that employees will benefit financially from the move, they will be able to make the entire process run far more smoothly for everyone involved. An office move and relocation is going to have an influence on everyone’s working lives and home lives in one way or another.

Hire an Experienced Mover for Your Corporate Relocation

A corporate relocation can be a tiring process that is frustrating and very disruptive for everyone involved. It doesn’t matter if the move is across the street or across town. It is a process that will get the best of everyone in the company, if it is not properly planned, organized and coordinated.

Hiring a moving company is a must. However, make sure that you invest in one that has a lot of experience with moving corporate offices because it is not the same as moving a household. A corporate move is more involved due to the enormous volume of the overall project. There are numerous employees to move as opposed to a limited amount of family members. Also, there is a much larger quantity of assets that need to be unassembled, packed up, moved and then reassembled again. As a result, choose thoroughly trained corporate movers.

Before settling upon a moving company, get plenty of quotes. Don’t fall for the first cheap quote received. A cheap price might not include many of the services that the company needs. Also, this might indicate that the company does not show attention to detail and takes shortcuts. Do you really want to trust the company’s assets with this kind of company? Opt for a moving company that knows how to successfully relocate corporate offices according to the agreed upon schedule and affordable cost.

The goal is to get the most moving services for the most affordable price. Corporate offices have a combination of both fragile and heavy items. They include things such as filing cabinets, copiers, desks, chairs, office accessories and warehouse machinery. In addition to the larger items, offices have confidential documents that must be secured and kept away from prying eyes. A good moving company will know how to transport such items in a professional and efficient manner.

Expect to sit down with a representative from your chosen company. He will map out a plan of attack for moving day. Before the actual movers arrive, employees will pack up items in their workspace and label belongings. Then on moving day, the moving company will box up and secure items for shipping. For larger items, they’ll be properly wrapped and loaded onto the trucks. Once company assets reach the new office location, there’ll be a second crew of movers that will offload and assemble them to your satisfaction.

In conclusion, moving day for a corporation can be a long and tiring day, if it is not handled properly. The key is to hire a moving company that is trained in corporate relocation. J.H. Bennett Moving & Storage is a Pennsylvania moving company that has a wonderful reputation for providing affordable and stress free company relocation. J.H. Bennett will work with your company from beginning to end to make sure the company is successfully moved.

Smart Packing Tips for an Office Relocation

There are times when the company moving day can turn into a complete nightmare. There is nothing worse than opening up a box at the new office location and finding damaged merchandise. This is especially the case if the damaged merchandise is a huge piece of company equipment such as a copy machine or computer. Even if it is a smaller item such as a computer keyboard or desktop tray, it can still be pretty upsetting.

tips iconHowever, this can be avoided if employees acknowledge a few tips about packing. It will ensure that the move is completed without any major problems. Another option is to hire professional movers like J. H. Bennett Moving and Storage who are experienced in packing boxes and containers so that nothing gets damaged during transit. They know how to pack fragile items as well as sturdy warehouse equipment.

Once everything is packed, the professional movers will load everything up and transport it to the new office location. However, if this packing service is not in the budget, then it is imperative that employees know how to pack up the items that they use in their personal workspace.

One of the most important things to remember is to keep everything together. If you work in a large company, there will be a large number of employees who are doing the same thing that you are. When packing your boxes, make sure that they are labelled properly with your identifying information such as your name, office number and department. Also remember to number the boxes so that they will remain together, and if they are separated, the movers will know where to place them at the new office location.

Don’t wait until the last minute to pack up the items in your personal workspace. Be smart and pack up a few boxes at a time. Start with the items that you have not used in months, but they are still in your workspace. These could be things such as department binders or boxed up documents. Do not box up the supplies that you use on a regular basis until the last day before the big move. As a matter of fact, mark this box with a special tag so that you can easily recognize and access it at the new office location.

In conclusion, an office relocation can be overwhelming, but it can go smoother if things are packed properly. To avoid the risk of company assets being damaged, it is best to hire a professional mover or learn how to correctly pack for moving day. Hopefully, these tips can help.

Is there an Employee Relocation Service?

employee relocationCorporate relocation moving will require employee relocation service. These services need to be provided for the business owner, management and any of the employees that will be going with you. There is a need for realty services at both ends of the move. Whether it is a long distance move PA or a local move PA, employees will need help to make your corporate relocation a successful endeavor.

At the business owner or high management employee, you will have to guide your office through the move as well as your home. Make lists. Assign tasks. Follow some of these steps.

  • Get your team of workers assigned to various tasks
  • One person should be in charge of the team
  • Give them the responsibility of choosing what will be moved from your office to the new destination
  • They should make lists of equipment that is going as well as equipment that will be left behind
  • Your team leader should make arrangements with the power company to discontinue service at the old location and begin service at the new location
  • The team leader will have to notify the post office of the change of address

You will be responsible for assisting your employees have a smooth move. An employee relocation service is vital. That service may be you or someone you designate. As part of the employee relocation service, they will have to be aware of housing is available at your destination.

It would be beneficial if they also spoke with the moving company and got all of their needs coordinated with those of the office. The more help available to them, the less complicated the move will be for you. It is important to consult with your moving company and ask for suggestions as far as consolidating the moves.

There will be a lot of lists being formed. Your employee relocation service will require as many as your corporate relocation moving. Single, married, children or not, moving is a task that is easier when you have the right advice and the right Pennsylvania moving company.

Communicate Your Way to a Successful Office Relocation

office relocationWhen preparing for office relocation, what comes to mind? Many people focus on the long list of physical tasks that must be completed before the move, but that is not the most effective place to start. Communication is what ensures all of those physical tasks are completed in a timely and efficient manner, so you must start by establishing lines of communication between all of the following as applicable:

* Departments within your company
* Your office and personnel of the office you are relocating into
* Your office and the moving company

Many of the problems encountered during a corporate relocation are a result of a lapse in communication. For example, imagine one of your employees is charged with the task of measuring the copy room in the new office location in order to determine how much of your office equipment will fit comfortably. You know that you will need to downsize the copy room, but which machines you bring will depend on the exact size of the new room.

Unfortunately, your employee takes the measurements but fails to communicate that information to other employees whom you have put in charge of packing up the copy room. You tell the other staff members that some of the machines will need to be sold because the new copy room is smaller, so they wait to learn those dimensions before moving forward with their packing. Since they never learn the exact size of the new copy room, they never finish packing that room.

When the moving company shows up to complete your office relocation, they move all of the equipment in your copy room to the new location. You walk into your new office and find copy equipment lining the hallway, and now you have the difficult task of determining what to keep and how to arrange it into that room.

To avoid mistakes like this, you have to start organizing your office relocation by opening the lines of communication. Identify trustworthy leaders and put them in charge of communicating with specified groups. These groups should include all employees within your company, personnel at the new office you are moving into, and the moving company handling your relocation.

Have a one-on-one conversation with each of your communication leaders to ensure they understand who they are responsible for communicating with and what they are to communicate with those people about. If your communication leaders assign some communication duties to select members of their groups, make sure they follow-up with those people to ensure messages are moving down the line as expected.

It is often the small things that are not communicated, and those small things can lead to big mistakes and hassles. The example used here involved one person failing to communicate a few simple numbers, but it created a mess that others had to sort out later. This is why it is so important for communication leaders to be assigned.

Getting the Most Out of a Quote for an Office Relocation

Asking for a quote is the right thing to do before making a selection of a moving company to handle an office relocation move. Getting a quote is a fairly simple process. The quote request form is filled out and submitted. Once it is received and reviewed, a free estimate will be sent via email. The process is not all that tough so it should not be difficult.

The problem here is errors and mistakes can be made when filling out and even reviewing the quote form. To help ensure the right rate is quoted on the relocation assistance service, here are a few basic tips to follow.

Online forms can make the process a lot easier. However, do not allow the ease of filling out the form become an excuse for being lax. Take the same attitude with an online form as you would with a hardcopy paper one.

Do not rush through the process of filling out the quote form. While some might want to hurry up and fill the request form out quickly to get the process moving, this can be a mistake. Errors, oversights, and omissions are common among those who rush to complete the form. Take your time and fill the form out carefully before hitting the submit button.

Reread the entries you have typed in the form. Execute a careful proofreading. No matter how deliberate you may have been the first time around, no one is perfect. You may have made a mistake. Sometimes, mistakes lead to getting the wrong estimate or simply receiving a request for clarification. Proofreading can eliminate a number of problems along these lines.

Be aware that even though you may write or submit a questionnaire any time of the day or evening, the request for an estimate is going to be reviewed on a business day. Sometimes, the turnaround may be 24 hours. 48 is possible. Anything longer than that might necessitate sending an email to the office relocation moving company. Just do not be unreasonable in terms of the time frame you request a response.

Once you do receive an estimate, do not give it a mere cursory skimming. You can do this for a quick once over when you read it the first time, but you definitely do want to read it thoroughly. This will be the only way to get the clearest and best understanding of what it says. Skimming just is not going to be enough because you may end up missing important points and details.

If there is anything in the quote you do not understand, send an email or call for clarification. The customer service reps with the service are surely going to want to help you out. You might even be able to try and negotiate on the price. Who knows? If your request is reasonable, it may be accommodated easily and quickly.

Have a Complete Office Moving Checklist

moving checklistBy compiling a detailed list, you can have a smooth and minimally eventful move. A detailed office list will prevent any missed deadlines. An experienced moving company will provide you with the list and guide you through each step.

  • Timing

Your list will include the exact timing for starting each of your moving tasks. It will indicate what date to begin each task in order to complete the move by the desired date.

  • Vendors

As you determine what vendors are necessary to complete your move, you can add them to your office moving checklist. This will include vendors who will install any equipment you will be using. Not every employee knows how to install computers, copy machines and other office equipment. From the main equipment to break room amenities, vendors are a great help.

  • Plan you networking need

Your IT people should be on hand to set up the network in your office. Know when they will be needed and be sure they know when to arrive to work on this vital task. Monitor the network needs during your move to keep your business running smoothly.

  • Next on your office checklist is new furniture.

Plan all of your furniture needs in your new location. By determining your needs and ordering your furniture in time to have it delivered before your opening will give you peace of mind. It will be of utmost importance to get the furniture in its proper location when your mover arrives with the equipment from your old location or from storage. You will be able to determine the best location for all of your furniture and equipment. Your office moving checklist can have all of this information at your fingertips.

  • Your last minute details

Gather the troops for moving day. Each person should be assigned a task. All of the moving boxes are numbered. Assign one person to check off each box as it arrives at the new location. Another person can instruct the movers as to the location for each box. Some companies have electronic forms that state the contents of each box. By consulting the electronic list, the person completing the task can easily instruct the mover as to where it should go. If the list is on paper, it may take a bit more time, but nothing should be left to chance.

  • Wrap it up and begin the time in your new location.

If you have prepared a complete office moving checklist with the help of your PA moving company, you can start your day with a clear mind. Work will begin as usual. There is rarely a time when there is not a hiccup or two, but many can be avoided if you take the advice of your commercial movers. They have the experience and the can guide you step by step on this lengthy and arduous task.

Compiling your Business and Office Checklist

Office Checklist

There are a few steps in preparing your variety of checklists before the move is initiated. Working with an experienced commercial moving company can make this step a lot easier. This will be the initial checklist for the company. From this you will create additional ones for office relocation, task assignments and other steps that will make your move less stressful and less expensive.

  • Begin by getting quotes from moving companies. Take advantage of any references that you can gather or they can provide. The least expensive can cost more if they do not have the experience with corporate relocation moving. Book the moving company of your choice.

  • Set up your moving schedule and time-frame.

  • You should have a plan that communicates with all pertinent parties, including suppliers and customers about your pending move.

  • List all of your tasks. Once your task list is developed, assign the tasks to appropriate individuals.

  • If your move is a large corporate relocation, you should form a moving committee. Put them in charge of organizing the move and keeping everything on track.

  • Keep all of your employees involved. Regardless of the level of employee, your move will involve all of them in one way or another. They need to know if they need to pack and unpack their own space. Perhaps this will require a little extra time. The time will be well spent and the rewards will follow as the move progressive. Your employee office is their space in your corporation and they need to do as much as possible to ease the office relocation. Knowing what the new office will look like will help with this process. It will allow them to determine what goes and what stays. It can be something as simple as a plant, but it may be important to them. It will also allow them to lay out a floor plan and determine where equipment will be installed.

  • All of your service providers need to be notified of your move. This includes the providers at your present location and your new location. Allow at least two weeks from your move-in date for the new providers if necessary. Some utilities need as long as two weeks to disconnect or connect your service. It is advisable to schedule the power and other utilities to be turned on one day before your arrival.

  • Current service providers include telephones, fax, water, internet, postal service, couriers, and power.

  • If you have a great deal of high-tech equipment that needs to be moved and installed, be sure you have that arranged to be functional by your move-in date. This includes copiers, special phone services, computer networking. Your IT person needs to be efficient and prompt to shorten your downtime.

Save Money on Hiring a Moving Company

You may be interested in hiring a PA moving company, but you have to stay within a given budget. Getting the services you need for home or office relocation is very important. You want to make sure you get the help you need but you don’t want a huge bill for it.

pa moving company

Obtain Free Estimates

Before you hire a company to help you move, shop around. Take the time to compare what they will charge you to complete what you need to have done. Before you set up free estimates, decide what you would like for them to do for you. Then you can get itemized statements that tell you what they will do for you and what they will charge for it.

Look for Discount Codes

There could be some discount codes or coupons available for the services you need. It is certainly worth looking around to see what is out there. Saving even 5% on your moving costs can add up. You can also find out about referral discounts. If you tell the company that someone referred you, then they may give you a discount of a percentage of a certain dollar amount.

Payment in Full

Many moving companies allow you to pay a down payment and then the remainder when your services are completed. Sometimes, they will offer additional discounts if you pay the balance in full at the time you book their services. This can help a company with cash flow which is their incentive for offering such perks.

Reduce the Volume of Services

If you are hard pressed to make the moving costs less expensive, consider reducing the volume of the services that they offer for you. For example, it is going to cost you more to hire them to pack and to load your items for you. If you pack everything on your own and the moving company just comes to pick it up, then it will cost you less.

Insurance and other factors can also be other areas where you can reduce the costs. For example, you may decide to only get the minimum insurance coverage on the items they handle for you instead of a more expensive option. Just make sure the coverage you get is adequate for your items should there be any problems.

Don’t Cut Quality to Save Money

You never want to reduce the quality of the services you get from a moving company to save money. Always carefully evaluate the company to make sure they are offering you a very good deal for the money. Explore the reputation of the company to ensure they have done a wonderful job for other people.

Conclusion

Don’t assume that moving costs are going to be too much if you hire a company to help you. By exploring your options, you will be able to get a very good deal. Have a solid idea of the services you must have. Separate the needs from the wants in that department to help you slash unnecessary expenses relating to moving.

Finding a good office relocation moving company

Many business companies that are operating from a particular place for long might feel the need to relocate to another place. The reason behind this is the popular adage “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. Whatever be the reason, we humans are gregarious by nature and feel the need to move to another place in search of better life or better earnings. When we stay in a place for too long, there is a propensity to stagnate and become complacent owing to monotony in our day to day activities. Complacency can be a dangerous ingredient in any business and can call halt to innovation and growth. According to a study made by US Census Bureau, about 40 million American relocate in a year and the US Postal Service handles not less than 38 million change-of-address applications every year!

Almost every entrepreneur, at least once in a life time if not more, will contemplate relocating to another place to take the business further. Market and economic analysts cite five main reasons behind major business relocation. They are, work and labor force problems, the keenness to reach new buyers, necessity to upgrade existing facilities and equipment, to reduce costs and improve revenue and lastly, a search for better quality of life. Depending upon the business conducted, some considerations could be more important than the rest. However, any office relocation will happen on account of one or more of the reasons mentioned above. Unable to combat escalating urban costs, some companies choose to migrate to low-cost regions and yet stay close to target customers.

Though a move is always for the better, there are many things that can also go wrong during a move. You can always take some calculated risks but there are some more that you are unprepared for. Such risks arise due to cutting costs at every level and acting in haste without proper plan. Here is where a professional and reputed moving company comes into play that can offer all kinds of corporate relocation assistance you need. Hence, it is crucial to identify the right office relocation moving company so that you are spared of all the worries and critical aspects that accompany office relocation task.

Like in most other searches, here too you will need to gather information from other known business companies that have relocated in the recent past. The feedback you collect will prove immensely useful in locating the right movers. From your end, you may go online and look for various moving companies that operate in your area and shortlist the ones that best suit your needs. Collect quotes from the shortlisted companies and finalize the one that assures a good package deal and enjoys good reputation in the market. Not all costly ones are good and not all inexpensive ones are bad. Once you entrust the entire task of office relocation – planning and execution – to a good company, your job of moving is as good as done!