If you’re asking how to go about choosing the best home removals company, you’re in the right place. This guide provides practical advice on aspects like researching companies, reading reviews, getting detailed quotes, and understanding insurance options. These insights will help ensure you find a reliable and professional service for a smooth move.
Key Takeaways
- Thorough research and reading independent reviews are essential when selecting a removal company, ensuring reliability and satisfactory customer service.
- Obtaining detailed and accurate quotes from multiple companies helps avoid unexpected costs and ensures all services, including insurance and additional fees, are transparently covered.
- Accreditations and memberships, such as those with BAR, and the provision of professional services like pre-move surveys and additional services, should be considered to ensure a smooth and trustworthy moving experience.
Researching Potential Removal Companies
Finding a reliable and professional service requires diligent research into potential removal companies in Orpington. Start by conducting online research to connect with trusted and verified removal partners in your local area. Platforms like Compare My Move offer a great starting point. Additionally, recommendations from friends and family can be invaluable. We found our removal company through a friend’s glowing recommendation, and it made all the difference.
Opting for a reliable removals company can alleviate moving day stress and efficiently manage all the details. It’s important to select a professional removal company that makes you feel at ease. An approachable and friendly team can significantly reduce your stress levels on moving day. If a company is too pushy during the initial phone call, it’s best to choose one that listens to your needs. Our chosen removals company was incredibly approachable, addressing all our concerns promptly and professionally. One of the key aspects that removals companies offer is their ability to cater to your specific needs, ensuring a smooth moving process.
Numerous removal companies in Orpington provide a wide range of services, including a reliable removals service. Make sure to compare these services to find the right removals company for your specific needs. Remember, a good removal company will not only be professional but also approachable and friendly, ensuring a satisfactory customer service experience throughout the moving process.
Reading Independent Reviews
To assess the reliability and quality of removal companies, it is vital to examine independent reviews. Platforms like Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Reference Line provide a wealth of information from previous customers. These reviews can offer helpful tips and insights into the company’s performance, customer service, and how they handle disputes. In our experience, reading through numerous reviews helped us shortlist the most reliable companies.
Exercise caution while considering recommendations on a company’s own website, as they might be biassed. Be sceptical of claims of a 100% positive rating unless the company is brand new. Independent awards for customer service can also indicate a reputable removal company. When we were choosing our removals company, we found that those with independent awards and numerous positive reviews were the most trustworthy.
Getting Accurate Quotes
To steer clear of unexpected costs and cover all necessary services, getting precise quotes is of utmost importance. It’s recommended to obtain at least three quotes from different removal companies. When we were moving, we made sure to compare quotes from several companies, and it gave us a clear idea of the costs involved.
Ensure the quotes are broken down by costs like:
- insurance
- packing
- hourly rates
- mileage
- any storage fees
A detailed breakdown helps in avoiding hidden charges and gives a better idea of the overall cost. Make sure the companies visit your property to account for factors such as restricted access or tight stairways. A pre-move survey can help capture all the services you need and identify any access issues, ensuring your quote is accurate.
Specialist items like fine art, antiques, and pianos can incur additional charges and need to be shown during the survey. Receiving a binding quote after the survey can include items shown to the estimator and additional services like packing. When we moved, the pre-move survey was invaluable in ensuring everything was accounted for, and there were no surprises on moving day.
Evaluating Removals Insurance Options
To safeguard your belongings during the move, it’s vital to comprehend the insurance options removal companies offer. Most removal companies offer limited liability insurance, typically including Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance with their services. The average cost of removals insurance is about 10% of the total removal costs, providing coverage for losses and damages during packing, transportation, unloading, and unpacking of items.
It’s important to check if your home contents insurance covers ‘contents in transit’ before purchasing additional removals insurance. We found that some home contents policies did cover this, saving us extra costs. Standard removals insurance often excludes fragile items like china or glass unless they are professionally packed. Ensure you read the policy thoroughly as some might not cover certain items.
Check the time limit on claiming insurance, coverage for high-value possessions, and the packing requirements for high-value items. It’s crucial to know if extra cover must be arranged with your insurance company to gain peace of mind. During our move, understanding these details helped us ensure our valuable items were fully covered.
Understanding Payment Options
Acceptance of diverse payment methods, such as credit/debit cards, cheques, and cash, is a hallmark of reputable removal companies. This flexibility ensures you can choose a payment method that suits your needs. Most removal companies will request payment in full at least one week prior to the move. We found this to be a standard practice, providing peace of mind that all payments were settled before moving day.
Be cautious of companies that insist on cash-only payments or require a large cash deposit. This could be a red flag. During our search, we avoided any company that seemed insistent on cash-only transactions, opting for those that offered transparent and flexible payment options.
Checking Accreditation and Memberships
Ensure professional service by identifying accreditations and memberships like the British Association of Removers (BAR) and Which? Trusted Trader. Accredited companies are more likely to provide reliable and high-standard services, as well as provide independent dispute resolution. Using an accredited mover from the British Association of Removers ensures peace of mind and professional service.
Accredited companies are more likely to provide reliable and high-standard services …
Accreditations and quality certifications are indicators of a company’s commitment to professional standards. An Advanced Payment Guarantee (APG) ensures a refund if a BAR-accredited removal company ceases trading before your moving day. Verified removal companies have passed a verification process, ensuring reliability and professionalism. When choosing our removals company, these accreditations were a key consideration.
Assessing Additional Services
Evaluating the additional services offered is a crucial step when selecting a removal company. These services can significantly ease the moving process and ensure better handling of your belongings. Packing services provided by removal companies include supplying packing materials, securely packing items, and transporting them. Utilising these services can ensure that your belongings are packed safely and professionally, albeit at an additional cost.
Many removal companies offer services to disassemble and reassemble furniture, which can prevent damage and save space during transit. Storage services might also be available, offering facilities with features like CCTV surveillance and 24-hour access. This can be particularly useful if there is a gap between moving out and moving into your new home. During our move, these additional services made a significant difference.
Discussing Delays Policy
To evade unexpected charges on a moving day, it’s critical to comprehend the delay policy of your selected removals company. Certain removal companies may implement a waiting fee if they encounter delays during moving days. Knowing a removal company’s delay policy helps you prepare for any potential hold-ups that could lead to extra charges.
We experienced a minor delay during our move, but because we were aware of the company’s policy, we were prepared and managed to avoid additional costs. Make sure to discuss this policy with the company in advance to avoid surprises.
Scheduling a Pre-Move Survey
To secure an accurate quote for your removals, a pre-move survey is essential. Before the move, it’s important for a removal company to visit your home and provide a binding quote after surveying the job. This allows for a better understanding of the work involved. This allows the company to assess the volume of items and identify potential issues, such as restricted access or tight stairways.
A detailed survey helps in providing an accurate quote by considering all items that need to be moved. Inform the removal company of any potential difficulties during the move to ensure they can adjust their service accordingly. During our pre-move survey, we highlighted all our concerns, which helped the company prepare adequately.
A pre-move-home survey allows the removal company to investigate any access issues. This prevents last-minute surprises and ensures a smooth moving process. In our experience, this survey was invaluable in ensuring everything was accounted for and there were no surprises on a moving day.
Ensuring Professionalism and Uniformed Staff
Selecting a removal company whose staff wear uniforms is important for professionalism and easy identification. Professional removal companies often provide uniforms for their staff, reflecting a firm’s commitment to professionalism. Having uniformed staff can help in reducing stress during the moving process.
During our move, the uniformed staff were easily identifiable, which made the process smoother and more organized. It also reassured us that we were dealing with a professional and reliable team.
Planning for Moving Day
To ensure a smooth process, meticulous planning for moving day is indispensable. Send the chosen removals company a briefing sheet detailing special packing needs, large items, and a floor plan of the new property. Establish direct communication with the removals company to address and rectify any unforeseen complications swiftly.
Check for any access or parking problems at the new location which might require coordination with the police or local council. Make sure to ask the removals company about their policies for obtaining parking permits at both your current location and the new destination. It’s important to be prepared for any parking restrictions. Creating a moving house packing checklist can keep you on track and reduce the workload.
Decluttering before packing helps in identifying what to keep, donate, or discard, thus reducing the number of items to move. Wrapping delicate items like plates in bed sheets or towels can protect them and is environmentally friendly. Labelling boxes clearly helps in organising and finding items easily during unpacking.
These steps ensured our moving day was as stress-free as possible.
Choosing a Company for Moving Overseas
Select a company with expertise in handling international moves. Make sure they offer the following:
- Documentation services
- Customs clearance assistance
- Appropriate packing materials
- Comprehensive insurance cover to protect against financial loss due to damaged items
International removals insurance is vital for safeguarding your belongings during the move.
Ensure the company has experience in handling documentation and customs clearance to avoid delays or issues. Understand what charges are not included in your quote, such as customs inspection fees. Verify if the international movers are FIDI FAIM certified, which ensures pre-vetted standards in services like customer service, facilities, and equipment.
A reputable international removal company should offer:
- A pre-move survey
- Information about customs requirements
- Insurance details
- Additional services like packing
NOTE
Feeling at ease with the company is crucial, especially when relocating to another country. It’s important to trust that they will handle your belongings and the complexities of international moving with care and professionalism.
Comparing Quotes and Finalising Your Choice
You can save up to 70% on your moving expenses by comparing quotes from various removal companies. It’s advisable to get removal quotes once you know your completion date to avoid disappointment. When we were finalising our choice, we ensured to compare quotes from several companies, focusing not just on the cheapest quote but on the overall value and services offered, taking into consideration the removal company cost.
Look for key considerations such as the professionalism of the staff, the comprehensiveness of the services offered, and the reliability of the company. Make sure the quote provided is a written quote, detailing all aspects of the service and any additional charges. This approach helped us choose a company that not only fit our budget but also met our specific moving needs.
Summary
In summary, finding the best home removals company involves thorough research, reading independent reviews, and obtaining accurate quotes. Evaluating insurance options, understanding payment methods, and checking for accreditations are crucial steps to ensure a smooth move. Assessing additional services, discussing delay policies, and scheduling a pre-move survey can further help in making an informed decision. Choosing a professional and reliable removals company can make all the difference in ensuring a stress-free moving day. By following these tips, you can confidently select a removals company that meets your needs and ensures a smooth transition to your new home. Trust in the process, and you’ll be well on your way to a successful move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to research potential removal companies?
It is important to research potential removal companies to find a reliable and professional service that can handle all aspects of your move efficiently. This ensures a smooth and stress-free moving experience for you.
How can I verify the reliability of a removal company?
You can verify the reliability of a removal company by checking independent reviews on platforms like Trustpilot and Google Reviews for insights into the company’s service quality and reliability.
What should I look for in a removal company’s insurance policy?
When evaluating a removal company’s insurance policy, make sure to prioritize Goods in Transit and Public Liability coverage and also examine if your home contents insurance includes protection for ‘contents in transit’ to prevent extra expenses.
Why is a pre-move survey important?
A pre-move survey is important because it helps to accurately assess the volume of items and identify any potential issues or access problems, ensuring an accurate quote.
What are the key considerations when comparing quotes from removal companies?
When comparing quotes from removal companies, it’s crucial to consider the professionalism of the staff, the comprehensiveness of the services offered, and the reliability of the company. Always make sure to compare written quotes that detail all aspects of the service.
