Tag: move your business

Supporting Employees During an Office Move

Posted on July 26, 2016 by - Moving Preparation

office move new orleans

Support Your Employees During a Move

Relocating your company to a new location involves meticulous planning and significant preparation. An office move involves many different details. You have many aspects to consider including the furniture, equipment, and daily essentials. While the item logistics for your move are extremely important for your business, there is another aspect that is a vital part of your business you’ll need to address too. Your employees will need a different kind of support for the move than your business items. For your employees, the move is new and unknown. Supporting them during the change is key to keeping your business running smoothly.

How Moving Impacts Employees

A few days of interrupted work due to the move will not heavily affect your employees work life. An employee can generally recover their work routine easily after an office move because it is not a permanent disruption. While their work life will not be heavily affected by the move, their personal life is another matter. Whether it is an international move or a local move, routines will change because of the relocation. Commutes, daycare pick-up times, and morning routines can all be affected by an office relocation. Your employees will need to adjust to the relocation and have time to plan how they will accommodate the change.

Revealing the Relocation NewsSupport your employees during a move by answering questions.

The initial reveal of the move will likely come as a shock to your employees. While you and your management team may have been excited for the change, you’ve already had time to adjust. Your employees will feel differently and will need time to understand what this means for them. Tell them face-to-face and be ready to answer any questions they may have about the move. You’ll want to tell them as early as you can so they can start their own preparations and begin to plan for themselves and their family. The more time they have to plan the better prepared they will be for the new office.

Supporting Employees During an Office MoveSupporting Your Employees During the Move

Supporting your employees during a move will help them adjust to the new location quicker because they will have one less thing to worry about. Whether you help them plan their new commute or provide a moving care package that pays for their relocation, providing some kind of assistance will relieve a little of their stress. Showing that you are aware of the challenges facing your employees and are putting forth effort to help them through it will go a long way. Whatever assistance you decide to provide to your employees, decide in the planning stages and let them know when you announce the move.

Your employees are a valuable part of your business. Supporting your dedicated workers in the relocation will help you retain happy and hard-working employees. The extra support will also relieve their stress and allow them to stay focused on the job at hand. An office move can be a great new experience for everyone involved with the proper support for and from your employees.

Work with The Quality Group

At The Quality Group, we’re your commercial relocation specialists. Founded in 1987 in New Orleans, LA, The Quality Group serves the Gulf States with comprehensive commercial moving services from move planning to furniture installation. No other company puts in the time or preparation that we do to make your move stress and hassle-free.

Should I Hire a Moving Company or Move Myself?

Posted on January 19, 2016 by - Commercial Relocation

In this increasing do-it-yourself world, moving your office someplace new by yourself might seem like the perfect solution. You’ll save money, make sure everything is packed the way you want it to be, and stick to the schedule you’ve planned, right?  Think again.  There are many things that can go wrong during a move and you’re probably not equipped to handle some of those things the way professional movers are.

Hiring a professional moving company can prevent many headaches and strains, not to mention stress.

 

Cost and Time Organization

Professional movers organize your costsMoving by yourself doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll save time or money. It just means the costs will be spread out through different pieces of the process and that you have to schedule everything yourself. You’ll have to keep track of all those different pieces to ensure a smooth move. Scheduling and paying for the daily use of the moving van, moving within a set time frame and paying for the gas to do it, securing the packing supplies on time, paying for the insurance and managing any unexpected surprises can be overwhelming. A moving company will wrap all your costs together with a custom quote and simplify your list of things to worry about with a comprehensive schedule.  

 

Heavy Lifting

Professional movers have know how to pack everything securely Making the decision to move by yourself also means you’re making the decision to pack and load everything up as well.  Getting the right equipment and enough people to help you move can be a hassle in and of itself. Moving all your computer equipment safely and maneuvering all your furniture without damaging your walls can be nearly impossible by yourself. A professional moving company has done this thousands of times though, the experienced movers know exactly how to turn your desk to fit it through doorways, and on the first try too.  All computers will be packed securely as well, so you won’t have to worry about remembering which way the screen should face to avoid breaking it.

 

Security   

Professional movers are prepared for emergencies Do you have a plan in case there is an emergency during your move, for instance are you prepared if you drop your equipment and it breaks or the moving truck breaks down during the move? Things happen on moves that you weren’t planning for and if you don’t know how to handle the problem then your whole schedule might be altered and your business operations stopped. Professional movers however, are insured for your equipment and have extra trucks in case the first one does break down. A moving company takes into account all manner of possible incidents and plans for the worst so you can have peace of mind knowing that your office equipment will arrive in tact and on time.

 

A professional moving company can make your move smooth and seamless and relieve you of a lot of undue stress. When searching for moving companies, consider The Quality Group’s specialized team. As a full-service moving company, they will have you set up and in your new office with no down time at all, plus you won’t have to worry about anything but your business.

Moving Your Office During the Holidays

Posted on December 15, 2015 by - Commercial Relocation, Moving Preparation

The holidays bring joy and good will but it can also bring stress. Family comes to visit, stores get crowded and cold and flu season runs rampant. On top of all that, your office is being relocated and it is putting additional strain on you and your employees.

Moving offices over the holidays is never an ideal situation, but business goes on and the move ultimately needs to happen. Forming a plan will help everything run more smoothly and will be the key to a successful move. To avoid unpredicted obstacles, follow these tips and you’ll be in your new office in no time at all.

Getting ready to move while celebrating the holidaysMove during the slow week

Many people take off the week between December 25 and January 1 to travel and spend time with family and friends. That means that week will likely be a slow week for you and your company, and a great opportunity for you to move your office without losing business and creating a hectic atmosphere for you and your employees.

Plan with the holiday in mind

Those few important days that are especially important are the ones that you don’t want to miss out on because of an appointment with the movers.  Start planning the move early so you get the dates you want with the moving company. Then set up an organized day-by-day plan of everything that needs to be accomplished and stick to it.

Tell your clients about the move

Calling and telling the customer about the moveAnnounce to your clients that you will be relocating to a new office. Tell them when you will be officially up and running in the new place so they don’t go searching for you at the previous office. It is also important that you let them know if there will be any downtime on your end while moving so they can plan accordingly to minimize the effects. You can even incorporate the announcement of your move into your company holiday card to give it a festive touch.

Moving during the holidays may not be an ideal situation, but it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. Take the time to plan out the best plan for you and your company for a smooth transition and remember to take time to relax and enjoy the holidays.

Commercial Moving Insurance 101

Posted on February 16, 2015 by - Facility Installation, Moving Preparation

Let’s say you talk to a moving company about relocating your office. They give you an estimate. If you ask them if this estimate includes insurance, most companies will say yes. But that shouldn’t be the end of the conversation.

Next, ask your moving company what kind of insurance they offer. This is an important question for a few reasons:

  1. What many moving companies refer to as “insurance” is technically called “valuation”. Valuation is based in transportation law, and is calculated on a per pound basis. This is different than insurance, which replaces the value of damaged goods as calculated by an insurance company.
  2. The most common moving valuation included in your quote guarantees you only $.60 per pound of goods damaged while in the mover’s possession.

If $.60 per pound doesn’t seem like the right valuation of your company’s assets, you need to know more about the insurance your moving company provides. Some questions you can ask your mover include:

  1. Do you offer insurance through an insurance company?
  2. Will I have to pay a deductible to file my claim?
  3. What exactly does your moving insurance cover?

When it comes to moving insurance, you need to know everything you can about the protection of your business’s property.  A moving company’s insurance policy can also tell you a lot about the company itself. If you’re dealing with commercial movers who offer bare minimum coverage, that might say something about the standard of work they hold themselves to. So don’t be afraid to ask questions! You deserve honest answers. And once you have all the facts, you can make an informed decision, knowing it’s the right one.

 

Want to Learn More about Commercial Moving Insurance? Here are some great resources:

Moving insurance vs. movers valuation – It pays to know the difference

The ABC’s of Moving Insurance

Frequently Asked Moving Insurance Questions

 

Work with The Quality Group

At The Quality Group, we’re your commercial relocation specialists. Founded in 1987 in New Orleans, LA, The Quality group serves the gulf states with comprehensive commercial moving services from move planning to furniture installation. No other company puts in the time or preparation that we do to make your move stress and hassle-free.

Move Your Business Out of State Without Going Crazy

Posted on January 26, 2015 by - Uncategorized

Are you planning to move your office to another state? Then you know it’s not easy. Using over 25 years of experience, we’ve put together a guide to moving your office out of state. It can feel chaotic, but these tips can make it easier.

 

Focus on The Big Picture

As the business owner or manager, you are responsible for running your business and making sure service to your customers is uninterrupted. Instead of getting bogged down by little details, keep your eye on the prize. As long as your office move is finished on time, it’s okay if an employee forgot to pack a few office supplies, or if an office chair was damaged in the move. Small details can be handled by your moving company, so you can focus on getting to business in your new office.

 

Anticipate Unexpected Costs

While an experienced moving company can account for almost every factor, you never know what’s going to happen until you actually move. A sudden traffic delay or a flat-tire on a moving truck are small inconveniences in the grand scheme of your commercial move. But they could cause your business to open one day later than expected. This is just one example of unexpected costs that can’t always be prevented with planning. Allot at least 10% more finances for your office move than you think it’s going to cost. So if the unthinkable happens, you’re covered.

 

Expect a Period of Office Transition

This move isn’t just a big deal for you and your business; it affects your employees as well. If you’re moving out of state, your employees will be uprooting their lives to work in your new office. Some staff changes will be necessary, as some employees inevitably will not want to move. Give your new and existing employees time to get used to their new workplace and surroundings. You will likely have more employee requests than usual during this transition. But if you work with your employees and remember that this is a natural phase of commercial moves, your business will get back to normal (or even better!) productivity soon.

 

Feeling overwhelmed by your out-of-state commercial move? The Quality Group can manage your move from planning and packing to installing equipment in your new office.

Work with The Quality Group

At The Quality Group, we’re your commercial relocation specialists. Founded in 1987 in New Orleans, LA, The Quality group serves the gulf states with comprehensive commercial moving services from move planning to furniture installation. No other company puts in the time or preparation that we do to make your move stress and hassle-free.

You’re Ready to Move Your Office. Where Do You Start?

Posted on November 10, 2014 by - Commercial Relocation, Uncategorized

Are you ready to move? Maybe you’re opening a new branch, or you’ve outgrown your office and you’re looking to grow in a bigger space. But moving your office is a huge undertaking. Answer these quick questions to start thinking about your commercial move.

 

What size office do you need?

Do you know the square footage of your current office? If you’re looking for a bigger office, you should know how much space you expect to need in the future before you plan an office move. You also need to create a floor plan that allows space for all of your furniture, office elements and employees.

 

Are you looking to buy or rent?

Buying and renting a commercial space are two completely different processes. If you’re looking to buy, enlist the help of a commercial real estate agent who can help you consider all the important buying factors. If you plan to lease an office space, discuss with management how long of a lease you’re prepared to sign. Decide this before you began to look for a new office.

 

Where do you want to move your office?

Whether you’re moving across the country or across town, location can make all the difference for your business. Do your research and get help from real estate experts to determine the ideal location for your new office. This will narrow down your search and help speed up your business moving process.

 

What is your budget for office space?

Don’t just have an idea of your budget before you move. You need to have a concrete, ironed-out budget set before you begin the commercial moving process. This will also make your search for a new office easier and faster.

 

What is your business moving timeline?

A clear, realistic moving timeline separates a chaotic move from a smooth one. At least six months before your move, you need to start planning. Monthly and weekly deadlines will keep your commercial move on track and keep everyone in your office on the same page. Once you answer these questions, you’re ready to start planning your commercial move! Then you need to answer one more important question: Who are you going to trust move your office? The Quality Group will work with you and help you set up and stick to a moving timeline. We make sure your commercial move runs smoothly and is finished on time.

Work with The Quality Group

At The Quality Group, we’re your commercial relocation specialists. Founded in 1987 in New Orleans, LA, The Quality group serves the gulf states with comprehensive commercial moving services from move planning to furniture installation. No other company puts in the time or preparation that we do to make your move stress and hassle-free.