Why and When You Need to Hire a Removal Company

Moving is an exciting and emotional venture. Demanding, however, too! You look around and realize that you’ll need to somehow box-up your entire life or business, stuff it into a van, and move it safely to your new place. It’s an overwhelming thought, let alone making it happen. And if you think you can do it by yourself, think again! Even if you summon a small “army” of family and friends, chances are everything ends up in total chaos, lost and damaged belongings, angry neighbors (both, old and new!), and, all in all, quite a frustrating experience.

Luckily, there’s a reasonable option that will spare you all the trouble. Just hire professional movers! This short guide outlines the main points on why, how and when to secure relocation services for a stress-free move.

Even if we think it’s quite obvious, let’s make it plain to see:

Professional movers:

• have the manpower to handle all the packing (and unpacking, too!), carrying, dragging, heavy lifting, loading and unloading;
• have the professional training, experience, tools and equipment to go through the entire process with due diligence and reliability;
• ensure fast, efficient and safe relocation, usually within just a few hours;
• are held accountable and liable; after all, it’s a business transaction – you pay, they deliver!
• spare you the hustle, the time and, Yes!, often the money, too, for organizing the move, a complicated process in itself that requires serious attention to detail and poses quite a number of issues that need to be properly addressed;

All that said, and more left unmentioned, should have already made it clear that at moving homes, businesses or just cleaning up the garage, hiring the services of a removal company would be your best move (pun intended!). They simply know what to do and how to do it properly, fast and stress-free!

As mentioned above, hiring the services of professional movers is a business deal and as such, you need to choose wisely your business contractor. Often, the choice gets based on word-to-mouth reputation. Sure, personal recommendations are helpful, but would those be enough to decide on whether a certain moving services provider is 100% reliable?

What we would advise instead is:

#1 Research

• Browse through the information available in various sources.
• Make sure to choose a company providing the services you need in particular. Those vary. It matters whether you are moving to a new home in a new town, or just moving things to an in-town storage facility, for example.
• Start with researching local removal companies first, since those would know best their way around.
• Make sure your candidates have the proper credentials. Ask them to show you their professional licenses, references, insurance policies, etc. business-related documents. In short, make sure they are legit.
• Get several offers and compare. Make sure you are offered an accurate and honest estimate, without any “hidden” fees or unexpected extra costs. Ask for binding quote possibilities, and get to know about cancellation policies and liability coverage they are prepared to offer.
• Discuss details. Make it clear what, where to and when you need to move, and get to know what their requirements would be on the matter. What will they and what won’t they move? How long will they need to do the job? How do you get and stay in touch with them and with the men and driver(s) on site? Getting straight such details is crucial for successful and stress-free actions on both sides.
• Clear out all details about payment terms and conditions.

#2 Monitor & Control

• Together with a representative of the moving company prepare a thorough inventory to estimate the volume and weight of the shipment, two key elements for setting up the final price. A reliable estimator will ask questions and will take detailed notes.
• Don’t ever sign ‘blank’ papers. Read your contract carefully and make sure all details of the business are duly described in it, that the inventory list of your belongings and the mover’s estimate are properly attached thereto, that all prices, dates, payment etc. terms are clearly stated.
• Don’t make any large advance payments, nor give cash “deposits” to members of the moving team. In fact, a moving company of good repute won’t even demand any sizable cash or bank payments up front, save only a reasonable small deposit, often refundable, or a standard Advance Payment Guarantee (APG). You should be expected to pay only when the job is done and you confirm all your things have been safely relocated.
• Should you choose to have the movers pack your things, strictly monitor their work and make sure all your belongings are being carefully packed and properly labeled according to the inventory list.
• At the destination point carefully check what has arrived according to the inventory list and the mover’s bill of lading. Open boxes and check for damage in the presence of a representative of the moving company. In case of any problems, list these in a written statement and make the representative sign. Only then you’ll have the right to file a complaint and claim compensations for possibly damaged belongings.

#3 Get insured

Your belongings may well be insured at your old place. You might even have them included in the insurance policy of the new place, too. But they won’t be covered for the time on the road, between start and destination points. So, you’ll need to get them insured properly. There are various options and variants of insurance policies to cover goods in transit, and it is a matter of choosing the best insurance terms your movers can offer.

As to “when” would the best time be to hire a professional moving services provider, there’s nothing “set in stone”. Ideally, you should be done with all the research and negotiation work some 2 months before the moving day. At least! Most moving companies are booked for months ahead. Besides, the earlier you start, the better options and better deals you’ll find. Cheaper, too! “Last minute”-booking can be very expensive.

Another issue to take into consideration is the seasonal factor. Usually, summer and early fall are the busiest months for moving companies, so, if possible, try to avoid the peak season.

The “when” will also strongly depend on “where to”. International, inter-state and inter-city relocations require way more to organize and take care of, hence, way more time in advance to book a moving company. For moving within the same town or for just clearing out some premises, on the other hand, a couple of weeks would well be an option, especially off-season.

Published in: Home advice | Author: Rossitsa