There’s really no way around it: Relocating a business tends to be pretty complicated, and often a little stressful. One of the best ways to reduce your relocation stress is to steer clear of some common moving errors. Here are five of the most common mistakes that businesses make when relocating… and some advice on how to avoid them.
5 Common Business Relocation Mistakes
1) Choosing a moving company based only on cost.
When seeking the right vendor to help with your move, it’s important to do your due diligence and explore all the different factors… and yes, that includes price.
But price shouldn’t be the only consideration when choosing a moving company. If you go with the lowest bidder without considering their professionalism or ability to estimate accurately, you could face costly change orders later. It’s important to know your responsibilities and the mover’s responsibilities and make sure they are clearly defined in the proposal.
2) Underestimating the risks.
Moving a business involves more risks than just damaged furniture and computers. Confidential information could be lost. There could be liability issues and unplanned downtime. A failure to recognize these risks can lead to some unwelcome surprises once your move is underway.
It’s crucial to collaborate with your mover to understand your risks and responsibilities and ensure they have proper insurance and financial resources to protect you. And here again, choosing a vendor based not just on low bids but real logistical experience can help mitigate some of these risks.
3) Overpaying for relocation services.
While you don’t want to defer to the lowest bidder, neither do you want to overspend on moving and moving-related services.
During a relocation, businesses must accomplish more with fewer resources. If you’re paying for services such as space planning and IT support à la carte, you may wind up tripling your moving costs. An experienced commercial mover can often provide many of these services at little or no additional cost.
4) Failing to realize that all eyes are on you.
Are you in charge of managing the relocation, or liaising with the moving vendor?
If so, then it’s important to keep in mind that you’re taking on a big responsibility that can affect your career and the company as a whole. A good moving partner can help reduce the risks and eliminate the possibility of mistakes. Communication is key, and a partner who asks the right questions and knows what to look for can make a big difference.
5) Overlooking small (but important) details.
When moving a business, even the tiniest details can have significant consequences. Make sure you’ve considered everything, from whether your furniture will fit in the new space to whether you need extra security for confidential files. An experienced mover can help you identify and address these details, minimizing your risk of unwelcome surprises once you arrive in your new space.
Avoid these mistakes and work with the best.
A trusted business relocation partner can help you manage risks and avoid the common pitfalls and save money.
Choose a Partner to Help You Avoid These Errors
In addition to avoiding these five mistakes, it’s important to work with a flexible and fully staffed partner who can handle unanticipated changes on the day of the move without turning it into a chaotic event. Change orders happen, but with the right partner, they should be manageable. With careful planning and the right moving partner, you can make your business move as smooth and stress-free as possible.
We’d love to be a part of your low-stress business relocation. To find out more about managing a smooth move, reach out to Corovan today. We have more than 75 years of experience helping businesses handle the logistics of relocation, and we’d love to partner with you for your big move.