Cross-Country Relocations Can Be Stress-Free With These 5 Strategies

Planning an office move across the country? Whether your team has 15 people or 1,500, you’re juggling staff, technology, furniture and deadlines all at once.

Cross-country relocations can be stress-free with these five strategies, and a solid plan can help you make a workplace or residential move simpler and more cost-effective.

1. Informing Employees Early

With a business move, some employees may be unable to uproot their families, and a few might resign rather than go, so plenty of notice gives them time to decide. It also lets them understand what the change means for their jobs and what support you’ll provide.

Flexibility matters too, since remote work arrangements help retain employees who can’t relocate. Relocation agreements that cover moving expenses may also keep the people you most want on board.

2. Checking Space Measurements

Beyond your people, the furniture and equipment need a home as well, and assuming these will fit the new office is an easy mistake. Offices of the same size can have very different layouts, and that changes how easily you can outfit them.

Weigh the square footage and floor plan against the headcount, company size and desired amenities to judge whether remodeling may be necessary. Individual offices typically range from 100 to 149 square feet, while standardized workstations span 35 to 49 square feet.

3. Prioritizing IT Infrastructure

Technology deserves the same early attention because IT continuity is often the biggest risk in a cross-country move. Delays can leave your team or family without internet, phone lines or data access on day one, and downtime and financial losses can follow.

Your company can work with the in-house IT professionals to map the timeline and consider a phased migration to cut risk and ease the adjustment. A third-party tech asset relocation specialist can also review your hardware, software, applications and interdependencies before planning server moves, cloud backups and cabling.

4. Auditing Every Office or Home Item

Before anything gets packed, walk the space and document each item, since facility management best practice calls for matching plans to the actual layout. Then, sort each piece into relocate, sell, donate or dispose.

A shorter list keeps costs down and simplifies the job. Some long-distance moving companies offer decommissioning services to handle the clutter in an environmentally responsible way by giving old furniture to nonprofits, especially charitable organizations.

5. Setting a Realistic Budget

Budgets often balloon past initial estimates, and cross-country moves can carry hidden costs such as valuation coverage for long-haul transit, temporary storage, utility deposits and make-good repairs on the old office before the lease ends. With your item list in hand, ask for itemized quotes and confirm which expenses are set in stone, so your expectations match the numbers.

Leading Moving Options for Cross-Country Workplace Relocations

A plan only goes so far without the right partner to carry it out. These three providers are worth a closer look.

BMS Moving & Storage

BMS uses different strategies that make cross-country relocations stress-free. As a family-oriented company, it handles long-distance residential and commercial moves, including packing and unpacking.

Its approach centers on value through customization, with move plans tailored to your budget and timeline and free, no-obligation quotes with transparent pricing. Storage can also be more cost-effective than self-storage.

Key Features

• Decommissioning service: BMS handles the sale and donation of furniture, equipment and electronic assets, such as servers, along with auditable, compliant disposal and secure data destruction.
• End-to-end supply chain management: Specialized project management covers first- and last-mile delivery, plus procurement and installation of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
• Office Moving Alliance membership: As a member, the company adheres to the alliance’s workplace relocation best practices, and its OMAVantage platform provides virtual estimates and a condensed timeline.

Corovan Anywhere

Cross-country relocations are the specialty of Corovan Anywhere, the logistics division of Corovan, the largest commercial moving and storage provider in the Western United States. Its work spans offices, manufacturing plants and warehouses, as well as long-distance telecommunications and aerospace moves.

Key Features

• Single-source accountability: One provider owns all aspects of the workplace transition, including warehouse and asset management.
• Final-mile logistics: An air freight option can move high-value or time-sensitive goods.
• Guaranteed pricing: The company locks in the rate for the job’s scope for a limited period.

Emerald Blue

By handling all stages of a workplace transition, Emerald Blue aims to take the stress out of the process. Because its integrated facility services run through one coordinated platform rather than siloed vendors, enterprises may see fewer handoffs, less risk, better visibility and more predictable costs, schedules and outcomes.

Key Features

• Tech-enabled commercial storage: Over 730,000 square feet of rackable space holds office furniture under barcode-based inventory control, with extra warehouse space for IT equipment and seasonal overflow.
• Architectural installation: Industry-certified installers and dedicated project managers can set up wall systems, casework and acoustic panels.
• Furniture fabric cleaning: Certified crews can restore and protect upholstered furniture, promoting cleanliness and hygiene.

Top Commercial Moving Options for Cross-Country Relocations at a Glance

Learn about the physical locations of BMS, Corovan Anywhere and Emerald Blue, whether they offer white-glove service and their sustainability commitment.

Criteria for Choosing These Moving Options for Cross-Country Relocations

These three companies are some of the most affordable options for long-distance moves. They have established reputations for cross-country corporate relocations. The white-glove service and green practices are what make them stand out.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cross-Country Moving

Business leaders in transportation and logistics often ask these questions about cross-country relocations.

Q: When should employees be notified about an office relocation?

A: You should notify employees about an office relocation as soon as you confirm the move. Doing it as early as possible gives them time to weigh the transition’s impact on their careers and families. It also leaves room to offer remote work or relocation agreements that give valued staff reasons to stay.

Q: What should a company do with office items it doesn’t plan to take to the new location?

A: A company should sell, donate or discard the office items it doesn’t plan to take to a new location. Some commercial movers that offer decommissioning services can handle the process and ensure unwanted assets find a new lease on life or are recycled.

Q: What are the most affordable long-distance moving options for cross-country relocations?

A: BMS, Corovan Anywhere and Emerald Blue are some of the most affordable long-distance moving options for cross-country relocations. These established commercial moving companies offer specialized solutions for workplace transitions, including white-glove services with sustainability in mind.

Make Your Next Workplace Move Smooth Sailing

The right strategies make cross-country workplace relocations less stressful for all parties involved. Notify your employees early, evaluate the new space, prioritize IT, take an inventory of unwanted items and budget realistically to give your move a firm foundation.

*Please note that this list includes sponsored content. Some of the companies, products, or services featured have entered into commercial agreements for placement. Sponsored placements do not necessarily reflect an endorsement and should be considered alongside other options in the marketplace.