If you own one of the more than 5 million small businesses located in the UK, there’s a good chance that your company is going to relocate at some point in time.
Some small businesses move because they outgrow their original space. Others move so that they’re closer to their primary customer base. And there are even a few businesses that move every so often simply to shake things up.
Regardless of the reason, moving from one office space to another can be challenging. It’s why you’ll need to hire an office moving company to help you do it.
The good news is that there are lots of moving companies throughout the UK that can lend a hand. But the bad news is that the sheer number of moving companies can make it hard to find the best one.
Here are some tips that should help you do it.
Plan Ahead
It’s not all that uncommon for a homeowner to decide to move on a whim. In some cases, homeowners don’t have a whole lot of time to plan ahead for their move because it takes place so quickly.
It’s rare for a business to just pick up and move out of an office on a whim, though. Logistically, it’s not always possible for companies to pack up all their belongings and relocate without planning ahead.
More often than not, you’re going to have at least a few months to plan for a move. So use that time to your advantage!
Start planning for a move as early in advance as you can so that you can find the right moving company for the job rather than settling for whoever you can find at the last minute.
Ask For Recommendations
Are you friendly with some of the other small business owners that operate in your area? If so, don’t be afraid to reach out to them for help when you’re trying to track down the best moving company in the city.
Since most companies will move at least once or twice, you can probably find some local business owners that would happily recommend the company they used during a move. This will give you a great opportunity to ask each business owner about what kind of experience they had with a specific company.
You don’t necessarily want to rely on the recommendations of just one or two fellow business owners. But if you speak to a bunch of business owners and keep hearing the same moving company’s name over and over again, that likely means that company might be a good fit for you.
Read Online Reviews
If you aren’t able to get any good recommendations from your fellow business owners or if you aren’t friendly enough with your fellow business owners to ask for recommendations in the first place, you might not know where else to turn for help. The internet will supply you with exactly what you need.
These days, companies operating in just about every industry have online reviews that their customers can read through. These reviews can provide you with a good overview of what different moving companies are all about.
Read through a combination of positive and negative reviews for different companies to get a better sense of how they do business. You can usually use online reviews to narrow down your moving company search in a hurry.
Check Credentials
Outside of taking a long look at online reviews for moving companies in your area, one of the other good ways to narrow down your search is by checking the credentials for companies.
Specifically, you should try to find out if each of the companies that you’re considering is a member of the British Association of Removers. BAR is the so-called “recognised voice of the professional moving industry” in the UK and it’s members are inspected manually to ensure the standard of service required to join the BAR are maintained.
You shouldn’t automatically agree to work with a BAR member simply because they’re associated with the organisation. You still need to make sure they offer the right moving services as well as the best prices. But you’ll feel better about your decision when you go with a BAR member such as Company Moves and Storage Ltd.
Interview Moving Companies
Once you have a short list of moving companies that you’re considering to help you move, call around to each one and set up interviews with either the owners of these companies or their general managers.
Ask questions like:
- “How long has your moving company been around?”
- “How many businesses have you helped move?”
- “What are some of the specific moving services you offer businesses?”
- “What precautions do you take to ensure nothing valuable is broken during a move?”
- “Do you have insurance to cover any damage done during a move?”
- “What sets your company apart from all the rest?”
- “Are you available to help my business move on the day or days I will need your assistance?”
A good company should be prepared to answer any questions you might have. They should also provide you with excellent customer service from the moment they pick up the phone and take your call.
Consider Cost
When you’re hiring a company to help you move, the absolute last thing you want to do is just hire whoever offers you the lowest price. You’re going to get what you pay for if you hire cheap movers who don’t know what they’re doing.
But you should, at some point, consider the cost of hiring different professional movers to avoid overspending. Look for a company that will set you up with a fair and affordable price without tacking on a bunch of extra fees later.
Hire the Best Office Moving Company Now
Hiring the best office moving company in your area will take a lot of stress out of the moving process. It’ll also protect your company’s belongings and make sure everything is still in one piece when it arrives at your new commercial property.
Do your homework before you bring a company on board to assist you with your move. By following the steps outlined here, you’ll help your move go off without a hitch.
Contact us today to hear about the office moving services we can provide to your business.
