Popular Misconceptions:

• 1. "I'm only moving a few blocks away."
  This makes little difference as many of the same preparations must occur, even if you move within the same building.
  
  
• 2. "The elevator is only available during the day."
  Yes, this is true for what a building considers "regular deliveries." A move is certainly not defined in the same way and very few NYC office buildings will allow a daytime move. You should budget to pay for overtime elevators at each location and reserve them as far in advance as possible.
  
  
• 3. "How many trucks do you have?"
  This is an irrelevant fact about a mover. It is common for movers to rent trucks (and drivers) from one another or another rental agency.
  
  
• 4. "Other movers want to move our company around the clock; Can you do that?"
  This is a bad idea. No mover will ever have 100% fresh crews for each shift. This is when mistakes and damages occur.
  
  
• 5. "Is your company in the right union?"
  There are 2 unions of which moving companies are under contract:IBT Local 814 and USW Local 1212. Any of the 2 can perform work in any NYC office building. So long a company has a union contract and proper insurance, they are allowed to move your company.
  
  
• 6. "We are taking an estimate from the same mover that moved the boss' home."
  Moving an office and moving your apartment are as different as finding & procuring each of those spaces. The techniques are quite different and a residential mover is not accustomed to working under the same conditions, nor does he need to same equipment to complete the job (and vice-versa). The men are also trained differently and the residential mover will not be union. If a company does any residential moving, you should eliminate them from your list of potential movers.
  
  
• 7. "Other movers gave me a fixed price."
  This is simply not true. No mover could stay in business collecting only the prices that are bid on a proposal. If they gave you this type of quote, did they also supply a list of conditions or assumptions on which they based this cost? You will pay for the time it takes and the material that are used. Every move has changes and it is unrealistic to expect otherwise. Use the mover that gives you the most information about how they arrived at the cost they are quoting you. Then you will select the most complete and closest to reality.
  


• 8. "Are you insured?"
  See the "Tips for Moving" section under the title "Insurance Concerns."