Moving your business is as difficult as moving your home. First and foremost, you will need to prepare your employees for the move, not forgetting that you might have equipment that need specialised handling, and doing it yourself can be challenging and dangerous.
However, business relocations is easy and smooth if you choose to work with the best commercial removalists. Luckily, there are thousands of them in the Australian market. All you need to do is choose one who will meet all your needs and conform to your budget.
However, getting a good commercial removalist today is not as easy as it sounds. Having many of them in the market is a red flag that there could be those whose goal is to offer quality to their clients, while there are others who are in the industry to make quick wealth. Creating a rift between them is not easy, because they all promise the unimaginable, and some of them even come to you with quotes that are too good to be true.
If you are looking for commercial removalists who will safely relocate your business, you need to read this article o the end!
Services that professional commercial removalists should offer
Before we even dive on how you can differentiate between good and not-so-good commercial removalists, you need to know the services that a commercial mover should offer. They include;
1. Internal relocation service
Have you ever gone to a commercial mover who will tell you, “that move is too small for us, sorry?” well, if you come across such a professional, walk away and try your luck elsewhere. This is because no move should be too big or too small for a moving contractor. He should be able to move you to the next floor, or even from one room to the next.
When you need an internal move, the mover should send a dedicated removalist team that will provide the service in a timely, efficient, and safe manner.
2. Large item relocation service
If you have large items in your business such as vehicles, mainframe computers, and furniture, a good removalist should have the equipment and know-how to move them safely and efficiently whether locally, inter-state, or internationally.
Good commercial removalists have trained staff, who deal with such items from start to finish. They have adopted the best packing techniques, not to mention that they have specially designed lifting equipment that ensures the safety and protection of your belongings.
Therefore, when you go looking for commercial removalists who will help in moving your business, request to see the equipment that will be used for the service, and enquire about the qualifications of the team that you will work with.
3. Warehouse and factories relocations
In case you have a manufacturing plant that you need to move to another location, you are aware of the fact that only the best commercial removalists can do the job. Therefore, the company you choose to work with should have the experience and equipment to deal with all manner of warehouse and factory relocations. Also, request for a track record that proof they have been offering the service in Australia for some time.
Don’t forget to check whether the company conforms to health and safety requirements stipulated in different laws of the land before signing any form of agreement.
4. Long-term and short term storage
Sometimes, you may move your business, but your new premises might not be ready to host some of your belongings, or it could be too small to fit. As you expand the space or put measures in place to ensure that the new building can hold some items that require special conditions such as climate regulations, you might need a place to store your goods. The best commercial removalists don’t leave their clients to waste their time and money looking for storage facilities. Rather, they provide the best storage solutions.
Good commercial removalists are those who will come and pick up your goods regardless of where you are located in Australia, deliver them to storage services that are CCTV and fire monitored 24/7 and redeliver them whenever you need them at the most competitive prices in the market.
These kind of removalists will not force you to pay for an entire storage facility. They understand that moving is an investment for your business; thus they will endeavour to keep costs as low as they can. This is why they will only require you to pay for the space your belongings have taken.
Never sign an agreement with a mover who doesn’t provide storage services. However, also understand the terms of storage and access to your items before working with a removalist.
5. Insurance
During transit, anything could happen to your belongings on transit. For this reason, it is prudent that you choose commercial removalists who offer insurance services. This will ensure that regardless of what happens to your items, you will not meet any costs because you will be fully compensated.
Although most commercial movers offer insurances through third-party insurance brokers, it is prudent to work with one who has his own Australian Financial Service License number, so that he can give you insurance on his own right for the safety of your investment.
Other services that the best commercial removalists offer include;
§ Electrical, plumbing, and other handyman services
§ Telephone connections
§ Cabling
§ Metal recycling
§ Information technology reconnect and disconnect
§ Pallet racking
§ Asset disposal
§ Library relocations
§ Medical facilities and laboratories relocations.
How to choose the best commercial removalists
Now that you know the services that a good commercial removalist would offer, it is vital to learn how you can choose the right mover for your needs. Below are some tips that will help you make the right decision:
ü Ask for a portfolio
You cannot afford to trust a mover with a major move, if he hasn’t done it in the past. You cannot take your chances with a person who will make guesses, especially when it comes to the business you have worked hard to set up. Therefore, you need to ensure that the contractor you want to work with has a portfolio which will act as a proof for his work. Make sure that it outlines the type of moves he has executed in the past, and their level of success. To ensure the portfolio is accurate, request for contacts for previous clients, and use them as your referrals.
ü Check the licenses
Never work with commercial removalists who don’t possess licenses required by law. This is because licenses prove that the government recognises the mover as an expert; hence you can have some level of trust in him to provide you with legitimate services.
A mover who is unlicensed is not legitimate, and even if he promises you complete customer satisfaction, there are high chances that something will go wrong during the move!
ü Do thorough research online
Once you have identified a few movers that have the potential to provide you with the moving services you need, find more information about them online. To be on the safe side, don’t rely in information these movers provide in their websites. This is because the content in them is promotional in nature, and it cannot contain any form of criticism. Therefore, ensure you are getting information from third-party review sites, where you will get customer and expert reviews, as well as the ratings given to various movers.
Only opt for commercial removalists who have high ratings and positive reviews because they are reputable. To maintain their track record, they will have to offer you with 100% satisfaction during your next move.
Get your own referrals
In your search for the best commercial removalists, look for friends and family members who have moved their businesses in the past and request for recommendations. To get as much information as you need, don’t call or text your referrals. Make a point of visiting them in person, and ask questions that will help you make up your mind such as;
o Were your staff members satisfied with the move?
o Did you experience any downtime during the move?
o How did the mover handle large items?
o Were you provided with storage services?
o What was your customer experience when working with the mover?
o Is the mover efficient and reliable according to you?
o If anything happened to your belongings on transit, were you compensated?
o Would you work with the mover again if given a chance?
The answers to these questions will give you the information you need to choose the best commercial removalist you can find.
What do great commercial removalists do?
The reason why great commercial removalists stand out from the crowd is because;
· They provide their clients with 100% customer satisfaction
· They know that moving is an added cost to their clients’ businesses; thus they provide a competitive pricing strategy for all their services
· They know that businesses must run even during a move, therefore they use strategies that will bring zero interruptions and minimal downtime
· They move according to their client’s schedule, and not at a time most convenient to them
· They involve their clients in every step of the way, so that they can develop custom solutions for different businesses.
· They offer reliable, efficient, and safe service in every move.
Getting the most reliable commercial removalists is the first step towards streamlining your business’ moving process. With the above information, there is no reason why you shouldn’t go for the best you can afford.