1. Membership in Professional Organizations
Most reputable removal companies belong to professional organisations, such as the British Association of Removers. While it may not be required to be part of a professional organisation in order to operate as a removal service, it does mean that the company meets the standards that are set forth by the association if they are considered a member in good standing.
2. Availability of Services
If you have a specific date, or dates, in mind for your move, your first priority should be identifying removal services which can accommodate that schedule. This can be especially important if you are moving during a peak period, such as on a Saturday in the summer. Any other aspects the service may provide are irrelevant if they cannot work with you on your desired date. The same goes for issues of location. Services may have limited pickup or delivery options depending on their service area. Before gathering any other information about the removal service costs or offerings, make sure they can relocate your goods from your current location to your selected destination.
3. Costs and Quotes
Removal services may be charged in different ways. Some charge based on an understanding of the entire job, while others may offer to charge by the hour. You may find that your preferred option for determining cost varies depending on the kind of move you are completing. For example, if you are simply relocating a few key items across town, you may prefer a removal man who will quote an hourly rate. Since your needs will not take the majority of a day, it may lead to a lower cost overall, especially if those who quote by the job have any mandatory minimum charges that can elevate the price of an otherwise simple job. However, if you believe your move will take a day or more, a quote for the entire job may be preferable. This is due to the fact that it allows you to fully understand all of the costs associated with the removal service prior to the work being completed. Additionally, it allows for accommodation of small changes to the timeline based on unforeseen circumstances, like traffic jams or stormy conditions, without incurring additional costs like you would with an hourly service. Understand that your honesty regarding the details of your move are what lead to an accurate quote. Failure to disclose certain information, or forgetting to include items in storage areas (such as garages or attics) may lead to surprise charges on removal day. Further, if the company was not prepared for the volume of items, they may not bring the proper sized vans or the necessary equipments.
4. Include Insurance
While the majority of removal services will have insurance should your items be damaged in transit, it is important to confirm this before making a final selection. It would be a shame to assume that damages would be covered only to discover that is not the case after something of value is damaged. Make sure and contact your home insurance provider to determine if your policy also covers damage of items when moving. While the use of such coverage may not be necessary if the removal company is properly insured, it is helpful to have this as a supplement.
5. Additional Services
If you require additional services, such as the dismantling of large furniture items or special packing materials for delicate items, make sure to cover this information with the removal service before the day of your move. Again, they may be unable to meet your request, if they are not properly informed which may prevent your move from being completed in your desired fashion.
6. Making a Final Decision
Once all of those aspects have been covered, you should have enough information to make an informed decision regarding your selection. If any changes occur before your scheduled removal date, make sure to contact the company immediately to discuss the changes. Featured photo credit: http://www.timeout.com/ via media.timeout.com
