Moving house is a daunting time for anybody. The constant fussing and business of ordinary life, combined with the back-and-forth with solicitors and the effort to get everything in order, is enough to stress anybody out. Add the transit of practically everything to your new home into the mix, and, well… You’ve got yourself a healthy dose of organized chaos.
One thing that sets a good removals company apart from one that’s left to be desired is the way they treat your goods. What sets a good removals business apart from the rest is the understanding that it isn’t just furniture and “goods” they’re shifting. It’s people’s lives.
There are a few telltale signs as to what sets a good removals firm apart from a bad one. We’ve handcrafted this blog to help you confidently choose the removals company that’s right for you, including what to look out for and what to avoid. Let’s get stuck in.
What to Look Out For When Choosing
a Removals Company
Positive Or Negative Google & Trustpilot Reviews
Nothing holds more weight than a verified review from a genuine customer.
Take a look at the positive reviews on a company’s Google listing or Trustpilot account and hone in on the experience the previous customers have had.
Typically, even the best businesses will have missed the mark once or twice, and a couple of negative reviews might reflect this. However, as long as the negative reviews aren’t of significant volume or there’s no recurring pattern that is glaringly obvious, there shouldn’t be any cause for concern.
Online Presence
A great place to suss out attention to detail and overall professionalism, amongst other things.
Of course, take this with a pinch of salt because typically what you see on social media or online is at the discretion of whoever’s posting, meaning that you’ll see what they want to show you.
However, it’s still worth having a digital nosey to see if the removals company you’re considering has an online social media or digital presence.
Have a look at the fleet, the team of movers, and any pictures they have of them handling goods. Are they using the correct protective packaging for transporting items like TVs or mirrors? Does the team look professional? How does the transport fleet look?
General Attitude & Professionalism
The way a company conducts itself visually can often speak volumes. Make sure the company that’s handling your goods takes itself seriously first. Things like uniform, appropriate footwear, the right tools, and a positive general attitude to the job can be strong indicators that your possessions are in good hands.
What to Avoid When Looking for
a Removals Company
When Things Seem too Good To Be True
Much like many other industries, you pay for what you get. And if your three-bed house move is coming up at a couple hundred pounds… It’s likely too good to be true.
Professional removals businesses have running costs, including insurance, labour & fuel. Not to mention the other administrative costs of running a full-time business.
Make sure you vet your moving team properly to ensure they’re not pulling the wool over your eyes, and double-check that your goods are covered under the removal company’s insurance, or your move might end up being more expensive than you intended…
Other telltale signs that your removal company is teetering on the edge of legitimate is cash only transactions as well as vague (or a complete lack of) written quotes. Some might not bother carrying out a pre-move survey whatsoever, leaving you open to potential hidden fees later down the line.
Last Minute Bookings
Most homeowners or savvy renters book their moves way in advance with in-demand removal firms. Whilst this isn’t always indicative of a bad removals company (some top firms do offer flexibility to fit you in during busy periods due to last minute cancellation) it’s always a red flag if the firm you’re trying to book your move with is overly willing to fit you in. Especially during busy periods.
Some companies don’t think twice about double booking busy dates and letting you down last minute if it doesn’t work out for them either. So make sure you get written confirmation on your upcoming move so you’re not left hanging at the final hour.
Frequent Poor or Suspicious Reviews
Reviews are the lifeblood of any service-based business. However, it’s important not to get bogged down by the odd bad review. Bad reviews can often give you insight into how a company operates under pressure, but isn’t always reflective of a businesses day to day operations.
You should be concerned when the negatives start to outweigh the positives, or when the content of said review is backed by evidence like pictures or videos to demonstrate a job well botched.
Whilst Google does its bit to protect business pages from spam reviews (good or bad) it’s worth using your due diligence to make your own conclusions.
Other Questions To Help You With Your Move
How Far In Advance Should I Book My Move?
Typically, it’s recommended to book your house move at least 4-6 weeks before your moving date.
Especially if your house move is in a chain, it can be quite tricky to line up your move date in sync with your solicitor completing the exchange. If this is the case, you should typically approach a removals company 4-6 weeks prior to a move just to keep them informed, as most will be willing to offer flexibility on the final date.
If you’re worried about availability during busy periods, try to give yourself extra time (6-8 weeks.)
If you haven’t found a removals company in Manchester just yet, and are still browsing quotes, why not get in touch with Soldiers On The Move? We offer a free pre-moving survey to ensure your quote is as accurate as possible, as well as offering final confirmation for dates in advance. Click here to get yourself a free moving quote.
Do Removal Companies Pack Your Stuff For You?
Yes. Most removals businesses will offer a pack and move service at an additional cost. This includes the packing of wardrobes, cupboards, and transit preparations for larger, heavier or more fragile items (including mirrors, televisions and artwork.)
Similarly, most removal companies are also happy to let you pack your own goods and furniture ready for transportation as long as it falls in line with their packing requirements.
For high end furniture or particularly expensive items, extra care may be taken to ensure that these items are kept entirely free from dust, dirt or grime. The methods involved include export wrapping high end furniture, or the use of specific protective boxes such as wardrobe or TV boxes to keep your goods free from bangs or dings.
How Much Do Removal Companies Charge?
A particularly challenging question, as no two homes are the same.
Quoting for a three-bedroom property is meaningless if it’s absolutely packed to the brim with stuff that needs transporting, which is why most companies will charge per cubic foot.
You might wonder why this practice is widely used rather than a solid estimation; however, pricing per cubic foot will get you a better estimate every time, as we can use the measurements to predict how many vans and removal specialists will be required on the day. If you’re moving in the North West, click here to get a free no obligation quote from Soldiers On The Move today.
What Factors Affect The Price Of My House Move?
Several factors directly impact the price of a home move, including:
- Volume of belongings and property size. The size of your move will be one of the key drivers when it comes to getting an estimate from a removals company, and will often determine how many vans will be required on the day. The more vans required = the higher your overall cost will be.
- Distance and location. Most removal businesses will set a general cost per mile during transport. When getting your quote, make sure you ask what the transport costs are or what the fee per mile is, and ultimately, compare this against other quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
- Level of service. If you’ve asked for a full pack and move as opposed to packing yourself, your removals quote is obviously going to come out higher than it would without. Feel free to ask your removals company what your move would look like with or without complimentary services so you can compare your costs against other quotes.
A top tip to reduce cost (and we always recommend doing this) is decluttering before a move takes place. The last thing you want to do is pay hand over fist for goods that you don’t actually want being shifted to your new property. Decluttering cuts down the amount of time it takes to pack and load your goods and cuts back on the overall volume of your move.
Top Tip: Use Your Survey to Ask Questions!
When booking a home visit (usually this happens before you’re provided a formal quote, as a surveyor will need to accurately estimate the volume of goods being transported), make sure you ask questions.
Ask what precautions the company is going to take when transporting your television. Ask for a breakdown on the quote so you can understand how the surveyor is going to price up your home move.
Use this opportunity to get the answers to the questions you may have to get the best out of your home move. If they can’t answer your questions confidently, maybe it’s worth getting a second quote and measuring up against the first for that added layer of confidence. And remember, just because it’s cheaper… Doesn’t always mean it’s the better option!
Moving Home and Need a Quote?
We’ll always try to be competitive on price, no matter whether you’re moving locally or across the country.
We’re Soldiers On The Move, a professional ex-military removals firm that actively employs ex-servicemen and women to move your goods from A to B with integrity. If you’re moving (whether you already have supplied quotes or not), why not get a free survey and quotation from us today?
With over 300+ 5* reviews on Google and Trustpilot, it’s easy to see why we’re rapidly becoming Manchester and the North West’s first choice for home removals.
