Commercial moving has different segments, like large shipments from warehouse, local distribution to retail outlets, and single-piece transfers. Each has its own character, systems, equipment and trained personnel. New York has many efficient movers to handle these and the more difficult job of corporate office shifting.

Moving an executive office from one floor to another is tough enough. Normal business operations shouldn't be disrupted. It has to be done systematically that the executive concerned or his secretary wouldn't have to search around in the new office for whatever they need.

Shifting an entire corporate office to a new address is naturally more complicated. Furniture, sensitive equipment and records, office gadgets and stationery and a lot of other items are involved. Moving has to be completed before the date announced for starting operations from the new address.

The process begins with planning. The corporate team in charge of the shift, and the mover, will have a series of meetings to discuss the details. Floor plans of the new premises would be marked with the proposed location of the items and personnel. Number coding and color-coding are used. Shifting priorities and sequences are decided upon. Sometimes materials may have to be temporarily stored. Major movers offer fireproof and climate-controlled storage facilities.

The mover comes in with furniture pads, specialized packing and crating materials and the required tools. There would be particular boxes for packing valuable items like paintings. Records are packed in high-security boxes.

The rates have to be negotiated. One could go into an item-by-item breakdown of the charges. It is important to remember that the movers buy some things, like packing boxes, at a much lower cost than what they charge you. Items like plastic crates are reusable.

In the hands of an efficient professional, corporate moving is unlikely to be a nightmare.