#Movechat Digest: Office & Corporate Moving

Every Tuesday at 1PM Central Time, Portage Cartage moderates a Twitter-based "movechat" for movers and consumers looking for information on moving.  For the most recent chat, the topic was "Office & Corporate Moving." Below is the abridged transcript of the questions and the responses.


Q1 - What are the common problems encountered with office moves?


GoodStuffMoving Q1 - Perhaps not so common, but we once had to move filing cabinets that were waxed down...lots of chiseling.
XpressMovers Q1: Problems with commercial moves are similar to any other move. Major problem is communication.
GoodStuffMoving Q1 - Communication can be a problem. When companies want a mix of old and new arriving equipment can be a problem too... 
jkmoving A1: Not enough pre-planning. Short notice on a move. Lowest bid as the sole parameter.
AllwrightMoving The biggest issue we seem to have is the getting accurate info on what files they are moving themselves. 
jkmoving A1: The notion that a company can call a moving firm the day before a major office move & we'll be there, ready to go (really?!).
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving Can you elaborate on how having new equipment come can create problems? 
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage If there is unclear communication on where the new equip goes, who puts it where, and we are bringing the old... 
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage Often things will get confused, caught up, and end up taking longer than initially thought. 
PortageCartage So in summary, office moves are Class 10 Chaos waiting to be unleashed.
XpressMovers Under-estimation from both the company and mover side can bring a lot of problems in a move.
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage yes, that's about right, lol 
jkmoving LOL, not quite that bad ;-) RT @portagecartage: So in summary, office moves are Class 10 Chaos waiting to be unleashed.
XpressMovers @PortageCartage Just about right, unless your commercial client is an ex-commercial mover :)  


Q2 - How does one plan the placement of office furniture & equipment in the new location?


jkmoving A2: We provide space planning help and "plan-a-gram" sheets so companies can work out furniture/equip placement ahead of time.
GoodStuffMoving Q2 - Most of the time, leave that up to the client. Suggest arrangements, but they get final word. 
GoodStuffMoving Q2 - Also designate a "dump point" for misc items and materials.
AllwrightMoving A2: If someone knows let us know we just moved an office/retail building, our guys moved things 2 or 3 times. 
GoodStuffMoving We advertise "organization and coordination", but often clients know what they want, esp small biz. 
PortageCartage Planning is definitely key. Really appreciate when customers provide us with a to-scale floor plan.
jkmoving Very important for a commercial move. RT @goodstuffmoving: Q2 - Also designate a "dump point" for misc items and materials.


Q3 - What can a company do to make their office relocation simpler for everybody involved?


MovePoint A3 Communication Communication Communication
XpressMovers Communication and Education about Office moves. They are never easy regardless of the size of the company.
jkmoving A3: Communicate, early & often. The internal staff at the company needs 2 know key dates, what's expected of them, logistics, etc. 
MyMovingReviews Q3: Onsite planning, Floor plans, Dedicated coordinator and an extensive online/offline information and checklists. 
GoodStuffMoving Q3 - It always helps to walk out the areas ahead of time, prep the movers. Communicate. Label. Map. etc...
GoodStuffMoving Anyone have any problems with client employees or close friends/families sent or want to help with the move?
jkmoving Good heavens! RT @goodstuffmoving: Anyone have problems with client employees or close friends/families sent to help w/the move?
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving One of the issues with that is many office furniture systems need to have certified installers dis/reassemble it.
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage ...good point! I personally tend to always forget that aspect of things... 


Q4 - Any tricks of the trade, specific innovations, or lessons learned you'd like to share regarding office/commercial moves?


GoodStuffMoving So...what's the most specialized item you have had to have help dis/reassembling? 
XpressMovers @GoodStuffMoving 3000lbs Weather simulation machine for a testing laboratory :)
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving We sometimes have to move conference tables that are too big for the elevator car. Called in elevator svc guy...
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving ...and had car lowered, then crew stood on top of elevator with table for a slow & careful in-shaft ride.
GoodStuffMoving @PortageCartage now that's epic! 
GoodStuffMoving @XpressMovers for me, personally...an antique organ with pipes, but I'm sure others in the office have more epic moves... 
XpressMovers Q4: Be consistent, stay on top of every aspect of the move, constant communication with the client. 
jkmoving A4: we do training with IOMI (www.officemoves.com) so we're specialized/certified in office moving techniques. 
GoodStuffMoving Q4 - Making sure to call the right experts for the right jobs!! 
jkmoving A4: Also, we use special equip to make moves faster/smoother for the customer. E.g., a Spider Crane to move full lateral files.
PortageCartage Then there was a huge CT Scanner we delivered to a local hospital - http://youtu.be/d_eLu1K6jZg 
jkmoving A4: Time to brag a little. We've moved & stored parts of the King Tut exhibit (hey, the Smithsonian is in our backyard!). 
GoodStuffMoving @jkmoving I actually just went to the King Tut exhibit here in St. Paul a few weekends ago! 
PortageCartage A key lesson we've learned is, "Use the right tools for the right job."
jkmoving Wow & yikes! RT @GoodStuffMoving We sometimes move conference tables that r 2 big for the elevator car. Called elevator svc guy
PortageCartage Another is to have flexibility with the hours in which we do office moves; often evening or weekend work is worth it for cust. 
jkmoving Absolutely; esp key for comm moves. RT @portagecartage: A key lesson we've learned is, "Use the right tools for the right job."
GoodStuffMoving Related, do you think most moving companies do a mix of residential/commercial, say, 70/30?
jkmoving Not necessarily RT @goodstuffmoving: Related, do you think most moving companies do a mix of residential/commercial, say, 70/30?
XpressMovers @GoodStuffMoving Depends on the moving company and the size of it. I think most companies do 90%/10%.
PortageCartage @GoodStuffMoving Diversification would vary widely for each mover. For us, office & commercial work is a big part of our biz.
XpressMovers I know movers that do 100% office moves. It varies from company to company.
jkmoving Same here re: DC-based movers. RT @xpressmovers: I know movers that do 100% office moves. It varies from company to company.