Relocating a business is a massive undertaking, and it can be seen as both a blessing and a curse. While the evolution of your business is exciting, the physical act of moving all the office furniture, computers, file cabinets, copy machines, and everything else in the facility can be very daunting. Not to mention, in addition to coordinating the actual move, you also have to make sure that your employees are happy throughout the process. Fortunately, with meticulous planning and an a reliably office moving company, your office relocation can be smooth and seamless, regardless of the size and scope.

Whether your business is expanding, you desire a better location, or you simply want to upgrade your office space, there are a number of relocation costs to consider. So, if you’re wondering “What is the average cost of moving office?”, there is much to contemplate besides the rent for your new office space. After all, moving can be expensive and it’s important to understand the costs involved so you can budget accordingly.

Average Cost Of Moving Office

The actual cost of moving your office may be the most apparent factor to consider, but when it comes to relocating a business, cost is crucial. Working with a professional moving company will help you effectively plan your office move, carefully pack up your space, and get everything moved into your new office safely, efficiently, and on-time. Professional movers can be particularly helpful for moving heavy pieces of modular office furniture and costly equipment.

Generally speaking, the average cost of hiring a moving service to relocate your office is between R10,000 and R70,000. Though, the actual price that you pay will vary based on square footage, whether or not you opt for packing services, and a number of other factors.

What Impacts The Cost Of Office Moving?

Obviously, the size of your office building and the number of employees will have the biggest impact on the cost of moving office. Aside from these factors, there are several other variables at play. Since each business is unique, it can be difficult to determine approximate costs and there really isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer.

The best way to properly prepare yourself and your business for an upcoming move is to obtain an estimate from your moving company of choice. To do this, you’ll want to make sure that you are transparent with your moving company and give them as much information regarding your office relocation as possible. Before your moving company can provide you with a quote, they will require an inventory list of all the materials that need to be moved.

With that said, follow the tips outlined below to ensure that you receive the most accurate quote possible from your moving company:

  • Do a walkthrough of your office facility. When you’re creating the inventory list, it’s important that you don’t forget to include the common areas, such as restrooms, breakrooms, and the lobby. While this may sound like a no brainer, it’s very common to only focus on offices, cubicles, and desks.
  • Carefully examine all your office furniture. Are there items that need to be disassembled and then reassembled in your new office? Most moving companies will do this for you, but they’ll need to know upfront so they can allocate the time and necessary tools and equipment. For best results, request that your moving company have a representative come out to your facility before the move.
  • Consider your employee’s working areas. Have your employees handle the cleaning and boxing up of their own individual spaces. They should be responsible for organizing their personal documents, files, and effects prior to the move. Even your company has an IT Department, enlist their help to ensure that all the technology is safely disconnected and the reconnected at your new office.
  • Storage solutions. It’s very common for businesses to need storage a couple weeks before an office move. Whether your new facility isn’t fully ready to be moved into or you’re moving one department at a time, you may need some offsite temporary storage. The best professional moving companies also offer storage as one of their many office moving services, and this service can be factored into the final cost of your relocation.

Technology Costs

Depending on the type of business you have, relocating your current office to a new location will most likely involve having to relocate several computers and other tech. This can add to the overall cost of your office relocation. Costs can vary based on factors like your internet provider, what providers are available in your new office, your specific location, and how many employees you have. Your move may also require you to purchase new equipment, like phones, wireless access points, servers, and more.

Regardless, setting up your internet services and the equipment you need to operate your business as quickly and efficiently as possible is crucial.

Build-Out Expenses

Unless you’ve chosen a new office location that is already built out based on an approved plan, you’re most likely going to have to make some changes to the space in order to accommodate your business’ needs. These changes may be as simple as swapping out the carpet or purchasing new window treatments, or as complicated as knocking down walls or building shelving.

If you’re renting the office, your landlord may issue some tenant improvement funds to make enhancements to the space. Though, you’ll still probably have to pay out of pocket for some changes.

How Does Office Relocation Work?

In most cases, businesses will select a manager to take care of all the logistics of an office move. This individual also assumes responsibility over all the potential issues that could arise during the relocation. Then, the moving company you hire will appoint a representative to work directly with this manager to iron out all the details. That said, here is a brief snapshot of what a typical office move looks like:

  1. Requesting Estimates. Every move, whether it’s a residential or office move, begins by requesting a quote. Start by reaching out to a couple reputable moving companies to discuss your needs and obtain a free, no-obligation quote for the required services.
  2. The Walkthrough. After the initial contact, the moving company will usually schedule a walkthrough of your current and new office facilities. During this walkthrough, the estimator will inspect both locations to assess any potential challenges and come up with an ideal action plan that minimizes disruption.
  3. The Packing Process. Depending on your company’s individual needs, either your employees or the movers will handle the packing of workstations and office equipment. Generally speaking, companies typically prefer to have the employees take care of packing up their own desks. Then, on moving day, the movers will carefully prepare and pack up all the cubicles, desks, furniture, and equipment to be safely transported to the new office.
  4. Your professional movers will place thorough labels on all the boxes to ensure that everything is placed in the correct location in your new office. This makes it much easier to sort and organize everything once it’s delivered.
  5. The Physical Move. During this stage, the moving company will physically transport all of office equipment, furniture, and boxes. To limit interruptions, most office moves are completed after business hours – either overnight or on a weekend.
  6. Placement & Unpacking. Once everything arrives at the new office space, the movers will handle everything from the reassembly of workstations to placing boxes in the designated rooms.

Timing is absolutely critical to help reduce any disruptions to your business. For best results, you should start communicating with your moving company of choice at least six months in advance of your office move. This will guarantee that there is plenty of time to properly strategize, arrange, and execute all the logistics.

 

Source: Three Movers