How To Find A Removal Company That Does It All
When moving home, there’s usually a lot on your mind. Often too much to even think about choosing the right removals company. That’s why we’ve put together this blog post, to give you all the information you need to make the right decision.
Do you have a home move ahead of you? We bet you have a lot on your mind. From the hassle of your energy switch to organising contents insurance, there’s a lot of time-consuming stuff to take care of. If anyone understands this, it’s our Move Specialists here at Just Move In.
During the moving process, one of the first steps is of course selecting the right removals company for the job. Choosing the right company to handle your home move isn’t only about hiring an extra set of hands to pack and transport your belongings from one point to the other. A removals company will be handling your most prized possessions, and their help should relieve (at least some of) the stress involved in a home move.
A premium removal company should give you peace of mind, and you should be able to consider at least the packing and physical moving aspect of your home move sorted. On the other hand, a poorly selected removal company could make the stress far worse. Not all removal firms have your best interests at heart.
So how exactly do you go about choosing the right packing and removal company, and what should you look out for when comparing them? In this blog from our house move experts, we'll reveal our top tips for choosing the best removals company for your needs.
What are removals companies?
It might seem like a question with an obvious answer, but let's just clear the air - what exactly are removal companies? Mostly, removal companies will offer packing services and will be able to transport your large furniture items and other possessions to your new address. You may find that some firms offer additional services like providing access to storage facilities - but some research might be required there depending on how much storage you need.
Remember that while most removal companies will strive to provide excellent service, there are some others that will charge high removals costs for a shoddy job. To make sure you've chosen a high quality, reputable removals company, make sure they're registered with the British Association of Removers (BAR) which is the trade association for removal and storage services in the UK. To be registered, removal companies need to meet the minimum industry standards on quality of work and safety, offer an advance payment guarantee and provide independent dispute resolution, which protects you in the event something goes wrong.
Below, we discuss some other ways you can ensure you're moving house with the right support from the right removals company.
Get started early
The sooner you start your search for the right removal company, the better. You’ll need time to do your research (making sure they're BAR registered), make your inventory list, and request and compare removal costs.
You may find yourself under pressure if you leave searching for a home moving service to the last minute, which could have a knock on effect and cause you to settle for the first quote that comes your way. That, dear reader, may not be the most reliable company or the best fit for your needs. Just think: most removal companies won't be available at the last minute, and if they are, it’s probably not for the right reasons.
Get referrals and read (all) the reviews
A good place to start looking for removal companies is to ask those whose opinion you trust most – your friends and family. Chat to anyone close to you who has moved in the last couple of years if ask whether they can recommend any moving companies. You might also want to check if there are any you should definitely avoid.
Our next bit of advice is reviews, reviews, reviews. Other than asking for recommendations, be sure to thoroughly research the moving services you’re thinking about using by reading their reviews. And don’t only read the reviews they’ve published on their website or social media platforms themselves – they will obviously only choose the best feedback for their marketing purposes. Check out reviews websites such as TrustPilot and do searches for the company online to see if any negative feedback comes up. Also check how they respond to complaints from previous customers.
Get estimates and find out what’s included
We hope that, so far, our advice has helped you narrow down your list to a few great removals companies. The next thing you’ll need to do is put an inventory list together of all the items that will need to be packed and transported. To give you an accurate quote, removals firms will need details on all the items they will be handling for you.
Note that many removal companies prefer to give estimates by visiting your home and taking their own inventory list. It may also help them to assess whether they need any special packing materials.
Once you have these estimate removal costs in hand, you should have a clearer picture as to which company is the better option for your house move.
Make sure the removals company is the right fit
If part of what you need to move is a baby grand piano or fine art, you’re going to want to make sure the home moving company you hire are experts in moving these belongings. Other examples are pool tables or gym equipment.
We know from experience that putting these items in the wrong hands could end up with you having to spend a lot of money on repairing or replacing them. And what about priceless items like family heirlooms? Anyone would want their most prized possessions to be handled with care. So, before selecting your removals firm, ensure they offer additional services that involve the use of a specialist, experienced team for moving high value items, or those that need to be transported in a specific way.
Sort out the details
Before you accept an estimate, make sure you find out exactly what is included. Will they be taking care of all your packing and moving, or will you have to do some of it yourself? Is fuel included in their price or will it only be added at the end of the move? Do they offer insurance on the items they are transporting (over and above your own contents insurance)? These are all important questions that we suggest you ask – you'll likely save money and a lot of frustration.
Finally, make sure you get everything in writing. Don’t rely on verbal agreements. Get all the details including estimates, discounts, insurance, the moving date, and so on in writing before the big day arrives.
Don't trust single-service removal companies: Trust Just Move In
One of the first things on your mind might be that you need to locate and book a reputable removal company to help you with the bulk of your home move - but what if you could go one step further? At Just Move In, the first and most important thing we recommend is looking for a multi-service home move assistant - not just a removal company.
Now, you might be thinking that a professional removals company is the best support you can get, but actually, there's so much more to moving house than even the best removals company could deal with. So, how about having a personal Move Specialist coordinate your moving company for you? Part of our Home Setup Service includes finding you the best possible deals on home moving companies. We have connections in all the right places to help you narrow down your search and ensure that you’ve got a reliable, efficient removals company to help you pack and transport your belongings.
Our friendly team can help with a lot of other time-consuming tasks, too. Ultimately, we’d love nothing more than for you to sit back and relax while we take care of your home move admin. Learn more on our website.