Smooth Office Move

7 Critical Steps for Planning a Smooth Office Move

| nyc2012

Planning an office move can be a stressful process. If proper preparation steps are not taken, the day of the move can be incredibly chaotic. Here are seven critical steps for planning a smooth office move from our friends at Cheap Movers DC (cheapmoversdc.com):

1. Create a plan

Before you start the physical move, it is important to have a plan. You will likely have the staff members helping or a moving team, so contemplate which duties will go to which person. Having a point person for certain office items will make it easier to keep track of everything on moving day.

2. Determine your Moving Budget

This is a critical step before proceeding with the moving process. Determine if the move will be taking place with just the people in the office or if you need to hire commercial movers. You may luck out, and someone has a big truck that you can use, but you may still need to rent moving equipment to make moving the larger items onto the truck easier.

3. Make a note of Important Dates.

Take extra care to write down the specific dates you will be moving. Consider devising a moving schedule of when items should start to be packed away all the way up until the actual day of the move. Put this calendar in a shared space in the office so that everyone assisting with the move has access to it.

4. Make a Contact List

Be sure to note important phone numbers. Consider including everyone on the moving team, your own phone number, and any external moving companies you may be using. This will ensure that if you are not available, the team can still access the person they need to get the job done.

5. Take Protective Measures the Day of the Move

This step is one that is easy to forget because you are focused on packing everything that needs to be moved, and you forget that you should probably also bring along supplies including floor and wall covering to avoid damage when moving into your new office space.

If you choose to use a moving company, they may provide this service, or you may be able to add it to your package.

Also be sure to have at least one of your team members at the old and new locations at all times to ensure that things are going as planned.

6. Keep a Positive Attitude

This step is crucial throughout the moving process all the way to move in day. The odds are that something will not go as planned somewhere along the way, but keeping a positive attitude will help the process run smoothly. It will be easier to keep a positive attitude knowing that you did everything in your power to plan ahead for the move!

7. Notify your Clients and Providers of New Location

This step may occur earlier in the process depending on your type of business. Notifying your service providers of your move is crucial so that you will be able to receive these services at the new location.

 

Notifying your clients of the new location may consist of a flyer in the mail or personal phone calls so that every client is aware of the new location. This will ensure that you do not lose any clients during the move.

Moving Out

Seven Things You Must Do to Prepare for Moving Out-of-State

| nyc2012

Relocating to a new state can be a very exciting time. Whether you’re moving due to a job, or simply because you’d like a change of pace, preparing ahead of time will make the transition go smoothly. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to a successful move.

1. Find a House

Having a new home secured before moving will eliminate the need for temporary housing. Find a reputable real estate agent that can be trusted to handle the transaction without you being there.

2. Pack in Advance

Moving your entire life across state lines can be a daunting task. Beginning to pack as soon as possible makes the process much easier. There are many tips for packing up a house, but compiling moving boxes, packing paper, and tape is a good start.

3. Hire a Moving Company

Now that the boxes are packed, you will need someone to transport your belongings to your new home. While you can certainly rent a truck and move the items yourself, it will be much easier to hire a moving company to do it for you. Be sure the company you hire can work across state lines by searching for national long distance moving companies.

4. Change Your Address

You’ll want to make sure all of your mail follows you to the new state. Filing a USPS change of address is a simple process that can be done either in person at the post office, online, or by phone. The form is free if done in person, or there is a small fee if done online or over the phone. Complete the form two weeks in advance to ensure there is no lapse in mail delivery. Mail will be forwarded to your new address for six months, with the option to extend the service for another six months, should the need arise.

5. Update Other Information

Although your mail will now be forwarded, you will also need to update your information with companies that communicate with you electronically and in other ways. Be sure to contact all credit card companies, banks, and subscriptions you may have. Also, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to change the information on your driver’s license, registration, and title to your vehicle.

6. Research Your New State

The Internet holds a vast array of information about anything from schools, restaurants, stores, entertainment, and beyond. Find out as much information as you can before moving to get acquainted with your new surroundings. You may want to join a local recreation center in your new town so that you can make friends and find out more about the area.

7. Set Up Utilities

Make the move as seamless as possible and set up all utilities before big day. The most important ones will be gas, electric, water, garbage, cable, and Internet.

Moving across state lines can be a great adventure. Eliminate stress and make for a more enjoyable experience by preparing far in advance for the big transition.

Moving Industry

Challenges Faced By New York City Moving Companies

| nyc2012

Running a moving company can be a profitable venture. However, in certain parts of the country, this is a difficult industry in which to be. This is especially true in large cities, that have heavy traffic and regulations. One of the most difficult cities in which to operate is New York City. Here are a couple of challenges that NYC moving companies must face every day in this city.

Heavy Traffic

Without a doubt, NYC traffic is one of the biggest issues that moving companies must face. There are deadlines that companies must hit, but there is only so much you can do when stuck sitting in traffic. While it might be efficient taking public transportation or a taxi in New York City, it is completely different driving a large moving truck through congested streets or navigating across several lanes of fast-moving traffic. Driving is one of the most difficult variables to overcome as a moving company. For this reason, a lot of moving companies recommend moving at odd hours during the day. Although there is still traffic, a lot of times timing helps considerably.

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Regulations

New York City is known for strict regulations on companies. As a moving company, there are many licenses that you must obtain to operate, including getting a NYC Department of Transportation moving license. Not only is this expensive, but the licenses are constantly changing. Many moving company owners must constantly check to make sure their licenses are up-to-date. The fine for operating without a proper license is sky-high, which means that it is worth their time to keep track. Many small business owners are hoping that the regulations start to decrease in the years ahead.

Few Elevators

As a moving company, elevators are a great way to save time and energy. In New York City, however, a lot of buildings are so old that they do not have elevators. This is not a huge issue if you are walking furniture down a building with three flights of stairs. This is completely different if the building is ten times that size. Movers must be prepared to walk heavy furniture down lots of stairs during a day. Not only does this take a lot of time, but it also puts a big strain on their bodies. A lot of movers burn out quickly from the hard work, and the owners must constantly deal with hiring people to fill their spot.

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Weather Challenges

If the regulations, lack of elevators, and abundant traffic weren’t enough to consider, there’s also the challenge of unpredictable weather events. For instance, in March of 2017, NYC was hit by the Nor’easter Stella that hit much of the East Coast. The massive storm dumped 7 inches of snow on the ground in a matter of hours. Movers had to scramble to try to make it to jobs, but others simply had to cancel and reschedule because they were unable to get to appointments given the road conditions. The challenges posed by weather and last minute cancellations were highlighted in a piece by Brick Underground, which interviewed our very own Imperial Moving & Storage company.

Running a moving company is a lot harder than many people think. This is especially true in a city like New York. A lot of variables work against moving companies. Not only is traffic terrible, but the high regulations make operating a business more difficult than people realize. The good news is that moving companies are adapting and learning how to make a profit in this difficult industry.

 

DIY Moves

Best Practices for Loading and Unloading a Moving Truck

| nyc2012

Nobody enjoys moving. It takes all day and most of the next day. It’s tiring. It’s often expensive, and it causes generally rational people to consider abandoning their property instead of hauling it up three flights of stairs. Human technology, however, is a magnificent and adaptable thing, and over the course of civilization we’ve come […]