Tag: moving

Considerations When Choosing a New Office Location

Posted on by jstfort

There are many reasons why offices or companies relocate. Whether you are expanding and growing, trying to reduce costs, or have an expiring lease, you’ll want to make sure you’re approaching your relocation in the right way. You must put together a good strategy together when creating a list of things you should consider for your office relocation.  There are many things to consider when choosing your new office location.

For Your New Office, Location Is Everything

Consider mapping out the best location for your office relocation
Mapping out your office relocation

Three of the main things that you should consider are demographic, consumer base, and resources. This may be the biggest thing to consider for your office relocation.

Demographic

Whether you are downsizing or expanding you may have to make some new hires. Choosing a location where there is a significant talent pool for your industry is very important. Hiring is one of the most difficult things for a company. Having a variety of options will help with this relocation process a lot.

Consumer base

Depending on your industry and the customers you serve, more likely than not you’re going to want to choose a location where you can easily serve your consumer base. This is where you’re going to have to get to know and understand your consumer identity. When this is understood you can identify a location that has a large enough market size for your business.

Selecting a location with the right economic status is extremely important. It’s important to be sure that the community in the market you choose can afford your product or service.

Resources

As a business owner, you know the resources that your business needs to operate day-to-day. Selecting a location where you will easily have access to those resources is vitally important. Not only is the access to these resources important but the convenience and price have to be factored into play as well.

Office Size For Your New Location

A look at office size to consider for office relocation

Identifying the goal of your office relocation beforehand will help you when choosing your office sizes. It may be clear to say that if you are expanding you will be looking for a larger office, if you are downsizing you will be looking for a smaller office. Consider the growth stage that you are in and be sure to plan around that growth. The last thing you would want to do is have to plan another relocation because you miss judged your future company size.

Budget for Choosing a New Office Location

calculating costs for your office relocation

What it all comes down to, it’s all about the numbers. You’re going to want to find an office location where the rent or lease fits your finances. In some situations, it may be smarter to own than to rent. Taking a good look at your business and deciding what path is good for your company will help you in the long run. This is extremely important to consider, the last thing you want to do is have an office relocation that hurts your business.

 

Choosing a new office location can be intimidating, so preparation is key when you are approaching this process. If you strongly consider these things during your office relocation, you should be well off to a successful office relocation. Be sure to get a free estimate on office moving services by clicking here. 

What Is a Commercial Cube Sheet?

Posted on by rhunt

What is a Commercial Cube Sheet?

List are one of the most common tools to make a move run smoothly. Offices will have lists of important documents that need to be saved, who will be working on which floor, and other important information. Commercial moving companies make lists too. Their lists contain all the items being moved from your business.

That is where a commercial cube sheet comes in. The commercial cube sheet will list quantities of inventory, then use the corresponding volumes of those items to generate a price estimate for the move. Generally, these items include common office furniture like desks, computers, and cubicles and their volumes.

Why Does My Business Need One?

Estimators will use a commercial cube sheet to create an inventory of items that need to be moved. For example, common items like chairs will be recorded for quantity under the same category of ‘desk chair’. Generally, items that have no category on the sheet will be marked by the size of box they require. Once everything is accounted for, a total volume is calculated that a price estimate can be based on.

Do I Complete the Cube Sheet?

No. A sales representative will complete the cube sheet for you.

However, understanding how a cube sheet works will make it easier understand how your movers look at your business. You will be in charge of telling our rep what will move with you and what won’t. Making those decisions early will better organize your business for the moving process.

How Is a Cube Sheet Completed?

Again, your sales rep will handle the completion of the cube sheet from start to finish. They will work with either you or whomever you designate to manage your move. Then, they will go room by room, discussing with you/your manager which items will be moved and what will not. This is the time to provide greater detail to your sales rep so that there is clear understanding between you, the rep, and the moving crew.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Cube sheets are a very simple part of your moving process. The only thing you should keep in mind is whether the scope of your move has changed vs. what’s recorded on the cube sheet. If there are significant changes of what is or isn’t going, the sales rep will usually need to adjust the move plan and maybe even your price. The cube sheet is a record you can reference to recall the agreement of what’s included in the service. If the basis of the service has changed, be sure to let the sales rep know so he or she can prepare.

Any questions you have about cube sheets can be directed to an Olympia sales representative.

Contact us today at 800-222-4744 for more information or to schedule a proposal meeting.

Where to Donate Old Office Furniture

Posted on by rhunt

Typically, office furniture that has reached the end of its life goes into a dumpster after liquidation. Most businesses just want their old stuff out of sight and out of mind. However, there is another option: donation.

Olympia helps many different organizations liquidate their unwanted inventory and funnel it to charities and non-profits. Here are some organizations you might be able to partner with to donate your gently used office furniture.

International Recycling Network

The International Recycling Network is a recycling network out of New Hampshire that works with colleges, corporations, hospitals, and other large organizations. Olympia has been in partnership with the IRN for over five years. We assist them in loading, storing, and delivering large quantities of furniture to classrooms and offices in need of supplies.

Green Standards

Green Standard is a recycling company that has worked with companies like Adobe and KPMG to recycle and re-purpose old office furniture. Their method combines recycling, resale, and donation to prevent large amounts of furniture going to landfill. For more details the process, visit their How It Works page.

Food for the Poor

Food for the Poor is a non-profit organization working out of 17 countries in the Caribbean and South America. Their primary activities revolve around providing food for impoverished communities, but they also build and furnish safe homes in said communities. In May 2019, Olympia facilitated the delivery of gym lockers and sports equipment liquidated from Boston University to Jamaica.

My Brother’s Keeper

My Brother’s Keeper is a Christian ministry in Massachusetts that provides furniture and food to those in need. In the past, Olympia has assisted their volunteers with loading and transporting inventory.Unfortunately, they do not accept deliveries. However, they will come and pick up unwanted furniture.

A Wider Circle

A Wider Circle is a Maryland-based organization focused on raising families and individuals out of poverty. Although they mainly look for donations of basic need items, Olympia has worked with them on bulk furniture donations.

Clearly, there are a variety of organization to choose from. Depending on what your business needs, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Of course, location is key to making the donation process work for you. If the examples provided don’t make logistic sense, a little research will help you find a suitable option closer to your business.

Regardless, when it comes to furniture liquidation, a professional moving company can help handle the heavy lifting.

Want to donate your office’s old furniture? Call Olympia to schedule a proposal meeting at 800-222-4744 or request a quote online.

How Can Moving Services Help Colleges and Universities?

Posted on by rhunt

Olympia Office Movers participates in hundreds of interesting projects for colleges and universities. We have helped schools from Austin to Boston with a variety of unique challenges. Here is quick overview of some of the services we provide.

Dorm Move-In Services for Colleges and Universities

At the start of the semester, Olympia helps students move into their dorms. Our services have been used by Northeastern University and Bentley University, among others. We also donate our moving services to Special Olympics Massachusetts to assist athletes being housed on participating campuses.

Student Summer Storage Services

With our long-term client, College Boxes, Olympia has helped students move out of their dorms for over a decade. Students pack their own belongings with College Boxes’ packing supplies and then Olympia picks them up and brings them to storage. Harvard, Boston University, and Georgetown have all relied on Olympia and College Boxes to clear their dorms for the summer.

Read our Harvard & College Boxes Case Study for more on this partnership.

Installation

Olympia crews can install desks, furniture, and other fixtures in classrooms, dormitories, and buildings around campus. Whether a university is opening a new building or refreshing an old one, our team can meet the school’s installation needs.

Resource Shuffling

Olympia provides crews to shuffle the contents of dorms, classrooms, and laboratories. These services are especially crucial for schools with multiple campuses. For example, in the event that the desks of Classroom A are being replaced with new models, Olympia can move the older desks into Classroom B on a different campus.

For a closer look at the depths of our service, check out Tufts University Facilities & Logistics.

Asset Management and Storage

A few universities have used Olympia’s services to reuse furniture and save money and the environment. Olympia has worked with some schools to move their old inventory, such as desks, chairs, tables, and cabinets, into storage. When a need for these items arises elsewhere on campus, the school checks the online inventory with Olympia to see if there are items to reuse before purchasing new ones. The school “orders” the old inventory, and Olympia delivers the furniture to its new home on campus.

Renovation and Liquidation Services

Renovations often include the disposal of furniture and inventory that has reach the end of its life. Olympia can remove then liquidate or recycle unwanted furniture. For a more detailed look at our furniture recycling work, read this Brandeis University Furniture Removal case study.

Dorm Reset

In order to prepare for new residents in the next school year, universities need the man power to reset hundreds of dorm rooms at the end of the semester. This means setting bed frames back to their original heights, ensuring the correct arrangement of furniture in each room, and taking notes on room condition for repairs over the summer. Our crews halve the workload of campus facilities so that repairs and updates can be made much quicker.

Learn about a dorm reset with Boston University.

Disconnect/Reconnect

Our crews can handle sophisticated operations like technology disconnects and reconnects. Classroom renovations and resource shuffles usually require these services. Our crews have experience disconnecting and reconnecting technology for many departments and colleges.

Event Logistics

Graduations, conferences, and other events need careful planning. A professional team of movers can provide the logistics support required for things to run smoothly. Set up, break down, and every task in between can be assigned to a moving crew. Olympia has picked up, stored, and later delivered event furniture for organizers who’ve lacked sufficient storage space.

Could your university use the help of a moving crew? Call Olympia to schedule a proposal meeting at 800-222-4744 or request a quote online.

9 Things Companies Just Don’t Need Anymore

Posted on by rhunt

We’re almost two decades into the new millennium, and some companies are still stuck like it’s 1999. Nostalgia might work for old records and bell-bottom jeans, but not for office spaces.

It’s time for a declutter. You company is likely wasting money on a larger office space to accommodate things you just don’t need. Olympia Office Movers is here to help you evaluate and move to a smaller, cost effective, and modern office space.

Here is Olympia’s list of things in your workplace that just need to go.

Fax Machines to Email and USB

Fax machines are out and digital transfers like email, local cloud storage, and Dropbox are in. Only Joe Shmoe at Radioshack is still using a fax machine, and he’s just doing it to be different.

 

 

Mail Rooms to Digital Communications

Mail rooms became obsolete with email, but some companies have kept them around gathering dust. All that wasted space is the best place to set up a game room or relaxation area.

 

 

 

Fluorescent Lighting to Natural Light

Not only are fluorescent lights an energy drain, they also hurt the eyes. Most offices try to do the most they can with natural sunlight these days, with LED bulbs as an alternative.

 

 

Analog Registers to Multi-Use Registers (Card tap and Apple Pay)

Cash rhymes with past for a reason! The classic push-button register is being retired across the country. Now full-digital systems like Square are taking over point of sale systems, as well as payments, capital management, and payroll.

(Disclaimer from the author: Actually, carrying cash is very important and you should still do it even if you don’t ever use it).

 

 

Water Cooler to Water Bottle Fountain

Though the water cooler is legend in the stereotypical office, more and more companies are switching to filtered water bottle stations. This reduces plastic waste from disposable cups. Encourage your team to convert to water bottles full time and access to crisp, filtered water.

 

Drip Coffee Machines to Keurigs and Tea Pots

The drip coffee maker lost favor with the caffeinated masses long ago. Keurig brewers are usually the first suspect in drip coffee’s decline, but traditional and electric teapots are also seeing a resurgence as tea reasserts itself.

 

Meetings Over Dinner

Nobody wants to talk business while they chomp on a medium rare steak. As the concept of ‘work-life balance’ gains popularity, less people are wooing clients in the evening.

 

Stationary Storage to Free Space

Physical marketing materials and company stationary are out of favor. Offices need less storage space than ever nowadays, so the old closets full of paper have lost their relevance. As email and social media marketing take over, say goodbye to the pamphlets of yesterday.

 

Closed Cubicles to Open Floor Plans

Cubicles are reaching the age of retirement in certain industries. Now, open concept offices are the cutting edge of innovation.

 

 

 

Are You Hanging On to Old Stuff?

If you read this list and felt called out, maybe its time to call in the professionals. Olympia Moving and Storage can help you declutter your office with our trained disposal crews. Unwanted furniture, appliances, papers, and trash will be out of your office without any hassle on your part.

 

If your company has thing it just doesn’t need anymore, contact Olympia Moving and Storage today at 800-222-4744 or fill out our free estimate form.

Moving Office? Feng Shui Your New Space

Posted on by olympiamoving

When moving into a new office space it’s the perfect time to reorganize and decorate. These are some tips to help your transition and plan an office that will generate positive energy and inspiration.

Trash the clutter.

Businesswoman watering plant at desk

Go through all of the loose paper and random sticky notes and trash anything that isn’t relevant! The tricky part about this is keeping it de-cluttered; try to get into a habit of leaving your desk clean at the end of the day and don’t over crowd items . If it’s still feeling cramped, possibly invest in a mirror to open up the space.

Get some plants.

Encourage your coworkers to give the office some green and fresh air by adding plants to the office. This will spruce up your desk space and improve what you are feeding your brain while at work.

Give your desk a “commanding position.”

Office6Tips3

Orient yourself so that you can see out the window and people in front of you; this creates a safe space. People working behind you can often be distracting and you may get the feeling that someone is always looking over your shoulder.

Harmonize the layout of your desk.

The left side of your desk has to do with wisdom, relationships and wealth. You should decorate this area with cooler colors, family photos and plants. The center of your desk should be clutter free and clear, this area aligns with your career, health and reputation. You can fill this space with motivational quotes, business cards and colors like yellow, black and red. The right side of your desk promotes creativity, love and compassion. Bring in the colors gold, white and silver, a mantra or flowers for inspiration in these aspects of your life.

Bagua-horz-pageOnce you have established a work environment that allows you to be productive, reach goals and enjoy every minute of it, you can then begin expanding Feng Shui techniques into other areas of your life.

Before you can Feng Shui your office space, you need to move there! Request a free office moving estimate online or by calling us at 800.222.4744

Announcing New Philadelphia Commercial Moving Company Location!

Posted on by olympiamoving
Philadelphia PA Moving Company
Olympia Moving & Storage is now open in Philadelphia, PA

Olympia Moving & Storage, a leading moving company in Boston and Washington DC, announced the opening of their newest Philadelphia moving company location.

“We chose Philadelphia as our newest location in response to the demand from area relocation and real estate professionals. Philadelphia’s historic homes, universities, and industry are a perfect fit for Olympia’s 25 years of experience.” said Michael Gilmartin, President and Founder of the Boston-based moving company.

Olympia Moving & Storage uses highly-trained moving experts, technology, and an extensive a-la-carte menu of services to provide companies with a move that goes far beyond lifting boxes.

In addition to local, interstate, and international moving and storage, the new Philadelphia moving company offers relocation concierge services, designed to assist companies with every aspect of their move. Olympia’s moving consultants recommend services to make the process smoother. Olympia’s concierge services include, office moving, workstation installation, electronics disconnection/re-connection, crate delivery, storage and recycling & disposal.

Olympia uses a combination of personalized customer service and technology to ease pre-move stress and ensure a seamless move. Each client is assigned both a dedicated move consultant and coordinator to plan the move, guide the whole office through the process, and be responsive to client needs. Olympia Moving customers can also track and manage their move online via the Olympia Move Portal, where they can sign and download documents, review details, access moving resources, and more.

Most importantly, Olympia Moving & Storage employs the best full-time moving professionals in
the industry. Olympia’s movers practice their skills in the fully furnished Olympia Training House before stepping foot onto a move site for the first time. The crews’ extensive training includes packing, furniture protection, moving, furniture assembly, and customer service.

“Our goal is to redefine the moving industry. We work with our customers to eliminate the stress and intimidation from the move so they can concentrate on enjoying their new home,” says Michael Gilmartin. “We’re excited to show Philadelphia that there’s a better way to move.”

If you’re in need of a move in Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, or Northern Delaware, request a free, no obligation moving estimate online or by calling 610-951-6090

3 Tips For Preparing Employees For A Relocation

Posted on by olympiamoving

Deciding to relocate your business is a big deal. There are a ton of aspects to consider, so how much should you include your employees in the decision-making and how should you be preparing them for a move?

Your employees are a huge part of your business, so it’s important to ask yourself if you know what’s important to them. You may want to create a communication plan ensure you’re in touch with their needs and get organized for the relocation.

While there are countless things you need to convey while preparing your employees for a relocation, we understand that you’ve got plenty on your plate.  We’ll keep it short with these 3 tips:

  1. The size of the new space and what they can bring

    Whether an employee has worked at a company for 6 months or 6 years it’s more than likely that their desk has accumulated more junk than they realistically need or want. You’ll want to keep this in mind when planning a relocation due to the change in space. Let your employees know if their new work spaces will be larger or smaller than the area they’re currently occupying so that they prepare for their own relocation accordingly and they aren’t over-packing.

  2. Commute Logisticspreparing your employees

    Another commonly overlooked, but important, aspect to take into account is the geography of your new office. Preparing your employees for a change is important because you run the risk of losing employees based on commute time and accessibility. Once you have a space in mind it’s important to factor in how your employees will be getting there. Have an open conversation about how commutes will change and let your employees know the best routes, transit lines, and parking options so that they feel comfortable and valued during the upcoming change.

  3. Area Amenities

    Whether or not we like to admit it, food is a huge culture builder in and out of the office. One of the main complaints from employees is lack of accessible food or coffee options in the areas surrounding their offices. Do a little bit of research on the food, drink, and fitness options new area. Let your employees know that you care by sharing a list of top spots in close proximity to your new space. They’ll appreciate your attention to detail and their caffeine needs and they’ll feel better about preparing themselves for their first day in your new office.

No matter what your reason may be for relocation, the best course of action is to keep everyone involved well informed and preparing employees is a huge part of that.

Looking to move your office or have more questions about preparing for an office move? Give us a call today at 800.222.4744 to discuss your options or request an estimate.

You might also be interested in:

  1. Countdown to a successful move
  2. Open Concept Office Positives and Negatives
  3. Employee Relocation Instructions 

 

Office Moving Mistakes

Posted on by olympiamoving

moving mistakes

Moving is never easy, but when other people come into the equation your responsibilities to the move change drastically. It’s important to know what you should be doing when planning an office move, but what about the common moving mistakes to avert?

5 office moving mistakes to avoid:

  1. Don’t wait to finalize your moving plans

    When you’re planning a move for your office you have more than just employees to worry about. Whether you’re moving internally or to a new building, you’ll want to have all of the details planned out ahead of time to minimize stress and room for error. Commercial moves require different types of people with specific attention to detail, and the building you’re relocating to might have special requirements from the crew you’ll be working with.

    It’s no surprise that procrastination is moving’s worst enemy, so don’t add to your workload by doing so.

  2. Don’t keep your employees out of the loop

    Employee happiness is directly related to their work environment. If you’re planning a move you should inform your employees as soon as plans are set and give your employees enough time to plan for their new office. When you keep information from your employees you run the risk of disrupting productivity and happiness.

  3. Don’t forget to do your research

    Are you really willing to risk damaging your company’s belongings or new work space after all of that effort you put into planning your relocation? Not all moving companies are the same, so don’t make the common moving mistake in thinking so.

    You’ll want to do more than just compare prices when it comes to choosing your mover. We suggest reading reviews and speaking with a representative of the company in order to make a better informed decision about who to work with. While price is always a factor you’ll want to be sure that the company you choose can handle your type of move and specific needs. Make sure you know about the quality of work and accountability your mover is putting into your relocation. At the end of the day you’ll be paying for quality and experience.

  4. Don’t forget to ask questions

    All moves are different, and that includes yours! Communicate with your movers and vendors and make sure you’re all on the same page. This will help you avoid any moving mistakes and confusion during or after your move, when it’s time to pay for services rendered.

  5. Don’t forget to budget the actual move portion into your plans

    If you’re planning an office move, you might also be involved in some other planning activities. Finding a space, renovating, or upgrading your furniture and equipment are all tasks associated with office moves, but while you’re choosing your favorite chair you’ll want to remember to leave room in your budget for the actual move.

    Many people make this moving mistake and underestimate the time and costs associated with the physical portion of their relocation causing them to be forced to settle for cheaper moving companies who are ill-equipped to deal with their needs. Keeping relocation costs in mind throughout your planning process will save you unexpected costs on what matters most, the integrity of the new items and space you’ve put time and money into.

    Here’s a tip: many vendors work together so if you’re at a loss for who to contact, ask someone you already trust.

Planning an office move or considering a relocation?
Avoid these moving mistakes and call us today at 800.222.4744 to discuss your options or request an estimate

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Office Moving & Employee Relocation

Posted on by olympiamoving

Office moving can be a daunting task. Finding a new space, choosing vendors who can facilitate your needs and choosing an office layout are just a few of the things to think about during office moving.

But what about relocating your employees? Anticipating employee needs in order to keep them comfortable and productive is an important part of the process in office moving.

Not only can Olympia Moving & Storage help you plan the details of office moving, from the pack to the installation of new office furniture, we’re here to be a resource for the things that may get overlooked during your company’s move. We came up with a list of to-do’s, essential for a positive and fresh start in your new office!

office moving

Things to consider during office moving include:

1. Keep your employees informed

Once you have made the decision to move into a new space, let your employees know about the specifics.

Timelines of the pack and deliver will be of utmost importance to your employees and the work that they are doing. Minimizing hiccups with proper planning and communication between you and your moving company is key.  Ask your moving company if they will come to your office to present a short pre-move seminar to fill your employees in on necessary move preparations.

2. Share your plans

Keep in mind that we spend half of our lives at work so it’s important to create an environment your employees will feel good about working in.

Whether you’re taking your employees suggestions into consideration or making the decisions without them, it’s a good idea to share your new office’s floor plan so people can easily locate their new work space. Send out instructions, including information about changes in your employees’ transportation and parking options at your new office, so that there is no confusion when they arrive on their first day.

Office moving also includes relocating your employees personal work spaces,  and you’ll want to decide whether or not your employees will be packing themselves. This may be a good way to give people a sense of ownership over their own space or take a little stress off by letting the movers do it for them.  Olympia Moving & Storage can offer your company full or partial packing services based on your needs.

3. Give them a guide!

A change in routine is never easy so give your employees a head start with a handy list of nearby places in your new area where they can grab coffee or lunch. Be sure to include some after work spots so they can explore and grab dinner or drinks together, too!

4. Start fresh

You’re in a new office, so you may as well revamp and start fresh with new resource materials. Take the time to go through your employee contact list and give your employees up to date directory information. Lord knows Linda hasn’t been at 152 for quite some time!

Moving is also the perfect opportunity to get rid of old files and declutter the supply closet. Olympia Moving & Storage also offers document destruction & purging services, so those out of date files can be disposed of without worry.

5. Welcome them

Everybody loves a bagel; treat your employees to a breakfast and a short tour on the first day in your new office.

Many of your employees will be trying to downsize their desks when packing or prepping for a pack and will need some necessities for the new office. Keep them stocked by providing office essentials like post-its and notepads or even a gift card to your nearby office supply store on the first day so they’ll be ready to dive into their new work space right away.  For some office fun, have co-workers vote on who best-decorated their new space.

Need more information about employee relocation and office moving? We have you covered. Download our PDF for everything you need to know, from prep to unpack.

Whether you’re moving an office of 40 or 400, we’re here to help during every step of office moving. Check out the services we can offer to help you plan your office move and request your free estimate today.

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