Relocating your business to new premises is always an exciting time. On the converse, a poorly managed commercial move can turn into a nightmare and lead to the moving costs racking up significantly, whether you are moving down the block or across town.

Unlike residential moving, the thing that makes commercial moves even more sensitive is the unforeseen costs involved. Business downtime brought about by relocating operations can especially prove a nightmare. It wreaks havoc on employee productivity and even worse, results in direct loss of business.

Nobody wants that. Good thing is, there are things you can do to keep your moving bill from spiraling out of control. Here are some tips to help you manage your upcoming commercial move and keep related expenses in check.

Shop around for a reputable, cost-effective mover

If you decide to hire a moving company, it never hurts to do your homework to establish the most apt fit for you. You will find plenty of moving companies specializing in commercial moves. But commercial moving services are not equal.

When it comes down to evaluating movers, obviously, their charges should be one of the first things you look at. Do your research and obtain moving estimates from a couple of movers that you have zeroed in on. See who offers a good rate and what their package entails.

While important, don’t become fixated on who charges the lowest as sometimes you are likely to get what you pay for. Look at each mover’s resume in relation to their commercial services offering.

Ideally, you want a mover experienced in office and other commercial moves. One who can be relied upon to get the job done with as little interruption to business as possible. So – an affordable, experienced and reliable mover. A licensed one is a must, and one who offers moving insurance is even better.

Ask for help

To keep a lid on your moving expenses some more, consider asking friends or staff for help and leave the more sensitive aspects of the move to the moving company. You could, for instance, have friends or employees do the packing and pay the mover only for the actual relocation.

Two things here. This works best for smaller businesses and second, you’ll need to compensate for the help, although it will not be as costly as the mover’s fee.

Friends can appreciate a dinner (or takeout) and some drinks. For employees, consider offering a token of appreciation, and need we say it should be voluntary.

Purge old inventory

Over time, every business builds up stuff that becomes of little use at some point. This could be paperwork, computers and laptops, phones, furniture etc.

Get rid of old equipment and other assets that are no longer of much use instead of moving with them to the new premises. You would be surprised by how much you manage to shave off the moving bill by leaving this stuff behind.

Consider donating to charity or have an asset disposition firm take care of it. But make sure your company records and data are wiped clean from the old machines first.

Move at a slower time of the year

This tip works best if you’ve got a flexible calendar, not when you are forced by circumstances to move or plan to move ASAP. Most movers discount their rates in winter. This is because there is generally less activity at this time of year compared to the warmer months. In other words, you’re likely to incur less moving costs during the cold season.

You also stand to enjoy a better deal when you book your move well in advance (months even). Short-notice moving is almost always pricier.

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