Moving house is complex, but it doesn’t need to be super stressful. A good removals company can help take some of the weight off of your shoulders during the process – quite literally in many cases. Here is a quick guide to the things you should look out for when choosing a removals company.
Flexibility
No matter how much you plan, moving house is never a completely predictable endeavor. A good moving company will have enough staff and vehicles to be slightly flexible in terms of timing and load. You can usually ascertain whether a company is willing to be flexible by having a quick chat on the phone.
Friendliness
Movers are typically brawny – but they don’t have to be intimidating. The best movers are approachable and friendly. Any bad blood can really spoil your move, which is usually pretty stressful to begin with. When searching for ‘movers near me’ on Google, make sure to read a good quantity of reviews. Any exceptionally bad interpersonal skills will undoubtedly be noted in reviews. Likewise, particularly friendly removals professionals usually receive reviews that mention their accommodating personalities.
Insurance
Removals companies need to have comprehensive insurance. This is to make sure that you and your family do not incur a financial loss if the moving firm damages your property. This is remarkably important. Even though professional movers are usually very careful, accidents do happen. The cost of repairing your furniture should rest squarely on the shoulders of the removals company. The insurance that removals companies usually purchase generally falls under the umbrella of public liability insurance.
Accountability
Your removals company needs to be accountable for its actions. Thefts of property by verifiable removals agents is relatively rare. If one does occur, however, the company needs to be liable for the costs of any stolen property. The worst thefts carried out under the pretense of removal happen when thieves steal the identities of legitimate removals companies. In June this year, a Los Angeles family was scammed out of around $10,000 worth of property by a group of thieves pretending to be removals professionals. Always do a little digging before you agree to a contract with a removals firm.
Competitive Quotes
Moving house is a remarkably expensive endeavor. Moving the belongings of a four-bedroom house in the United States of America can cost up to $1,200. It is important that you feel like you can shop around for the best quote. Many moving companies will happily lower their quote if it look like you are willing to switch companies. Don’t feel like you need to go with the first company that gives you a quote for a removal.
Care
The professionals hired by a removals company need to have a good track record of protecting the property they move. This information is usually readily available in Yelp and Google review pages. Removals company with a bad track record of caring for client property usually develop a terrible reputation and are easy to avoid.
