How to Find a Moving Company: Your Stress-Free Guide
Moving house is stressful, and that's putting it lightly. With a Ben Nevis-sized mountain of paperwork and admin to somehow wade your way through, it can be easy to get lost and overwhelmed. And that's before you even think about actually moving your stuff from point A to point B. That's why we put together this guide on how to find a moving company, to help streamline your move as much as possible.
Moving house is stressful, and that's putting it lightly. Not only do you have the packing and logistics to contend with - a trial that'd make a decent match for Hercules, in and of itself - there's also a Ben Nevis-sized mountain of paperwork and admin to somehow wade your way through.
The phrases 'juggling balls' and 'spinning plates' come to mind.
No wonder home-moving Brits up and down the land are pulling their hair out as D-Day (AKA, their big moving date) draws ever closer. 40% of us to be precise, reported that moving house caused stress and illness, and 65% have tossed and turned through sleepless nights over a house move, a study run by Yopa found.
In fact, 60% of people have actually been put off the moving process entirely because of a stress overload.
High on the list of concerns is getting your prized possessions from your old property to your new home. The challenge seems simple; moving a bunch of stuff from A to B - how hard could it be? - when in reality it's a logistical nightmare.
There's a whole industry built around house removals and removals companies, who aim to make the entire shebang easier - for a fee, of course. Which leaves many movers scratching their heads, wondering, 'how do I find reliable removal companies in my area?' 'what are the removal costs going to tally up to, and is there any way to save money? 'How do I find the right removals firm for me?'
You could intrepidly step out and aim to source your own removals company. We respect the gumption. But - and that's a big, screeching, lorry-sized but - be aware: there is a ton of stuff to think about.
Far easier and way simpler, we reckon, to let the nationally-recognised Home Move Specialists take care of it for you.
Just Move In has more experience of sourcing removal services than you can shake a stick at; but that's not all we do. We're also here to help you figure out water and sewerage, broadband and phone, council tax, gas & electricity and much, much more for your new spot; making home moves, in a word, manageable. Get in touch now to discuss your move.
However, if you do decide to go it alone and find the best removals company for yourself - again, we applaud you - don't dive right into it without straightening out at least a little bit of what you're looking for. That's what this blog post is all about.
Hang on... Why Do I Even Need a Removal Company?
Do you really need to employ moving services? That's an interesting question. We'll level with you: not really.
Not really... in the same way that you don't really need a kettle in your kitchen. It is physically, humanly possible to get by without it. But think about what that means: no first cup of tea in the morning; no freshly brewed coffee on a lazy Sunday; no hot water bottle in the cold months; or any of the other things you might use your kettle for.
There comes a point where you just have to ask yourself - is it worth being that miserable?
Nipping down to Tesco or B&Q to stock up on packing materials is one thing, but there's a lot more to moving house than that. You'll have to wrestle endlessly with boxes, figure out transportation, get it all stationed in your new house, take responsibility for what goes where, when, and the many factors besides.
Moving companies can take care of all that legwork for you, leaving your hands - and head - free to focus on all the various other stuff you have to worry about.
Plus, removal firms are the experts, the professionals at all that stuff. After all, they get paid to do it; it's literally their job, so the chances are pretty good that they'll make a much faster, cleaner, smoother job of it than you could, if you tried to struggle through alone.
Pro Tips to Keep an Eye Out For
Here at Just Move In, we've been around the block a few times, and we like to think we know the moving game pretty well. Part of that means having a pretty good grasp of what are - and what really, most definitely aren't - good quality moving services. So here are a few tried-and-tested tips to look out for when you're shopping around for the right removals company.
Firstly, and probably most importantly, is to check whether the firm is a reliable company. That means establishing whether they are a company registered with the British Association of Removers: a trade association that oversees trading standards, and whether they provide dispute resolution through Ombudsman services, a complaints centre and a national guild that outlines good customer care practices.
These days, any decent company worth their salt is likely to have a proper website set up that's simple to navigate and where you can easily dig up the info you're looking for. Pay particularly close attention to their 'about' and 'trading history' pages - the absence of those could indicate that you're looking at home moving dinosaurs, with less-than-good communication.
While you're on the website, it's worth having a mooch about to check the condition, cleanliness and overall impression of the company's lorries, offices and facilities. See what kind of vibe you get; trust your gut on this one.
Keeping things online for now - or, using the Yellow Pages, if you're old school - have a look around for some reviews left by previous customers. Whatever services they have are likely to be of a similar standard to what you'll receive, so ensure you know what you're signing up for.
Don't be afraid to hit the bricks. Get out and walk around - see if you can find some recently-sold houses in the same area, and ask those folks who they used for their removal partners, or tap up your friends and family with the same question.
Seeking Quotes
The bottom line figure of how much the company will charge is likely to be a major influence in your decision-making process, so aim to contact companies at least 4 weeks prior to the big day and compare removal quotes early.
Remember, too, as you weigh up removals costs, that no removal job is the same as the next.
You'll want to factor in the level of service, the quality of the transport provider, whether the company offers free packing services (or whether it's a paid extra), and if they facilitate removals insurance, public liability insurance... or no insurance at all.
Only entertain companies who are willing to come out and meet you, and eyeball the amount of stuff they'll potentially be moving. That should come as part and parcel of a great service, and it's the only way to ensure your removal quote will be an accurate estimate and a fair price.
Once you meet the company representatives, be sure to nail down exactly what they will and won't do: will they dismantle any home furniture if it's too big to go through a door, for example, or does that come as one of several hidden additional services? Are they prepared to transport valuable items? Don't be afraid to confirm that the quoted price represents the total cost you'll be expected to fork out.
Finally, if there are parking restrictions or access issues at either property, do the removal guys a favour and make sure they know about it in advance. Nobody wants to park up miles from the property and hike the last leg with armfuls of kitchenware and cookbooks.
How Much Will Removal Companies Set Me Back?
Ah, the million-dollar question: how much? Well, hopefully not a million dollars, we'll tell you that right off the bat.
Of course, you're looking to find the most competitive price, that goes without saying. But there's a list as long as your arm of various factors that can make a big difference and influence the final shape of your removal quote, including:
property type
property size
overall volume of stuff to move
the distance the company is being asked to cover
access considerations at either property
special considerations such as fragile items, potentially hazardous objects or antique pieces (like that stolen Picasso you definitely don't have squirrelled away in the loft)
So those are a few things to bear in mind when it comes time to compare quotes. Again, it's a good idea to have a fairly detailed conversation with the home removals company beforehand, so everyone understands the nature of the job.
And remember that the cheapest option does not necessarily reflect a good price, once you factor in the hidden extras and bolt-ons they might be looking to sting you with down the road. You're much more likely to find great prices if you do the homework and secure an accurate quote way in advance of moving day.
So... Who Does the Packing?
A lot of home movers, especially first-timers, assume that packing services are included in the bottom-line price. We've heard about loads of unsuspecting people who ring the removal company number, with the - mistaken - assumption that the company will simply show up ready to pack everything as standard.
In fact, for the vast majority of removal companies registered in England and Wales, the opposite is true.
With that said, most removals firms will be happy to pack your stuff for you, but it'll usually be an extra, paid service. That's the type of thing that tends to get left out of instant quotes.
Ditto for unpacking, once the lorries get to your new home; you can pay the company to unpack for you, but they won't do it for free.
That's why most people opt to handle at least the unpacking by themselves - after all, the removal crew have no idea if your Japanese steel replica samurai sword lives in the office or the living room, or whether you'll ambitiously aim to keep those old fishing rods in the conservatory, before sticking them straight in the loft. Plus, the chances are you don't want the whole removals team coming in and out the front door and hanging around for longer than they really need to. Most people prefer to give them a cup of tea and a biscuit, send them on their way, and get stuck into the unpacking themselves.
Speaking of old stuff, though, here comes one of our most tip-top tips for house moves: the less stuff you take with you, the less you'll have to pack, and move... and find a new place for.
It's a fantastic idea to clear out the dust-collectors before you set the moving wheels in motion. After all, one person's trash is another person's treasure; you might find that the janky old items which have been hanging around forever can be rehomed with friends or family. Or, take all your unwanted stuff down to the charity shop, and give it a new lease of life that way.
Failing that, look into getting a storage unit, though be warned that costs quickly pile up as the months roll by.
Whatever you decide to do, you'll do yourself a huge solid if you clear out the one-piece-missing jigsaws and deflated bicycle wheels before you move home... and realise you never really wanted to hang onto it in the first place.
Just Move In Finds Your Perfect Removals Company and More
So, now you know a few top tricks of the trade about what to look out for in a removal company, some of the removal costs to expect before they become a nasty downstream surprise, good practices when securing removal quotes, and you've got a better picture of how to find the best removal partners for your house move.
If what you've just read sounds like a lot... well, it kind of is. There's no getting around that fact. Trying to sort out a decent moving company can all too quickly become one more headache for your collection as you try to steer yourself and your family through the moving process.
And, sorry to pile on the reality checks, but don't forget there's a veritable boatload of other stuff to tackle at the same time. Home care, utilities, insurance, loans, mobile deals, mail redirects, TV and home media...
But you don't need to take it on alone. There is another way. A smoother, freshly-tarmacked, scenic and stress-free way to see your move through.
That way is to go with JMI, home move maestros and experts at saving time, hassle and money. That big scary list of jobs and responsibilities we just ran through? With us, you can forget about it. We'll take care of everything. Plus, we know how to find the perfect removals team for your move, to make sure everything goes like clockwork.
Heck, you even get a mangrove tree planted in your name.
Find out more and get started today by clicking here.