Hiring the right moving company is essential to a quick and painless law office move. Follow these tips to make sure you hire the right moving company for your practice.
Unless you are starting a firm for the first time and the only thing you need to move is your computer, hire a moving company. Starting the packing process is easy, but after a while, you can get bogged down in your stuff.
Moving companies are not emotionally attached to your things, and they are experts at “finishing.” The cost of their billable hour is significantly less than yours, so let the experts handle the heavy lifting. Literally.
Moving companies are typically reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. If you are unsure of the exact moving date, set up multiple moving dates and have them “on-hold” with the moving company. You may have to pay a small cancellation or reservation fee for each date, but this fee will be significantly less than your own billable time that will be wasted if you can’t find a mover last minute.
With that in mind, here are our tips on how to pick a moving company that will make your law office move far less stressful.
1. Hire a Company that Specializes in Office Moves
Moving office furniture is much different from moving your personal items.
Office furniture is very heavy. It can be expensive and is easily damaged when transported. Moving an office is significantly different than moving a home or apartment, so find a licensed and insured moving company that specializes in office moves.
2. Hire Only the Highest Rated Companies
When it comes to movers, you get what you pay for. Research moving companies in your area and only hire the best. Ask friends or colleagues for referrals.
Also, the US Department of Transportation has a website (ProtectYourMove.gov) where you can check movers’ registrations and view helpful guidelines to choosing a reputable company.
3. Hire Only Licensed and Insured Movers
Use only licensed movers who provide a written “Binding Not-To-Exceed” estimate before moving day. Movers should be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and should include their Department of Transportation registration numbers in advertisements. Credible moving companies will always provide a written estimate upon inspection of the items you need moving.
4. Your Written Estimate is Binding
A “rate quote” is not an estimate. Get multiple written estimates from different moving companies based on their actual inspections of what is to be moved.
Your written estimate is binding. Movers are required by law to deliver goods at no more than 10% over the estimate. This is known as the “110% rule.” To protect yourself from fraud, do not sign blank or incomplete documents.
5. Know your Building’s Requirements Before Hiring Movers
The landlord in the building where you are moving from, and going to, may have certain restrictions that can affect what mover you can hire and the expense of the move, including:
- Is the mover required to have Union-only laborers?
- Can you only select a mover from a pre-approved list?
- Does the landlord have special insurance requirements or require a certificate of insurance from the mover?
- Does the landlord require your movers to cover floors with protective covering?
- Does the landlord (or building configuration) require the mover to have any kind of special equipment, or restrict the type of equipment the mover may have?
- Are there parking restrictions that may affect the loading and unloading of the truck?
6. Buy Liability Insurance from the Moving Company
Moving companies typically provide liability insurance at $0.60 per pound. Since you will be moving office supplies instead of household goods, this coverage might not be enough for you. Full-value protection for a $25,000-value load can cost around $250. This is a small price to pay considering your mahogany desk cost upwards of $1000. Regardless, you should notify movers of any items valued at over $100 per pound.
Also, you will be expected to provide the movers with an inventory before or at the time of loading. If you do not provide one, the movers will create one for you. You must sign all pages of the inventory list, as well as an order of service for every shipment transported.
Moving your law office is never a small task, but hiring the right professionals to help you will go a long way towards making the process far less painful. Make sure you hire the best moving company for your practice, and both you and your clients will be grateful that your firm back up and running with little downtime.
on said:
Thank You for this post. Office Relocation is really difficult. These steps really helped me in choosing the best moving company.