How to choose the right home or office removal company
- Date: 2007-11-30 - Word Count: 955
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How to choose the right home or office removal company
Unless you've used a firm before or have had one recommended to you by someone whose opinion you trust, choosing a removal company can be a hazardous business. Your choices come down to picking a name out of the local phone book, scouring the internet for likely candidates in your area or using an independent quote aggregator.
Make sure you choose the right movers for you
In an already stressful and demanding time the last thing you need is to be let down by unreliable or uncooperative movers. Their job is to make your life easier during this difficult period, not harder.
In addition to removing, transporting and delivering furniture and boxes from your old home to your new one, removal companies should at the very least:
Provide a free no-obligation home visit and estimate
Offer a packing service (at additional cost), if needed
Use protective coverings to ensure no damage is done to walls, carpets and floors
Be insured so you can be compensated for anything lost or damaged during the removal
The process of finding a removal company
Make your removal arrangements well in advance of the moving date. Depending on the size of your move give yourself at least two weeks, and ideally four or more, to guarantee a smooth move. Arranging the suspension of parking bays with the local council to allow the removal van space to park on your moving day can take time. If you also require packing services the removal company needs to have enough time to organise trained removal crews.
Prices and services can vary considerably, so get quotes from at least three companies and check what each includes in the price.
Generally Fridays and the end of the month are the busiest periods for removers, avoid them and you may well be able to negotiate a lower price.
Check the company's professional accreditations. You are always safer with a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) or the National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS).
Make a list of everything that's moving; list all items of furniture and the quantity and size of boxes to be transported.
Use a free quote aggregator such as Beemoved.com to get some guideline prices. It only takes a few moments to input the details of your move, no one will contact you unless you want them to, and you don't have to commit yourself to anything.
To get a more accurate quotation and avoid extra charges, ask short-listed candidates to visit your home or office and provide you with a written quote.
Depending on the distance to be moved and your priorities, it might be cheaper to have a smaller vehicle and small removals team make two trips rather than a large vehicle and big team make one. Discuss all the options.
Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any quote carefully.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Clear up any issues or uncertainty before committing yourself to a company. You don't want any nasty surprises or conflicts to arise on the day.
Payment and deposit
Find out if you have to pay any money up front, and whether it must to be paid by cash, cheque, credit card or debit card. Some companies may charge extra to process credit card payments.
It is normal to pay a certain percentage as a deposit, but beware of any company that tries the hard sell and tries to pressurise you into parting with large amounts of cash up front.
What to expect on moving day
Ask how many movers and vehicles will be coming on the day of the move.
If you know the size and quantity of the vans the company will be supplying it will be much easier to arrange parking spaces for them.
Ask how many removal men will be helping with the move. The reason one company's quote may be significantly less than all the others could be because they will provide fewer less skilled movers, increasing the likelihood of breakages.
Accidents do happen
However skilled and careful your removal company, accidents do still happen. In case something gets broken or damaged it is important to be clear on insurance matters. Insurance may be included or may be an optional extra, either way make sure you read the fine print and know what is and isn't covered by the policy.
Removal industry trade associations
In the UK trade associations such as the British Association of Removers and National Guild of Removers and Storers are responsible for setting and enforcing industry standards, carrying out regular inspections of member companies, providing professional training and support to members, providing information and advice to removers and their customers, and providing complaints and dispute resolution services.
If you are unable to resolve your differences with a removal company, you can go to their regulating trade association who will help sort out the problem. It's when things go wrong that you'll really notice the difference.
Trade association members have trained, qualified, skilled staff who know the best way to move things, ensuring that your belongings get moved correctly and arrive in one piece.
That's not to say nothing will go wrong, but it is less likely, and if it does they will know how to handle the situation and resolve it to your satisfaction. If any items are broken, they will help you complete the insurance claim and make things as easy as possible for you.
Remember, many removal companies operate with untrained staff and no insurance. You are always safer using a member of a recognised trade association.
Unless you've used a firm before or have had one recommended to you by someone whose opinion you trust, choosing a removal company can be a hazardous business. Your choices come down to picking a name out of the local phone book, scouring the internet for likely candidates in your area or using an independent quote aggregator.
Make sure you choose the right movers for you
In an already stressful and demanding time the last thing you need is to be let down by unreliable or uncooperative movers. Their job is to make your life easier during this difficult period, not harder.
In addition to removing, transporting and delivering furniture and boxes from your old home to your new one, removal companies should at the very least:
Provide a free no-obligation home visit and estimate
Offer a packing service (at additional cost), if needed
Use protective coverings to ensure no damage is done to walls, carpets and floors
Be insured so you can be compensated for anything lost or damaged during the removal
The process of finding a removal company
Make your removal arrangements well in advance of the moving date. Depending on the size of your move give yourself at least two weeks, and ideally four or more, to guarantee a smooth move. Arranging the suspension of parking bays with the local council to allow the removal van space to park on your moving day can take time. If you also require packing services the removal company needs to have enough time to organise trained removal crews.
Prices and services can vary considerably, so get quotes from at least three companies and check what each includes in the price.
Generally Fridays and the end of the month are the busiest periods for removers, avoid them and you may well be able to negotiate a lower price.
Check the company's professional accreditations. You are always safer with a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) or the National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS).
Make a list of everything that's moving; list all items of furniture and the quantity and size of boxes to be transported.
Use a free quote aggregator such as Beemoved.com to get some guideline prices. It only takes a few moments to input the details of your move, no one will contact you unless you want them to, and you don't have to commit yourself to anything.
To get a more accurate quotation and avoid extra charges, ask short-listed candidates to visit your home or office and provide you with a written quote.
Depending on the distance to be moved and your priorities, it might be cheaper to have a smaller vehicle and small removals team make two trips rather than a large vehicle and big team make one. Discuss all the options.
Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any quote carefully.
Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Clear up any issues or uncertainty before committing yourself to a company. You don't want any nasty surprises or conflicts to arise on the day.
Payment and deposit
Find out if you have to pay any money up front, and whether it must to be paid by cash, cheque, credit card or debit card. Some companies may charge extra to process credit card payments.
It is normal to pay a certain percentage as a deposit, but beware of any company that tries the hard sell and tries to pressurise you into parting with large amounts of cash up front.
What to expect on moving day
Ask how many movers and vehicles will be coming on the day of the move.
If you know the size and quantity of the vans the company will be supplying it will be much easier to arrange parking spaces for them.
Ask how many removal men will be helping with the move. The reason one company's quote may be significantly less than all the others could be because they will provide fewer less skilled movers, increasing the likelihood of breakages.
Accidents do happen
However skilled and careful your removal company, accidents do still happen. In case something gets broken or damaged it is important to be clear on insurance matters. Insurance may be included or may be an optional extra, either way make sure you read the fine print and know what is and isn't covered by the policy.
Removal industry trade associations
In the UK trade associations such as the British Association of Removers and National Guild of Removers and Storers are responsible for setting and enforcing industry standards, carrying out regular inspections of member companies, providing professional training and support to members, providing information and advice to removers and their customers, and providing complaints and dispute resolution services.
If you are unable to resolve your differences with a removal company, you can go to their regulating trade association who will help sort out the problem. It's when things go wrong that you'll really notice the difference.
Trade association members have trained, qualified, skilled staff who know the best way to move things, ensuring that your belongings get moved correctly and arrive in one piece.
That's not to say nothing will go wrong, but it is less likely, and if it does they will know how to handle the situation and resolve it to your satisfaction. If any items are broken, they will help you complete the insurance claim and make things as easy as possible for you.
Remember, many removal companies operate with untrained staff and no insurance. You are always safer using a member of a recognised trade association.
Whether you live in London or Liverpool, Blackpool or Birmingham, in the UK or overseas, Beemoved.com's free removal company quote service provides quotes from National Guild of Removers approved packing, storage and removal companies in your local area.
Related Tags: movers, removals, removal companies, moving home, moving house, beemovedcom
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