As experienced commercial movers in Manhattan like Sher-Del Transfer know, office relocation rates within the borough can vary. According to new reports, we could see a wave of new Manhattan-based commercial leases soon. Data from Colliers, office lease deals in Manhattan increased by 20% in August, compared to July. In a May CBRE survey, 72% of the 184 companies who responded stated they have achieved their office attendance marks.

Why This is Happening

With this data, it’s safe to infer that additional commercial leasing projects will be coming to Manhattan. This is largely due to the recent return to office movement, which has continued to gain momentum as the country continues to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Manhattan and the New York City area are not the only places seeing this trend. NBC Universal, Ford, and many other businesses have announced four-day minimum in office days for their employees, on a national level.  The D.C. metro office specifically appears to be seeing a boom as well.

Why You Should Hire a Third-Party Mover

With the amount of corporate office leases likely to be signed, businesses need commercial movers in Manhattan with experience in the borough. Regardless of where a business is relocating to in New York City, it is generally better for an outside vendor to manage the move. A third-party mover, such as Sher-Del Transfer, understands the vast majority of building guidelines within Manhattan. We also understand how to perfectly time your move in order to get your space set up and not disrupt your business. As most people who have visited Manhattan know, the area is always incredibly busy and packed with traffic. Sher-Del Transfer has spent decades navigating this issue for thousands of businesses. With new offices coming to Manhattan soon, we know how to transfer them smoothly.

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Commercial Moving in Manhattan can be a complex task for businesses. However, it does not have to be. From hiring a seasoned office relocation company, such as Sher-Del Transfer, to planning your move month in advance, there are plenty of ways to make it easier. We have some quick tips to make your next corporate move to Manhattan simple and easy.

1. Check for Permits and Parking

As New Yorkers know, Manhattan streets are often incredibly congested, with very few places to park. In order to secure parking for a commercial moving vehicle, be sure to check your street’s loading zone rules. In addition, moving permits will be necessary as New York City guidelines require them.

Investigate specific permits for certain commercial trucks you plan to use and zoning rules for your office’s neighborhood. Failure to do so could result in unnecessary fines and potential delays for your relocation.

2. Confirm Building Access & Certificates of Insurance (COIs)

Most Manhattan offices have strict hours for businesses to move in and out of their location. Confirm with your building supervisor about their relocation times so you don’t run afoul of your current location’s guidelines. Otherwise, you risk moving your office during the wrong hours and risk potential issues from building management.

Manhattan’s commercial spaces usually require reservations for freight elevators well in advance. Without usage of these elevators, your commercial move will be incredibly more difficult. Understanding their schedule is one of the key details to successfully relocating your location. With the reserved time, a commercial mover can properly use freight elevators for your relocation.

3. Move Off-Peak to Save Time & Money

Manhattan crowds can make commercial moving very difficult, as workers attempt to navigate them and safely carry your equipment. Depending on the time of the year, you may even have to factor in increased traffic due to tourism. Consider moving during off-peak times to make your relocation easier. Less crowd to move around means less time that your move will take.

4. Protect Sensitive Equipment from Summer or Winter Extremes

While we all enjoy sunny days and clear skies, this type of weather is not always guaranteed, especially in Manhattan. Depending on the time of year, there may be extreme cold or heat. Rain, winds, and other weather events could also possibly occur on the day of your relocation.

These climate conditions could damage your equipment and force you to spend extra money on new models. Instead of leaving it to chance, make sure to account for the weather and properly safeguard your property. Any technology which can be harmed by water should be placed in waterproof containers. Any easily breakable equipment should be carefully wrapped in protective materials that safeguard them from fall damage. Make sure that you have the necessary items to protect your equipment during your move.

5. Organize & Label by Department

The size and scope of your organization will depend on your office space. However, you should organize and label your items regardless of how big your company is. A commercial move should also make getting back to work easy for staff members. However, that can’t happen if they’re busy trying to find their stuff. Organize and label your equipment by department so that your employees can easily unpack their items. Otherwise, you risk interrupting your business with unnecessary unpacking.

There is a lot more that goes into moving a company from point A to point B. That’s why it’s important to hire a commercial moving partner. Sher-Del Transfer is well equipped to assist with any relocation needs and can properly plan your move. Find out more by contacting us.

Relocating your business can be time-consuming and exhausting. However, office moving in the summer can have its own special headaches. Luckily, Sher-Del Transfer has a quick list of tips to make your relocation this summer as easy as possible.

1. Book Early

Commercial leasing deals are always being completed throughout New York City, but the office moving in the summer tends to see an exceptional rise due to good weather conditions and closing lease cycles. In fact, according to a 2024 article by Bisnow, June and July usually have the highest rates of leasing dealings in Manhattan.

With building managers and real estate representatives likely managing dozens of potential deals to move into their buildings, it’s best to plan your office relocation at least 4-6 weeks in advance. This includes hiring movers, reserving freight elevators, parking permits and other items. Whether you’re in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island or the Bronx, businesses need to plan any relocation as early as possible to secure availability from both the buildings they are leaving and relocating to and avoid additional costs.

2. Move During Off-Peak Hours

If you’ve visited New York City before, you’ve likely been subject to thick crowds of people and intense traffic. Add the seasonal heat, and moving in the summer can become a nightmare. Moving during less busy hours can provide companies with more flexibility than available during peak hours. Desks, chairs, and other office equipment are all easier to move when the streets are empty and fewer people are entering the building.

Furthermore, traffic could slow down vendors working on your move and potentially lead to higher rates. Moving during off-peak hours allows for any transition to be smoother and more streamlined.

3. Check Building Rules and Permits

New York City commercial buildings generally when strict rules revolving around when a tenant can move out of a building and how they do so. Commercial moving vehicles require a special parking permit which costs $35 and must be requested at 48 hours before moving day. Also, the New York City Administrative Code has certain guidelines for how a tenant should engage with a rented space.

However, not every commercial space in New York follows the same guidelines. Some building owners forbid any physical relocation during a particular time, such as weekends, while others do not. Other buildings owners may require movers to only use certain pathways to avoid disrupting over guests.

Ensure that you’re up to date about any relocation guidelines that your current building might have. Make sure you know specifically when movers can operate, what elevators or stairs they can use, and whether commercial moving trucks can park in the area.

4. Label & Organize Items

We’ve all had movement that we’ve lost something important and couldn’t find it. It’s annoying for our personal items but it can be devastating for office equipment subjected to the summer heat.

Organizing and labeling any materials that may be damaged by heat is necessary to ensure that they are properly managed. Otherwise, an outside vendor will not know how to provide cooling packaging for items, and they could be harmed. Avoid this mistake and label anything that the summer heat could damage. Your office can be moved in one piece and intact with just a little bit of organization

These quick tips are some of the many concerns for New York businesses when office moving in the summer. Luckily, Sher-Del Transfer is here to think of them for you. If you’re interested in relocating your office in the coming months, please request a quote and one of our representatives will get right back to you.