Moving home. How to choose a removals company
Here are a few things to consider before you give a removals firm the green light.
Plan ahead. Availability
Make a shortlist of companies and find out if they’re free during the days or weeks when you’re hoping to move. Don’t worry if you don’t have a specific completion date yet – at this stage you just need to see who’s available.
Things to consider at six weeks
Pencil it in
When they visit for a quote, earmark all potential dates in the diary – again, nothing needs to be set in stone at this point.
Consider your options
Removers are used to changing dates and will often do what they can to accommodate. But having a few options will help you negotiate a completion date with other parties in the chain.
Confirming a date
Once you do have a completion date agreed, make sure you get that date locked up with your chosen firm as soon as possible.
Do some research. Pricing
If you’re working to a tight budget, price is an important consideration. Small local firms are often more competitive than bigger, national removers. But big companies (although pricier) can often be more flexible on availability because they have more personnel and vans.
You can also pay most removers extra to pack your items for you – although this will add to how much time you’ll need to make available on moving day.
Ready when you are. Storage options
There are times when you won’t want to move straight into your new home. Maybe you’re waiting for the right place to become available, or you want to have work completed before you move in.
Some firms offer their own storage solutions and will factor that into the quote. Otherwise find out their weekly storage rates in advance to get an idea of potential costs further down the line.
Closer to home. Location
If you live close to where you’re moving to, the distance your removers have to cover won’t be an issue. But if you’re moving further afield, it will likely be reflected in the quote you receive. That’s why it’s probably best to choose a firm that’s local to where you are now, not the place you’re moving to.
Cover for any event. Insurance
Many removers offer insurance that covers your belongings in the event of a road accident, for example. But it’s always best to be on the safe side. Consider getting a full contents-in-transit cover on your home insurance.
Do some research. Get a date in the diary
Once you’ve considered the above factors, it might just come down to who feels right. When they visited you to quote, were they friendly, polite and professional? Look online for feedback and reviews – a good reputation is often well deserved in the industry. Once you’ve chosen, then it’s simply a case of letting them know as soon as you have a completion date for your move.
Other things to consider
Budgeting
As with all budgeting for your big home move, it’s better to overestimate costs rather than underestimate. After all, a later surplus is always more welcome than a deficit.