Calculating the cost of office movers in advance helps businesses budget for a successful relocation. However, the actual price of relocation includes more than just transportation costs. With budget considerations needed for packing, logistics, (potential) storage, and even junk removal, corporate relocations require a comprehensive approach to cost management.
Knowing the exact cost of moving business operations locally or long-distance ensures that businesses avoid unexpected expenses. From often-overlooked hidden fees to ways to save on expenses and downtime, here’s what companies need to know when calculating the true cost of corporate relocation.
Calculating Costs for Office Movers
The moving company hired to complete the relocation will charge based on the weight of the items to be moved and how far they will travel. For local moves in the area, this may be a flat hourly rate ranging from $100 to $200 per hour with a minimum time frame of 4 hours.
Long-distance office moves are priced at a per-pound and per-mile rate. Varying based on local tax rates, gas fees, and other associated costs, expect to pay $0.50 – $1.00+ per pound and $0.80 – $1.15+ per mile for a long-distance move.
“It’s hard to know how much do movers cost, but if you think about it in terms of stuff and distance, it’s a lot easier to estimate,” says Harrison Gough, a commercial moving specialist at MovingAPT.com. “For example, an office moving 10 desks (avg. 50lbs each), chairs (avg 20lbs each), computers (avg. 25lbs each) and other miscellaneous furniture (avg 150lbs for a 4 drawer filing cabinet) over 500 miles, that could add up to around $3,000+ in moving costs – not including additional services or packing materials.”
Because of the varying pricing used by licensed office moving companies, it will be necessary to request in-person quotes from at least three companies before making a final selection.
Calculating Costs for Office Moving Services
Businesses have a ton of stuff. So much, in fact, that the best way to ensure everything gets moved from one site to another is with specialty moving services. These services are usually outside the mover’s base labor fees and can add up quickly.
The most common services provided by office moving companies are packing and unpacking, assembly/disassembly of furniture, storage solutions, and junk removal. Depending on the amount of items to be moved, these services can range from $200 – $1,000+ per day for additional labor fees alone.
In addition, many moving companies offer logistics planning for businesses that need help coordinating a move on a larger scale. From managing IT setup to organizing storage solutions, companies can expect to pay an additional cost for these extra yet helpful services. On average, businesses should budget between $1,000 – $3,000+ depending on the complexity of the relocation and their custom logistics requirements.
Hidden Fees of Office Moving
Even with many estimates and quotes, businesses may still incur unexpected relocating fees. The most common hidden cost of office moving is the extra charges associated with stairs and elevator moves. Rates vary, but businesses can expect to pay between $1 and $5 per step for stair moves and as much as $200 for elevator use.
Lots of businesses who’ve already completed a successful move warn of specialty item moving fees outside of the normal furniture and equipment. From heavy servers to fragile office artwork, the cost of moving, crating, or specialty packing of these items can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on their size and weight.
Any utility objects a business needs to bring along to the new location, such as electrical generators, refrigerators, or AC units, may also incur additional costs. Disconnection or reconnection of these items can cost between $100 – $500+ depending on the item and local rates.
The final hidden fee that affects larger businesses more than smaller ones is called a long-carry fee. If the moving truck can’t get closer than 75 ft to the front door or elevator, businesses may be charged an additional fee to cover the extra distance that needs to be traveled with a dolly. Fees for these moves can range from $35 – $50 per trip and should be accounted for in the budget prior to booking office movers.
Moving Protection Costs
Company insurance policies may protect items if damaged or destroyed on company property but may not provide coverage outside of the premises. To ensure that items are protected throughout a move, it is important to purchase third-party insurance.
This added protection is charged at a fee of 1% to 5% of the total value of items being moved. This could add as little as $50 to the cost of your move, or as much as $10,000+, depending on the value and size.
How to Save on Corporate Moves
The point of a business is to make money, and while a move may shut down productivity for a period of time, there are ways to bring down the cost and get back in business faster to recoup expenses.
The first way is to schedule the move during the winter, fall, or early spring seasons. During this moving “offseason” moving prices can be as much as 30% lower than moving costs during the summer or late spring months. If the move date is flexible, this is a great way to save some money.
Another way to ensure you get the best price is using a moving cost calculator. These free online cost estimators take into account the specific factors of your move, including total item weight, distance traveled, specialty moving services, and even insurance policy details to give you a better understanding of potential total moving costs.
With this average comparison in hand, operations managers planning the logistics of a move can better select the best moving company for their budget.
Corporate Moving Doesn’t Have To Mean Lost Profits
With the right planning and the ability to calculate moving cost estimates accurately, companies can plan ahead to get the best service at the best price. Though these moves may come with a higher cost than residential ones, it’s important to remember that commercial movers are worth it to help protect your business investments and ensure they arrive safely at their new location.
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