Trying to find the right Manchester removals company can be a challenge. Especially when the market is saturated with companies that don’t treat the industry with the professionalism it rightly deserves. Finding a removals company that does things properly can be a real relief.
Especially when it comes to moving to Manchester, larger cities are often saturated with removals businesses, and if you’re not well-versed on what a good removals company looks like, you can find yourself scrambling for answers.
Most people tend to go through the usual motions. Find a removals company, check their reviews, have a little nosey on their social media… But if you’re not sure what to look out for, how can you be certain that the company you’re choosing is the best possible fit?
In this blog, we’ll go through what to look out for when choosing a removals company, and, more importantly, how to judge whether they’re the right people to move your goods.
Here’s what we’d look out for if we were (hypothetically) moving house and needed to choose someone to move us…
What You Should Look Out For When Choosing a Manchester Removals Company
The Hallmarks of Professionalism - First Impressions Count!
One of the biggest things you’ll want to see in a Manchester moving company is that they behave like a professional outfit and certainly look the part. In removals, first impressions count, and more often than not, they’ll want to carry out a survey to measure the volume of what’s being moved.
First impressions are key! So use this survey to ask all the important questions, and more importantly, make the right observations.
- First things first, were you given a time slot for the survey, and did they hold true to punctuality? Sometimes lateness (especially if you’re a distance away from the company that’s carrying out your move) really can’t be excused, but you can use your own judgement.
- The way they price up a move can often be a big giveaway. A standard house move should never be met with a flat fee, as usually, if they require more manpower or an additional van, you may be subject to hidden charges. Most removal companies price up a move by measuring the volume of your goods and contents for the sake of knowing how many vans and staff will be required to carry out your move. If your survey seems a lot quicker than it should be and your price feels too good to be true, it may just be.
- Other key giveaways are things like approaching your move with a professional attitude. Little things like signed vans, clean uniforms and branded equipment can often be a sign that a moving company takes what they do seriously. The last thing you want is someone chucking your stuff around for beer money!
Online Presence
Social media can often pull back the curtain on brands pretending to be something they aren’t. Have a look at Instagram, Facebook (sometimes TikTok) for the online brand presence of the removals company you’re considering using. Have a look at the following:
- Fleet & vehicles. Are they well-maintained? Kept clean? Are they equipped to carry out removals? (For example, do their vans have tie-down straps? Protective materials present?) And more importantly, are their vehicles equipped to facilitate your moving requirements? (Tail lift, adequate capacity, and so on…)
- Previous jobs. Have they posted any videos/images of their team hard at work? Are they using the right techniques to load furniture & boxes safely? Have they stacked the van neatly & efficiently?
- The team. Not every removals company issues uniforms to its members of staff, but it’s good practice. Are the uniforms clean, and do the staff look professional & friendly?
Good & Bad Reviews
People are quicker on the trigger to leave negative reviews than they are positive ones. Alternatively, professional removals businesses care greatly about their reviews, so it’s often telling if a removals business has 2 reviews, both of which are negative.
If you’re looking at a company with several hundred reviews and the positive feedback vastly outweighs its negative counterpart, you shouldn’t worry too much. Have a flick through some of the positive reviews and look out for any positive reviews that speak to you, and use this to make your own judgement.
Social Media & Website Content
Every business owner knows that having a website or social media presence is not strictly required.
That said, for Manchester removal companies, these platforms can go a long way in building credibility and reassuring potential customers. A company’s online presence often gives a clear first impression of how it operates.
If they take care with how they present themselves online, it usually reflects a more professional and organised approach to their services.
Most reputable removal companies will have an established website filled with useful information, including service pages, customer reviews, and details about how their process works. It is worth taking a bit of time to look through these pages so you understand exactly what is included in your move.
Keep an eye out for warning signs such as poorly written content, missing details, or incomplete contact information, as these can suggest a lack of attention to detail or a less reliable service.
Local Reputation
