Moving house is very high on the list
of the most stressful events we are likely to encounter.
The whole process of dealing with estate agents, solicitors,
builders and buyers creates many problems, delays and
hurdles along the way, which can test the patience of
a saint.
For the move itself, it is so important to choose
the right removal company - one which will help to take
the hassle out of the actual day of the move, which
in itself can be a testing, and sometimes explosive,
time.
Here we provide 13 top tips to avoid an unlucky
move:
Try to arrange your move outside school holiday
times, the last week in the month, or Friday. During
these times companies are usually the most stretched
for resources so you could receive poor service
from some removal companies, and they will probably
cost you more.
The summer holiday season is a crazy time to
move. Movers like to take their children on holidays
too, so many companies use casual labour. Hot weather
makes the work harder, so there are more mistakes
and claims.
Getting quotes from three moving companies is
a time consuming business. Check that quotes include
all your requirements, so that you are comparing
like-for-like. Quotations may be complicated and
some times confusing so it is vital you know what
is included in the quote to avoid any unexpected
little extras, which may appear later.
If you are moving some distance away, some companies
will backload vehicles from other companies or branches
to give a cheap price, but this could entail different
staff at each end. Only loaders will know where
items are packed and be able to care for valuable
fragile or delicate items. Clients will have little
or no contact with the crew at the other end, and
they will not know where your treasures are within
the load. It is also not unusual for vans to be
delayed en route doing their 'other job' so arrival
at your home is later than desired.
It is advisable to check if your move will be
a part load. Part load means more than one job on
the vehicle and each job is interdependent. One
job cancelled or delayed means that it could stop
the whole trip taking place. Also with part loads
jobs grow, so not all the space is available, leading
to items being shut out.
Provisional bookings mean very little. Some companies
may double book and ignore any job for which there
is no signed contract. Unless the contract is signed
and fully paid up under the terms and conditions,
then the contract can be null and void.
Getting the right size of van is very important
and a legal requirement. Is it permitted to carry
the weight of the load for your move? After all
you do not want your furniture to be squeezed into
a van, which may cause damage while it is on the
move. The unsatisfactory alternative may be that
not all the load will fit on one van. Ensure that
this is covered in the contract.
Be aware that small vans avoid some of the licensing
laws and are very restricted in the load they can
carry. Overloads are both illegal and dangerous
and may contravene the insurance cover, resulting
in any claim being rejected if things do go wrong.
It is essential to confirm the time when the keys
to the new house are available and who pays for
any waiting time. The people leaving the new house
might be bodgers, doing it themselves and taking
much longer than anticipated while your removal
company is waiting for them to finish.
Discuss the access to the new property with the
moving company and the sellers. Is parking going
to pose a problem? The removal assessor should be
aware of this, along with details of overhead cables,
branches or archways leading to the house.
Look carefully at the insurance policy. There
are probably three main insurance brokers used by
reputable movers. Others may offer a cheaper policy
at the expense of the cover provided and unfortunately
the exceptions might only come to light only after
the event. Cheap insurance often means shoddy cover.
Read the small print!
Ensure that the movers have adequate vehicle cover.
Many Movers offer insurance at around £25,000
to £50, 000 per vehicle, which will hardly
be enough cover for people's belongings and furniture.
Finally, if your furniture and belongings are
going into storage, ask for details and location
and, if possible, inspect the storage facility.
Remember, you are entrusting the mover with your
worldly possessions - you want to know how they
are going to look after them.
The cost of a removal expert will be the lowest hourly
rate of any of the home service providers, such as your
plumber, electrician, carpet fitter or lawyer. It is
well worth hiring the best to ensure the care and protection
of your prized possessions.
Do not under value this service to save money, after
all, the mover is being entrusted with all your worldly
possessions so you need to make the right choice.
Useful links:
British Association of
Removers:
www.barmovers.com or tel: 020 8861 3331
National Guild of Removers
and Storers: www.ngrs.org.uk
or tel: 01494 792279
First Steps to a move