18 Questions To Ask Your Commercial Mover

Every year, thousands of complaints are filed against commercial moving companies in Georgia. Since 1996, commercial movers in Georgia haven’t needed a license in order to perform an in-state office move. This means that anybody could call themselves a mover without having any training, experience, or insurance. These inexperienced movers could easily lose files, break equipment, damage property, or steal valuables. In serious cases, these situations could ruin your business.

That’s why Office Pro’s is here to help you find the best commercial mover for your office. Here are 18 questions that you should ask about your mover’s policies, procedures, and standards in order to protect your business from an unpleasant moving experience.

1. 1. Does your mover have insurance?

If an accident happens during your move, then you’ll want to make sure your mover has insurance. If your mover doesn’t have insurance and breaks things during the moving process, then you’ll be held responsible for paying the mover’s fee and any damages that occurred. While these damages might be accidental, you’ll still be responsible for paying all of those costs and the mover’s fees.

1. 2. Does your mover offer released value protection?

Released value protection means that your mover will reimburse you for damages based on the weight of the item while paying no more than 60 cents per pound. This means that an item weighing 10 pounds will only cost your mover a maximum of $6 to replace. This option is usually offered at no extra charge, but it’s a risky choice for high-value items.

1. 3. Does your mover have a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

Commercial movers often hire temporary workers that may not be insured or may not have received a background check. When you hire a mover, you should ask for their COI to ensure all of the workers are insured. A COI would also let you know that your movers have received a background check, so you don’t need to worry about your property being stolen.

1. 4. Does your mover have any hidden costs?

When paying for a mover, you should ensure they don’t have any hidden costs that you may not expect. Some movers may have hidden fuel charges or insurance charges that aren’t immediately disclosed. Always ask about these hidden charges before agreeing to hire a moving company.

1. 5. Can your mover provide references?

A long list of references means your mover has a long list of happy customers. If they can’t provide references or only provide one or two names, then they might be trying to hide a bad reputation.

1. 6. Does your mover perform walkthroughs and inventory checks?

A good commercial mover will perform walkthroughs of your office and keep an inventory list of your items. This inventory list could affect your quote, so it’s important to complete this step early. This list should also be updated right before the move to ensure that none of your items are missed.

1. 7. Will your mover provide written price agreements?

When hiring a moving company, it’s important to receive a written price agreement to ensure you’re not overcharged after the move. This is also a good time to receive a “not to exceed” or hourly rate price, so you can plan your budget accordingly.

1. 8. Will your mover disassemble and reassemble your items?

If you’re moving heavy desks, shelving, or cabinets, then you’ll probably need to disassemble this furniture before moving them. You should always ask your moving company if they handle that process or if you need to disassemble your furniture for them. The same principle applies to the reassembly process after the move.

1. 9. Does your mover provide free moving equipment?

The moving process can be exhausting, but using the right equipment makes the process much easier. Instead of stacking all of your items into a box or moving them individually, ask if your moving company provides stackable moving crates, mobile book carts, or moving dollies. A good moving company should have this equipment available for their clients to use for free.

1. 10. Does your mover know the “tricks of the trade?”

Moving is a complicated process and there are plenty of tricks that your mover may know that you haven’t even considered. Some of these tricks include padding surfaces to avoid damaging your furniture or protecting walls and flooring. You should ask your movers about some of the moving tricks they’ll use for your move.

1. 11. How does your mover stand out from the competition?

There are a lot of moving companies to choose from, so how does your company stand out from the competition? It’s always helpful to know what sets your mover apart from everyone else, so you can choose the company that provides the benefits you need the most.

1. 12. Does your mover know how to properly pack and unpack?

When moving heavy furniture, it’s important to properly pack and unpack those items. You don’t want a heavy metal cabinet to scrape against a fancy wooden desk. An experienced mover knows how to properly pack your items into a moving truck.

1. 13. Will your mover help reconfigure your new office?

Before moving all of your furniture to a new office, make sure that your moving company will actually place your furniture in the correct locations. We recommend having a layout plan before officially moving, but it’s important to know whether your mover will actually place your items in the correct spots or just put them in the corner of a room.

1. 14. Does your mover offer “trade-in” offers for old furniture?

During the moving process, you may decide that you want to get rid of some older furniture. Some moving companies offer “trade-in” services where you can sell your old furniture or invest that money into your moving fees. This program can save you a lot of money depending on your furniture.

1. 15. Can your mover repair defective furniture?

Some of your furniture may be usable, but still defective due to small problems. Luckily, some moving companies can repair small problems by refurbishing surfaces or replacing glass tops. This can save some of your defective furniture and save you money in the process.

1. 16. Does your mover hire untrained temporary workers?

If your moving company is using untrained temporary workers, then you could be at risk. These untrained workers could cause damages that a trained professional would avoid. It might also slow down the moving process if they don’t know how to effectively move or store your furniture.

1. 17. Is your mover just looking for a quick buck?

You always want to choose a moving company that’s focused on delivering the best results instead of making a quick buck regardless of the quality of their work. Good moving companies will set clear expectations and over-deliver whenever possible. Bad moving companies will rush the work, damage your furniture, and overcharge their clients.

1. 18. Does your mover provide free moving guides/checklists?

Moving is a complicated process, which is why many companies offer free guides and checklists to help their clients prepare for a move. These guides generally consist of simple pros and cons, so you can follow the best moving practices and hire the best movers.

Contact Office Pro’s for Easy Moving Services

If you’re looking for a commercial moving service around North Georgia, then the team at Office Pro’s is here to help. We know the ins and outs of the moving industry, and we’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have. If you’re not located near us, then feel free to read our blogs about moving services, and always remember to ask these 18 questions before choosing a company.