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5 Considerations For Choosing A Removals Company

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Moving home can be a considerable project; once you’ve gone through the lengthy process of finding a new home, there are lots of things to consider for the move itself, including any renovations or decorations to your new pad, closing your previous utility accounts and opening new ones, as well as packing up and moving your treasured possessions. Having to plan out and make so many decisions can leave you feeling a bit stressed and burnt out.

However, you can take some of the stress out of your move by making sure that you choose a removals company who won’t let you down when it comes to the big moving day itself. So what should you consider when making your selection?

1. Assess Costs Carefully And Watch Out For Any Extra Fees

While there are a number of factors that will determine how much your move will cost (the amount of stuff being transported, the distance travelled, size of crew etc.), the charges should always be explained clearly. It’s worth shopping around and getting quotes from at least five removals companies. Which estimates that a one bedroom should cost around £400 when using a removals firm for the move and packing yourself, while more than  two bedrooms will be upward of £500. They may also arrange to visit your property to assess the cost in more detail and fator in any access issues.

You should make sure you ask the removals company if they charge any additional fees, such as a waiting fee or a change of date fee. If they do, then you’ll probably want to find a company that doesn’t. It’s quite possible that your move might be delayed if you can’t get the keys to your new property when you expect. Getting a clear answer on this before you agree to go with a company is essential to avoid any mishaps on moving in day! You want to feel secure that you won’t have to fork out anything extra or enter into a dispute with the people who are moving your precious belongings.

2. Have They Got It Covered?

It’s really important to check that your removals company has the insurance they need and you’ll also want to understand what the time limit is on claiming on the insurance after the move. Plus, if you have some particularly high-value possessions then find out if they require any additional insurance or whether they’ll be covered. It’s always worth using the removals service to pack and move any exceptionally large, or oddly shaped items or anything very valuable. Note that they often won’t cover any damage if you’ve packed the item yourself. There are also some specialist firms that can help you with moving things like your Grand Piano – you don’t want that getting out of tune!

3. Do They Meet All Your Moving Needs?

Before you start hunting for a company to use, you should think about what sort of service you need. If you’re moving in a hurry and you need help to pack up lots of rooms then you’ll want a service that covers packing, removal, and maybe even unpacking. If you have to be out of your house a few weeks before you move into your next place then a company that has storage facilities is key! Or perhaps you want to do the packing yourself but you’d like to be provided with some packing materials? Don’t forget that you’ll need to dis-assemble large items of furniture such as your bed; if you’re not sure that you’ll be able to do this yourself then use a company with a dis-assebmly and reassembly service. The last thing you want on the evening you move into your new place is to be battling with your furniture late into the night. Being clear on what you’ll need will help the removals firm to provide an accurate quote and help make your move much more organised.

4. Are They Local?

Narrow down your list of companies based on your area; shortlist the companies that are within an hour’s drive of your existing location. A locally based removals company is likely to be more flexible and they’re not going to be at such a risk of getting stuck in traffic on the way to you. However, if you’re moving to another country then using a good international removals company will really pay off! They will ensure that all your items are correctly entered onto your inventory during the packing process which is necessary for customs purposes. Doing this yourself can be really time consuming and a removals company can also take care of packing any breakables which could get damaged during the long journey. Plus, if they do the packing for you then your goods will be insured under their policy.

5. Reputation, Reputation, Reputation!

It sounds obvious but one way to make sure that you’re not opening yourself up for any scams is to do some background research on the business. Check if they’ve been in the removals business for a long time as this can be a good guide and show that they are genuine. The best way to uncover how reliable they are is to take a look at independent reviews on comparison sites like Checkatrade.com to do a bit of investigating. You should especially check that they score highly in terms of reliability! Take stock of the reviews as a whole; there’s always going to be one customer who’s not completely happy but if they score highly overall then you can be confident that they are legit!

Remember that while it can be tempting to opt for the cheapest removals quote you get, this doesn’t mean that it’s the best option. Be wary of any scams and always ensure that your removals company has a proper website, provides quotes via email and can answer all of your questions easily. After all, you want to go with a company that puts your needs at the heart of their business and makes every effort to make your move more relaxing so that you can focus on getting excited about your next step in life!

Have A Clear Plan For A Moving Experience You’ll LOVE

Organising your move as far in advance as possible is well worth it! Giving yourself the time to find a company that is friendly, responsive and professional will help you feel at ease and save you from rushing into hiring a company you’re not entirely comfortable with. If you are in a hurry, then using a comparison site can help you make a decision more quickly but always get quotes from at least three companies. Getting the details of your move ironed out early on is a good idea as the best removals companies can get really booked up, especially over the summer months or the Christmas period. Hopefully these tips will help you find a removals company you can trust so that you can sit back and relax while your chosen company ensures that the move goes as smoothly as possible!

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