Generally, moving office is never a straightforward process, and knowing the office movers Essex can make relocating to a new office hassle free. However, if you are an expanding company or down-sizing to a small office, it is very common for the logistical challenges to arise.
Understanding What You Actually Need
Understanding what you need to relocate and what should stay is the first step to having a successful office relocation. It is highly advised that you walk around your current office a couple times and make a list of items that are miscellaneous and need to be relocated. You might underestimate how many filing cabinets, desks, and office supplies you will need to relocate. It is also common for moving companies to underestimate how much is in a server room because of how intricate and complicit it can be. When compiling your list make sure to add in all the items that are going to need a specific level of handling during the transport process (expensive office furniture, glass, old work safes, IT gear etc..). Once you have your list ready to go it will be easy to call the movers and have them give you an accurate quote and a breakdown of their services.
The Real Cost of Downtime
What gets most businesses is that it’s not just about the single day of the move. The day is the most important, but most businesses forget about the days before the move when staff are packing their things, and the days of the move when everyone is trying to locate the stapler and the Wi-Fi is still not working. The better office movers Essex know about this they can plan accordingly.
How do they minimise disruption? Do they work evenings and weekends? Do they dismantle and reassemble the office furniture? Will they need IT assistance? The least expensive quote is not the most affordable when you factor in productivity loss.
Vetting Your Options
If you are looking for Office movers Essex there are a lot of removal companies, but not all of them are specialists in moving businesses. Moving house and moving an office are worlds apart. You want movers who know the business environments. They cannot leave classified documents behind, and they need to know that your computer equipment is worth more than most cars.
Think about insurance. It really does matter, and it is something you should check to see what is covered or what is not. Some companies will include full insurance coverage in their estimates, and some will not and will charge it separately. In either case, make sure you have coverage for the full value of what you own. Some of it will probably be covered by your business insurance, but do not make the assumption that you are covered in full during transit.
Timing and Planning
To lessen the disruption, most of the time office moves are done over the weekends, and in turn, that makes movers busy. Book well in advance, especially if you are moving during busy times like the end of financial quarters, and a lot of companies are relocating. For a larger office move, booking six to eight weeks in advance is not unreasonable.
A realistic timeline should be created to include everything, even notifying clients about the new address, to redirecting post. Your removal company can move your desks and chairs, but they cannot manage the paperwork. One of your team members needs to own the project and manage all the logistics of the move.
The Essex Factor
Essex is a large area with a variety of different locations and accessibility types. For example, moving from a modern business center with loading bays is a completely different experience than moving out of a converted Victorian building with a town center and with parking restrictions. Your movers have to visit both locations beforehand and check out accessibility, parking, lift vs. stair, and whatever else could cause an issue that day.
This is where local knowledge really comes into play. Office movers Essex are likely to be well-versed in the area’s idiosyncrasies regarding which roads get busy when, where parking permits are needed, and how different commercial blocks of the area operate. This makes the work that much easier.
Making the Final Decision
Consider at least three quotes, but don’t go with the cheapest right away. Check what they include, look at reviews from previous clients, and trust your instincts if they seem organised and professional. A quality office moving company will have a lot of questions for you, visit your office, and issue comprehensive quotes in writing.
Finding the right office movers Essex company is essential for your business, you need to be diligent in your research and the movers you choose from Essex should appreciate that they aren’t simply moving office furniture, but ensuring you can continue your work with the least amount of disruption to your business. That is a service worth paying for.