Are they worth the risks? Shrink your post-move punchlists by avoiding these mistakes.
In order to facilitate the most efficient move possible, it’s important to cover all the moving parts thoroughly. Lack of communication with your employees and vendors are just one of the costly mistakes you can avoid.
1. Choosing the lowest bidder without considering other important facts
Making decisions on price alone is a bad idea. Problems happen if your mover is unprofessional and cannot estimate accurately or if you have been given an unrealistically low proposal. If you don’t know your responsibilities and the mover’s responsibilities, you could see costly change orders after it’s too late. Know what’s included. Good proposals are detailed, with a clearly defined scope of work.
2. Underestimating the risks involved
When some people think about the risks involved in moving, they think of damaged furniture and computers – period. But this is only scratching the surface. The unseen risks of moving a business are far more substantial. These risks include loss of your confidential information; your potential liability in the event of an accident and unplanned downtime; and unexpected losses when the mover lacks proper insurance and financial resources to protect you. Collaborate with your mover so each of you know your risks and responsibilities
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3. Overpaying for move related services
These days every business must accomplish more while using fewer resources. When moving, there are a variety of different services, like space planning and IT support. If you are paying for these services à la carte, you might triple your move costs. Many of these services can be provided at little or no additional cost from an experienced commercial mover.
4. Failing to realize that all eyes are on you
Managing a move is a big responsibility that can help or hurt your career. Consider the ripple effect of your performance. It impacts fellow employees, supervisors and upper management. Even the simplest office move affects everyone in your company. A good partner in the moving industry can help to reduce this risk. Choose a true partner who asks the right questions and knows what to look for to help you avoid mistakes and minimize the risks. Pre-planning communication is the key to proper execution.
5. Overlooking small yet important details
When coordinating an office move, overlooking small details can create large consequences. Will your furniture fit in the new space? Do you need extra security because you are moving HIPAA or other confidential files? Have the elevators been reserved? Is construction of your new office complete? A true partner asks the right questions and helps you avoid mistakes.
Flexibility when there are unanticipated changes
Things happen on the day of the move that were unexpected. Your employee was sick so that office was not packed, or the backing of your server that is being moved is taking longer than expected. Your moving partner should have a team of professionals that can jump in to pack that office without turning the move into a chaotic event, or reschedule the server move for a later time when you know your data loss risks have been mitigated. Change orders happen, but with a flexible and fully staffed partner, this should not be a big deal.
