Removal firms come in all shapes and sizes ranging from the small family business to the large multi-national and from firms providing general removal services to ones offer specialist services such as international removals. Specialist firms may be ideal if you are moving the Steinway piano or priceless works of art or if you are emigrating but in most cases general removal services are ideal.
Before booking a removal firm there are several important decisions which you need to make. The key decision is whether you are planning to move yourself. Generally this becomes a braver decision the older you are for the simple reason that the majority of the population collect more and more possessions as they get older.
If you do decide to move yourself, there are firms which will rent out appropriate removal vans and provide packing cases and materials and, if you need to store anything, most towns now have at least one self-storage facility.
Most families, however, do choose to use professional house movers. The following hot hints can help your move to go smoothly.
Hot Hints
- Friday is moving day. Most removal firms are busier on Friday than any other day of the week. It will be easier, and possibly cheaper, to book the firm you want if you can move on a day other than Friday.
- Make sure that you get more than one quote. Prices can vary widely.
- Check references of any of the removal firms from whom you get a quote.
- Decide who does the packing. There is an extra cost for this service if carried out by your removal service but the appeal is obvious. Be aware that if you do your own packing you may not be covered for breakages under terms of your contract with the removal firm. In any case, you should check what the position is under your home insurance.
- If you let the removers do your packing, make sure that you have put your wallet, purse, overnight kit and car keys in a safe place. Removal firms often move quickly through the packing and finding that any of these items have been packed and loaded onto the van can prove to be rather stressful.
- Make sure that you are clear about what needs to be moved. A debate on the morning that the removal is due to take place about whether your shed which is stacked to the roof with garden equipment, children’s toys and DIY essentials will fit in the van and is included in the price can be another cause of stress.
- Don’t pack the kettle, sugar, tea, coffee or teaspoons and buy at least double the quantity of biscuits which you believe and team of removers could possibly eat. They will all disappear.
- Make sure that any pets are kept inside in a safe place from the evening before you move. Looking for the cat whilst the rest of the family waits to drive to your new home is no fun.
If you are thinking of moving house, use the Local Service Guide search facility to find details of firms offering removal services.
