What Services Should You Expect from Residential vs. Commercial Movers in Salt Lake City?
Whether you’re moving into a new home in Sugarhouse or relocating your office to downtown Park City, choosing the right type of mover makes a big difference. Residential and commercial moving services each have their own specialties, tools, and timelines. Understanding what sets them apart can save you time, money, and unnecessary headaches.
At Wasatch Transfer, we provide both residential and commercial moving across Salt Lake City, Park City, and the broader Wasatch Front. Here’s what you can expect from each type of move—and how to know which service is right for you.
What Residential Movers Typically Handle
Residential movers focus on homes, apartments, condos, and senior living relocations. The services are designed around the needs of homeowners or renters and often include:
- Packing and unpacking household goods
- Furniture disassembly and reassembly
- Protective padding for fragile items
- Handling personal belongings with care
- Coordinating loading from apartments, garages, or storage units
- Flexible timelines to work with school schedules or home closings
In most residential moves, customer experience is everything. Professional residential movers like Wasatch Transfer understand the importance of treating your home and belongings with respect. We also offer packing services and short-term or long-term storage if your move-in date doesn’t align with your move-out.
Learn more about our residential moving services
What Commercial Movers Are Designed For
Commercial moving, on the other hand, is designed for business relocations. This includes office buildings, retail stores, medical offices, law firms, and more. These moves are often more complex and time-sensitive, requiring:
- Coordination with building managers and facility schedules
- Disconnection and reconnection of office technology and workstations
- Specialized equipment for large file cabinets, conference tables, or commercial machinery
- Insurance documentation and liability policies for commercial spaces
- After-hours or weekend moves to minimize business disruption
The stakes in a commercial move are higher because downtime can affect revenue. That’s why companies choose experienced movers who know how to plan efficiently and keep operations running.
Explore our commercial and office relocation services
Key Differences Between Residential and Commercial Moving
While both types of moves involve transporting items from one location to another, the differences lie in logistics and execution:
1. Planning and Coordination
Residential moves can often be scheduled based on family needs or home closings. Commercial moves require coordination with multiple departments, vendors, and lease agreements.
2. Type of Inventory
Homeowners have personal items and furniture. Businesses have electronics, sensitive data, large desks, and sometimes hazardous materials.
3. Timing
Residential moves are often done during the day or on weekends. Commercial moves may take place overnight or in phases to minimize disruption.
4. Insurance and Compliance
Commercial moves typically require proof of liability, property damage insurance, and COI (certificate of insurance), especially in shared office buildings.
5. Crew Size and Equipment
Commercial moving jobs may require more crew members, specialized dollies, server racks, or rigging equipment.
Which Service Is Right for You?
If you’re moving into a new home or apartment, residential moving services are your best bet. If you’re relocating a business, it’s essential to choose a commercial mover with the tools, insurance, and expertise to protect your operations.
At Wasatch Transfer, we tailor our services to your needs—whether you’re relocating your family or your entire business. We’ve served homeowners and businesses across Salt Lake City, Park City, and the surrounding Wasatch Front for decades.
Request a quote that fits your specific situation and get expert help every step of the way.