Even if you have experience with commercial or residential moving, you may be surprised how different they are from each other. Whether you are planning a residential move after a commercial one or vice versa, you need to learn the nuances of each to understand the main differences and similarities.

Regardless of its nature, a move can be complicated, especially if it lacks planning. By preparing properly and getting professional assistance, you can minimize frustration and speed up the process.

Let’s take about the key differences between residential and commercial moves to help you make the right plans.

1. Different Moving Companies

Since commercial and residential moves are different, you need to find a company that specializes in the move you are planning. Since a commercial move is usually more voluminous than a residential one, a company should have a sufficient number of trucks, equipment, and employees.

When searching for movers, make sure to mention the type of move you are planning. This can narrow down your choice substantially.

2. Electronic Equipment

Commercial moves usually involve moving a variety of electronic equipment, from computers and monitors to printers and TVs, you have to deal with delicate items. This makes the commercial move somewhat more complicated than a residential move, which usually doesn’t require various equipment relocation.

Electronic equipment must be packed and transported with extra care. So you have to be ready to spend more time and money arranging such a move.

3. Complexity

Commercial moves are usually more complex than residential moves. They involve removing a variety of items from large facilities, packing and labeling each small piece, and transporting them with extreme care.

The sheer volume of the commercial move usually makes it highly complex. It requires more preparations and extensive packing.

While some companies try to save money by asking employees to do the packing, it’s not always a smart move. According to Torex Moving, Toronto Office Movers, with a prevailing number of delicate items, professional packing is a better choice.

4. Preparations

Commercial moves are often rather spontaneous. In many cases, the time for planning is short. That’s why the process often feels rushed. With residential moves, you usually have a choice of when to arrange them. With commercial moves, the management tends to make fast decisions that may not be in line with your plans.

Even if you don’t have much time to plan a commercial move, you can still take the stress out of the process by working with professional movers. Since the budget for commercial moves is usually higher, it could be easier to arrange professional packing and transportation.

5. Duration

Since commercial moves are usually more voluminous than residential moves, they tend to take more time. Depending on how many moving trucks and moving experts are working on your move, it can take from one to several days.

That’s why it’s imperative to start preparing for the commercial move early. By asking the employees to get rid of all the unnecessary items in advance, you could minimize the duration of the move. Additionally, employees could transport at least some of their office belongings like stationery and laptops in their cars.

6. Storage

When it comes to residential moves, you can often proceed without planning to store any of your items. With commercial moves, storage is often in high demand. Consider browsing storage units options to make your move faster.

If you are moving to a smaller facility, self-storage options could be efficient. Meanwhile, they can minimize the moving costs.

7. Costs

A commercial move will cost more than a residential move of the same size. The reasons include special materials, compliance standards, equipment, and labor.

When planning a commercial move, it’s imperative to shop around. Even though the number of commercial movers in your area is likely to be smaller than the number of residential movers, you can still check out several options.

The Takeaway

Commercial and residential moves can be drastically different.  Even if you have experience with one, the other requires additional research. Overall, commercial moves are longer, costlier, and more complex than residential moves are.