The instances of fraudulent movers across the country are rampant, making it especially important that offices and companies seeking to relocate hire a trusted office mover.

Beware of Rogue Movers

Recognizing a rogue mover is just as key as knowing the characteristics of a reputable one. Spotting a dishonest mover at first glance may be a challenge, since some moving companies rack up hundreds of poor reviews and still manage to attract unwitting customers.

Bad experiences with incompetent movers include losing thousands of dollars during the moving process as movers arbitrarily hike up the moving costs after they load customer possessions, holding items hostage until additional funds are supplied and simply failing to deliver.

Given that 38 percent of corporations use professional moving companies to relocate, it is crucial to recognize an honest commercial mover. Here are a few characteristics that point the way to an ethical moving company.

1. Good Reviews

Online review sites are a treasure trove of information that could lead to doing business with a reputable moving company. Most moving companies will have a handful of negative reviews, some deserved, and others based on petty matters. Red flags should fly up when the majority of reviews are poor.

A reputable commercial mover will feature mostly positive reviews. Potential customers should actually read the full reviews, rather than merely glance at low or high grades or stars, to determine if the information is applicable to their situation or can be judiciously disregarded.

Various social media sites also offer a wealth of opinions from actual customers who willingly voice their experiences with the commercial mover in their service. Dig through the reviews to paint a clearer picture of the company you are considering dealing with.

In addition to online review sites and social media reviews, investigate further by having staff ask their friends and family members about any experiences they had with commercial movers. Responses from employees’ contacts can lead to hiring the right commercial mover.

2. Professional Sales Representatives

The first point-of-contact with a commercial moving company should be indicative of future interactions. Did the sales representative arrive on time? Was the individual appropriately dressed? Trivial as they seem, these signs can hugely relay the company’s level of professionalism to potential customers.

Interview administrative personnel thoroughly. Honest commercial movers will have no qualms about confidently answering any and all questions to your satisfaction. Their livelihood, after all, depends on good customers. Sketchy and unsure answers are likely to point to a fraudulent mover.

3. Fair Prices

Lowball quotes are a solid indicator of subpar service. As with any industry, customers receive what they pay for. Obtain several written estimates when hunting for a legitimate commercial mover. The idea is to compare several quotes to properly gauge the market average.

4. Accurate Quotes

In order to receive a correct estimate, representatives from ethical moving companies will visit the commercial space and assess the weight of the goods to be shipped. If you receive a quote over the phone without an onsite assessment, an incorrect quote is likely to be presented.

A mover who attempts to persuade a customer to sign a blank or incomplete estimate, especially on the scheduled move date, is a definite sign of an unethical company. Such a deceitful practice is utilized to add surplus charges and extract more money than initially agreed to.

5. Professional Gear

Safely transporting sensitive machinery and office equipment, like computers and other electronics, is essential to any relocation process. An experienced and reputable company moves items with care, using professional equipment, like dollies, padding to wrap and protect goods as well as clean moving trucks.

When the moving van arrives, it should clearly display the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) number. The lack of a DMV number on the moving vehicle should raise a red flag. The moving truck should also feature the company’s name; an unmarked truck is a sign of an illegitimate mover.

6. Dedicated Crew

Quality commercial movers wear company uniforms. Honest professionals will be fully engaged with their customers while loading the goods onto the truck. Rogue movers are likely to waste time texting or wandering away from the truck when they should be invested in preserving the security of its contents.

7. Licensed and Insured

Licensed, legitimate commercial movers provide insurance for the goods being relocated. Moving office equipment is risky and can lead to high financial losses if items are damaged during the process or while belongings are held in storage. The written estimate spells out the type of insurance offered.

8. Inventory Checklist

Commercial movers with a solid reputation provide a full inventory list of the office equipment being moved. Before the relocation, be sure to review a copy of this cube sheet for accuracy. The list should also include the quantity of boxes being moved.

Work with a Reputable Commercial Mover

Hiring a trusted commercial mover is as easy as contracting Chicago Office Movers to relocate your office equipment. With a professional team of licensed union movers, our staff will ensure a seamless commercial move, whether it is across the country or to the other end of town.

Chicago Office Movers is experienced in securely moving a wide range of office equipment, including lab equipment, electronics, HVAC equipment, assembly lines, machinery, and libraries. We also specialize in office decommissioning of all sizes in the event of remodeling.

A distinct feature that separates us from the competition is our dedication to the environment. As a green company, we utilize recycled packaging and employ best practices to significantly reduce energy consumption—all while ensuring peak performance from start to finish.

When an office relocation is on the horizon, consult Chicago Office Movers. Our commercial moving services include help with planning, guidance throughout the move and assistance with identifying contents of packed boxes once the move is complete.

Contact Us for a Free Estimate

Reasonable prices, industry expertise and assistance with every step of the journey are just a few of the benefits when you work with Chicago Office Movers. Contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246 for a free estimate and the Windy City’s most efficient office relocation service.

Attracting new clientele, enhancing productivity and simply working in a pleasing, aesthetic environment are all legitimate reasons to renovate an office space. When given the opportunity, most business owners will jump at the chance to improve the look and design of their workplace. The big question property owners must ask themselves is, how much do renovations cost?

The location of an office plays a major role in determining the cost to renovate. An office in New York will require higher labor costs than a space in Arizona. Silicon Valley, California, has the highest office build out costs in the country, while Washington, DC, has the lowest.

Consider the Square Footage

Property owners should also consider the size of the office space that will undergo renovations. For instance, an office with a square footage of 5,100 will require far less upfront costs to renovate than one that takes up 110,00 square feet in a six-story building.

For comparison’s sake, a smaller office space, let’s say 5,100 square feet, can average $450,000 in renovation costs and include enhancements like new skylights. The larger 110,000 square feet building can cost around $9 million to renovate, which includes both interior and exterior renovations.

Given the potentially skyrocketing costs, how do property owners budget for a renovation? Factors that should be considered in any renovation include the professional services of architects and labor, plus lighting, finishes, walls, floors, bathrooms, kitchen, fire protection and HVAC.

Architects or Designers – 20 Percent

Bringing in a design professional, such as an architect to lay out the office space and ensure it will serve its dual purpose of functionality and comfort for employees and customers, will be the initial expense. Architects and designers consume about 20 percent of the total renovation budget.

Architects are instrumental to renovation projects. The benefit of hiring an architect is that the professional follows specifications that meet building codes. Plus, employees and customers who are handicapped will easily enter and exit the property when the space is designed to be handicap accessible.

Labor – 10 Percent

Union labor is significantly more expensive than non-union labor. When hiring union labor in Chicago, a 20 percent premium is applied to contracted work. Cities like Chicago and New York City have long-standing practices where hiring union labor to work on union buildings is mandated.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, the location of the building being renovated has a major impact on labor costs. Labor costs in New York City climb to 70 percent above the national average. Since Washington, DC, has a plethora of available spaces, renovating an office there is the least costly.

Kitchen – 25 Percent

Employees are likely to retreat to the office kitchen during coffee breaks. When an office kitchen renovation is planned, expect the task to take up about a quarter of the budget. A kitchenette may be simple, with just cabinetry, or elaborate, with a combination of a microwave, sink, and fridge.

The renovator’s job is easier when the kitchen and bathroom are in close proximity. The shared plumbing reduces the overall renovation price. Depending on how complex the kitchen and plumbing will be, business owners can expect an office kitchen renovation to be around $4000 of a $16,000 job.

Windows – $5,000

New sky lights, integrated windows with specialized low-e glass and minimizing UV radiation from windows are all options to consider when renovating the office. Energy saving windows are pricey upfront but saving on heating and cooling costs are recouped over the next several years.

Fire Sprinklers – $5,000 to $10,000

Installing a new fire sprinkler in a small- or medium-sized office averages $5,000 to $10,000. Each sprinkler head costs about $200. Costs for permits, inspections and plans soar to $2,000. If existing fire sprinklers are in place, scheduling an inspection costs a few hundred dollars.

Lighting – $250+

If the office space welcomes customers, investing in high-quality lighting is key to presenting an optimal environment. LED lights are the preferred choice when it comes to cost-efficient lighting in office spaces. Basic lighting costs start at $250 per point and increase with the various types of lighting options.

The type of office environment plays a big part in lighting. An open ceiling office, for example, requires suspended light fixtures. Drywall ceilings do well with linear wrap lighting fixtures. Commercial lighting options suitable for drop ceilings include recessed office lighting, which is both energy efficient and attractive.

Floors – $2 to $7 Per Square Foot

Depending on whether the renovation space is a warehouse or an upscale office, costs for flooring differ markedly. Concrete flooring is the least expensive, at $2 per square foot. Vinyl tile starts at $4 per square foot. In a 5,100 square foot office, wood flooring averages $7 per square foot.

Work with a Commercial Mover

If you are planning an office renovation, temporarily moving the existing desks, chairs, and equipment will be necessary to allow plenty of room for the exciting project to begin. Count on Chicago Office Movers to handle the task of moving all office property efficiently and carefully through decommissioning services.

Whether your office space is staffed by hundreds of employees or limited to just a couple, Chicago Office Movers is prepared to handle the moving job with skill and timeliness. We also offer short-term storage facilities to house office property until the renovations are complete.

Our team of union movers are licensed and background checked to give business owners maximum peace of mind. The skilled movers at Chicago Office Movers are experienced in successfully moving all types of office property, including lab equipment, major electronics, machinery (such as HVAC equipment and assembly lines), large inventory and even libraries.

Chicago Office Movers is headquartered in the Windy City, but we cater to businesses across the country. If you are renovating a commercial space or relocating an office to or from Chicago, make the best choice and contact Chicago Office Movers. Take the stress out of renovations or office relocation by giving Chicago Office Movers a call.

Contact Us

To get a free estimate on your next commercial move, contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246.

Fort Myers, FL is America’s fastest growing city, according to Thrillist. Big surprise, right? This was based on the reports from WalletHub, measuring 515 cities in the U.S. based on size and population.

In sum, the factors measured from these reports include population and economic growth. In this case, Fort Myers, FL took first place, followed by Midland, TX.

After analyzing the past 7 years of data, WalletHub concluded the study with a list based on a total of 15 different criteria. In addition to population growth, growth of median household incomes, housing prices, number of startups, and businesses moving to the area were measured. Declines were also taken into account, such as poverty rates and unemployment.

Why Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers, FL wasn’t always at the top of the list, according to the reports; it didn’t reach the top of the list until 2018. In 2017, the Mayor of Fort Myers, Randy Henderson, told the local News-Press the reason for the boom in economic growth was because of the efforts to attract private investment, build affordable housing for Millennials and young professionals, and update the city’s infrastructure.

Growth in Nearby Cities

Also experiencing high growth is Miami and Lehigh Acres (also on the list of top 15). It’s quite possible that the area in general is experiencing growth, due to the number of families and businesses moving to the same region.

Growth in Other States

What the cities on the list share in common is that many are in the same state. So it may be safe to say that not only cities are growing, but the states too.

Check out the top 20 list of America’s fastest growing cities:

1. Midland, TX
2. Pearland, TX
3. Bend, OR
4. McKinney, TX
5. College Station, TX
6. Lehigh Acres, FL
7. Mount Pleasant, SC
8. Enterprise, NV
9. Irvine, CA
10. Milpitas, CA
11. Pleasanton, CA
12. Murfreesboro, TN
13. Meridian, ID
14. Redwood City, CA
15. Frisco, TX
16. Round Rock, TX
17. Austin, TX
18. Miami, FL
19. Saint George, UT

What to Conclude About these Cities

So what is actually attracting people and businesses to these cities? The weather? For some, it’s true but most commonly, it’s the job opportunities and affordability of housing. While cities like Chicago and Los Angeles continue to become more expensive with taxes and costs of living, others are booming as people flock to the south for an easier, more enjoyable lifestyle.

Looking to Move Your Business?

If you’re looking for a change, always be sure to do your home homework and research all options before moving. Just because it’s growing and there are many opportunities, doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for your company; what may be right for every other industry may not be for yours.

One of the best ways to research cities to move your business is to research the economic growth as well as any vendors in the area, culture of the city, local leasing or investment rates, and target market. Surely there’s no place for a snow plow company in Fort Myers, FL.

Contact Chicago Office Movers

After deciding where you want to relocate your business, rely on the professional services of Chicago Office Movers, based in the Chicagoland area. When working with our experts, you can expect complete care while handling your assets. We have moved everything from desks to machinery to even libraries.

Chicago Office Movers also provides a number of specialty services, including storage, packing, paperwork storage, crating, furniture assembly, office decommissioning, server room moving, and more. Each of our movers is also experienced, trained, background-checked, and insured for your peace of mind.

Get a Free Estimate

To get a free estimate on your next business move, contact Chicago Office Movers at (312) 244-2246.

Businesses run on money, making a price point the single most significant decision-maker when it comes to buying or leasing a commercial building. While the financial health of a company is chief, a variety of accompanying factors also come into play. The following key points weigh heavily in a business’ choice to either lease or buy a commercial property.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding to rent or buy a commercial property.

How long is the business expected to remain in a specific location?

When deliberating to buy or lease, business owners should consider the length of time the business will remain in that location. Buying the property is optimal when a business plans to stay put for seven years or more. Expecting to inhabit a space for less than seven years warrants leasing.

For example, a technology startup that expects to occupy a property for 15 years will pay 80 percent more to lease the building during that duration rather than buy. However, the same startup that plans to relocate in seven years will pay far less to lease during those few years.

What is the business’ growth potential?

Companies that are expected to experience rapid growth ideally will consider leasing a commercial property. The physical space required to accommodate growth will simply increase when businesses prosper, making a new building in the future foreseeable. In such cases, leasing is optimal.

Another benefit of leasing is the flexibility. Since lease terms usually fall between three and ten years, a company expecting to expand its size within this short span of time has no barriers when it comes to relocating to a larger, more suitable property.

On the other hand, businesses that have already seen explosive growth and experience stability in their market sphere will find security in an existing property, making buying a commercial space more practical. Buying commercial property is appealing, since mortgages are more stable than leases.

Can a business afford the upfront costs?

Leasing a commercial building requires hefty upfront costs, such as attorney fees, a substantial security deposit, and the pre-lease inspection. Upfront costs are high in comparison to buying a commercial space. In fact, these initial costs can total one-sixth of the costs of buying real estate.

Buying a commercial property has equally high upfront costs, including the down payment (up to 40 percent), closing costs, repairs, and appraisal fees. Many business owners do not have the significant capital required to cover these initial costs, which can be better applied toward reinvesting in their business.

How do business owners view building maintenance?

Leasing a commercial property comes with less maintenance headaches. The landlord manages all repairs, plumbing, and HVAC maintenance and any issues related to building upkeep. When leasing, business owners can focus on growing their business rather than be distracted by property problems.

The downside to leasing and avoiding maintenance responsibilities is that this perk comes with a monetary price. The rent will include the expenses related to repairs. The leasing manager includes these operating fees as outlined in the Common Area Maintenance expenses.

Buying a property means the owner is responsible for all repairs. Running a business leaves little time to handle maintenance, making hiring a property management company a necessity. Bringing on board a facilities services team is an added expense that digs deep into profits.

How critical to the business is rent control?

Along with the flexibility of renting comes the possibility of the landlord negotiating an increase in the monthly rent. When leasing, tenants are subject to the rent caprices of the landlord, forcing businesses that are unable to pay the rise in rent to either downsize or relocate.

Buying a commercial property offers price stability and control. Mortgage payments are fixed, and property owners have the benefit of growing equity in their building. In the long term, businesses have an opportunity to sell their property or refinance, bringing in substantial equity for the company.

Are renovations beneficial in the long run?

When a tenant makes improvements, like wall finishes or new carpeting, these enhancements directly benefit the landlord in the long run. As a tenant, the business owner temporarily benefits; but, when it is time to relocate, these improvements cannot be shifted to the new office space.

Renovations stay put when a business owns the property and do not have to be redone with every relocation. As an added benefit, any upgrades made to the commercial space only increases its value when it sells, dramatically spiking the financial returns on the sale of the property. 

How important is the opportunity to rent out space?

Renting extra space to various tenants is a financial bonus of owning a building. With the extra monthly cash flow comes the burden of being responsible for managing tenants. Hiring a property management company is a solution, but it comes with a price tag that eats into rental income profits.

When deciding to rent or buy a commercial space, the factors that will influence your decision are many. Despite the dizzying array of buying versus renting pros and cons, one clear advantage to your bottom line is hiring Chicago Office Movers for your upcoming office relocation.

Work with Chicago Office Movers

Chicago Office Movers is a locally based company with a crew of trained, unionized and licensed movers. A reputable commercial mover, Chicago Office Movers are experienced in moving all types of office equipment, including heavy machinery, lab equipment, and the standard office furniture and computers. Included in its comprehensive services are office renovation and remodeling.

A feature that distinguishes Chicago Office Movers from its competitors is the company’s commitment to the environment. The movers utilize only recycled packaging and have made strides in reducing waste and energy consumption.

Whether your business is a small startup or a large corporation, Chicago Office Movers brings the right experience to fulfill your vision of successfully moving your company across the country or just down the street.

Get a Free Estimate

Streamline your company move with Chicago Office Movers. A free estimate is available to jumpstart your relocation efforts. Give us a call at 312-244-2246 to get started!

When business leaders are motivated by the familiar maxim, “The grass is greener on the other side,” they may just literally pick up and relocate to access more nourishing pastures. Companies shift locations for numerous reasons.

Here are the top reasons why companies move:

1. Access to the Best Talent

A company makes great strides when employees make quality contributions to services and products. In order to access talent with specialized skills, companies are willing to relocate. No longer are potential workers moving to where the jobs are. Companies now move to actively seek out top talent.

For example, a tech startup may relocate to San Francisco, a flourishing tech hub, to attract workers skilled in technology. Or, a business operating in the finance sector may shift to New York City, a key player in the financial market, to appeal to the right candidates.

Plus, businesses are willing to relocate to areas near top universities. The reason is clear: Leading companies benefit from continual access to highly qualified recent graduates, who have the skills to make a meaningful dent in the company’s output.

General Electric, for example, shifted its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts from Fairfield, Connecticut. As a company with a 124-year history, keeping up with advancements requires access to educated workforces and agile tech companies. The relocation made the leaders’ goals possible.

2. Offer Quality of Life

Youthful, creative talent, like Millennials, are attracted to the hustle and bustle of city life. Cities that stay awake 18 to 24 hours a day are peppered with high-end dining options, luxury apartments, streams of entertainment venues and the convenience of public transportation.

Given that happy employees are more productive, companies are relocating their headquarters to where these young, educated, and skilled workers want to live, work, and play. Growing cities, like Denver, Seattle, and Boston, offer lifestyles that entice youthful workforces, making business leaders consider relocation a viable option to stay competitive.

3. Updated Facilities

Expanding companies may outgrow their existing facility, prompting the need to move to a more updated space. Rather than invest in the scarce time and capital necessary to build a brand-new facility, businesses make the practical decision to relocate.

A new office space may feature co-working environments to encourage collaboration, technology resource areas, plenty of glass, moss walls and generous amounts of desk space. Employees also experience rejuvenation when the company relocates. The boost in morale prompts workers to innovate.

4. Improve the Brand

Customers and investors make critical, initial judgments about a brand based on the company’s office. Business leaders jump at the chance to improve the message they want to convey to outsiders. Relocating gives companies an opportunity to enhance their brand’s personality.

Whether a company’s brand is youthful and fun or traditional can be easily inferred from a visit to the office. Business leaders know their brand’s tone can be transformed by shifting to a thriving city or moving to a contemporary office space.

Returning to the example of General Electric’s recent relocation, the traditional company aimed to keep up with society’s progress rather than be seen as an antiquated business. Their move to a major city helped shape their vision for a business that is able to cater to the current needs of its customers.

Similarly, ConAgra relocated its headquarters to Chicago to rebuild its brand. The decision to move was also partially prompted with the goal of attracting the type of new talent that would, in turn, help shape and reinvigorate the company’s existing brand.

The companies who actively seek to re-establish their brands through relocation efforts show customers and business partners that they are invested in staying current and are able to meet the current demands of the marketplace. Rather than stagnate, businesses aim to shine in evolving times.

5. Decrease Operating Expenses

The cost of running a business is extremely high. Hefty recurring expenses include commercial lease costs (which are based on the building’s square footage), high taxes ,and even environmental regulations. Companies have a reason to move when overhead costs skyrocket.

Marriott International’s headquarters, for example, is currently at nearly a million square feet. With the company’s lease expiring in 2022, the company’s CEO is considering relocating for many reasons, among which are to access a higher quality talent pool.

Companies seek to shift to a location where the roads are passable, public services, are ample and the financial stability of local and state communities is high. Leaders choose areas where utility services are dependable and will not interrupt day-to-day business.

Indiana, for instance, incentivizes businesses to move to the state with a credit that reduces corporate income tax liability. Similarly, Kentucky offers businesses an income tax credit. Louisiana, to facilitate relocations, gives companies a rebate that offsets relocation costs up to 25 percent.

With all the advantages surrounding business relocations, shifting a company is a challenge. When business leaders know they have professional office moving help, like from Chicago Office Movers, relocating becomes less of a hassle and more of an event to anticipate.

Choose a Commercial Moving Company

The commercial movers at Chicago Office Movers are licensed, background checked and unionized to ensure maximum peace of mind for all business clients. All movers are trained to carefully handle all office properties. Included in our moving services are planning, packing and unpacking.

Chicago Office Movers has earned a stellar reputation among its many clients, which include Northwestern University and Alcatel Lucent, among many other major institutions and companies. Whether your office is small or large, Chicago Office Movers is prepared to offer top-notch service.

We are available to move businesses locally, long distance or internationally. Chicago Office Movers will get business owners started with planning their corporate relocation and provide execution of the moving plan. A free estimate is available to businesses ready to embark on their new venture.

Get a Free Estimate

To request a free estimate with our corporate movers, contact Chicago Office Movers at 312-244-2246.