Furniture moving: Choosing office removalists

Choosing a furniture removalist for your business relocation is not a decision to be taken lightly. The right choice of furniture moving will ensure a hassle-free move and a speedy resumption of commercial activities in the new location.

But choose incorrectly and you risk losing money through lost time and damage to your business assets. 

Know your needs 

The first step when choosing a furniture removalist is to understand your business's needs, says Jan Hanley from the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA).

"Businesses must assess what their specific requirements are for the move and choose a removalist who can meet them at an appropriate price." 

Questions to ask include whether you want to move during office hours or outside them, how much preparation your staff will do and whether you'll be taking everything with you. Once you have an idea of your needs, you can start looking for the right removalist to fulfil them.

Experience counts

The specific moving needs of businesses vary. An office comprising desks, files and complex IT systems will have different requirements from a warehouse full of shelves stacked with goods, or a factory full of heavy machinery.

Many businesses, particularly larger ones, use a tender process to choose furniture removalists. Whether you do this or select a few names from the Yellow Pages, the aim is to find a removalist who has successfully moved a business - or, preferably, many businesses - like yours before.

This will ensure that they have the right knowledge and equipment for the job.

Look for industry accreditation

Choosing an AFRA-accredited furniture removalist is one way of playing the percentages in the commercial moving game.

AFRA only accredits those who have completed industry-approved training, including OH&S requirements. This allows these firms to offer insurance, so you're protected against any damage to equipment. It also covers you for any injuries removals staff incur in the move. 

Ask for references 

Once you have a shortlist of potential removalists, ask them for references. This is not just for show. You must check them. Are the businesses they have moved before anything like yours? Are they pleased with the service they received? 

Questions to ask

• Do they provide out-of-hours services?
• Do they offer insurance to cover damaged or lost items?
• Can they provide packing and unpacking services?
• Can they provide moving boxes?
• Can they ensure that your business is up and running swiftly at the new location?

A smooth move

With so many things that can go wrong in a business move, it pays to do your research and find a furniture removalist who can ensure a smooth transition from one location to the next.

Contact a commercial removalist and start planning your furniture moving today.