Removals guidance and help

CHOOSING YOUR REMOVER

Some helpful hints when selecting a removals company

Deciding which removals firm to use is the most important decision you can make when moving home. After all, you will be entrusting all your worldly possessions with that firm so you need to make the right choice.

Once you have selected the companies you want to quote, more than three proving tiresome, they will usually visit your home to view the items to be moved and discuss your move with you. The length of time the surveyor spends with you is a good indication of the likely accuracy of the proposal and quote you are going to receive. Some will take just a few notes which may infer they will simply lift it, shift it and dump it. No matter how experienced a surveyor they may be, a tailor-made proposal needs time, information and planning, not just a cursory walk around with a head bob into each room.

Elements that the surveyor needs to consider in constructing a professional quotation include the number of staff with appropriate skill levels, hours they will work, size of vehicle/s needed, packing materials required, what subcontractors will be necessary to complete all the work which may be more than just moving the effects. The timing and length of the move can also involve staff needing to be accommodated away from home. The parking arrangements at both collection and delivery is also an important aspect to consider and at what cost. All this needs detailed information.

When the quotations arrive, the next barrier for the customer to overcome is comparing them. Elements such as the volume of the load, size of the vehicle(s) to be used, whether insurance is included, level of insurance and so on all need to be compared and checked on a like-for-like basis, and any clarification sought from the removers before a final decision can be made. Find out who prepared the quotation – was it the surveyor who visited you and has seen what you have and discussed what you wanted, or was it completed to a standard formula by the office accountant?

Check the small print as it is here that customers are sometimes caught out. Companies that are members of a trade association will have a set of trading conditions in plain English which have been drafted in conjunction with insurers, lawyers and the Office of Fair Trading. These will also state rights, obligations and responsibilities for both the customer and remover. Ensure they are understood because they do impact on the quotations so can give price variations when one company includes costs which others omit. There are two trade associations: The British Association of Removers and The National Guild of Removers and Storers.

A common problem encountered is where there is an under-estimation of the volume of effects to be removed. This problem only reveals itself on the day of the move, and can lead to a real nightmare. This could either be the fault of the surveyor by not properly evaluating the contents to be moved, or the customer for not showing the surveyor everything to be moved. Either way, it is usually the customer who suffers, especially if the removal crew react badly to the inefficiency of the survey. So ensuring everything is shown at the time of survey is essential, this includes; the loft, cellar, garage, shed, garden and outhouse.

The way some companies cover their risk of underestimating is to include a reference to not exceeding a volume i.e. cubic feet or cubic metres, or the size of van, number of men or hours. This means should they have got it wrong then the client will be required to pay extra. The problem increases dramatically the further away the delivery point.

Reputable companies will be prepared to discuss exactly how the move has been planned and what resources they will use throughout the move, whereas others will not be so transparent. It is unlikely companies can pack, load, drive or unload, at twice the speed of their competitor, so great care should be taken with lower costings which propose being able to do the move with less resources or in fewer days.

Asking your remover what happens to goods which don’t go on the vehicle can give a good insight into the way it has been costed. If there has been an under-estimate, for whatever reason, what happens if there is more furniture than vehicle? Called ‘shut outs’ in the industry, it is important to know the implications, especially if the quote you have opted for is for one vehicle and not by what is actually being moved.

Also agreeing who will do what prior to move day will help reduce stress, with the quotation clearly defining areas of responsibility between the moving company and the customer – for example, stabalising washing machines, disconnecting computers and HiFi equipment, packing, getting items down from lofts, disconnecting wall lights and gas hobs and cookers.

Care needs to be taken with part-loads or back-loads. This can mean your effects are part of a whole greater load or will be transferred from one vehicle to another during its journey. This means your move requires something else to happen to ensure your move goes according to plan – sort of a chain. Ask what happens if an element of the chain fails.

Also, ask about starting and finishing times. Removals can be a long day and not simply 8am – 5pm. Ask what time keys must be available for access into the new home or you could be paying for standing time.”

Packing materials are another area of confusion. Check whether the mover has included the cost of all the packing materials, or do they collect cash for all they leave behind on delivery.

In choosing a removals firm you always get what you pay for. It is an important decision that needs to be taken with care. In comparing different quotes, you need an understanding of the processes used by each company. Consider if each quotation really reflects your needs and avoid simply looking at the bottom line price which may not truly reflect the service desired and the final cost to be paid. Understanding and comparing removals quotes on a like-for-like basis is the only true way to judge what you are really paying for.