Removals companies are easy to find, but how do you know they’re the best for you? The removal process is stressful and the last thing you want is for something to go wrong. To ensure this doesn’t happen there are some key questions you should ask any potential removal company.
1) Are they a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR)?
Members of the BAR are willing to be held up to a minimum standard, whether this is with regards to legal and licensed vehicles or protection for your deposits and items being removed. The firms that shirk away from this commitment quite often either don’t have the available funds to provide quality vehicles or they could very easily be fraudulent. Should something go wrong with a company who doesn’t have a membership, you could struggle to find another route of redress other than civil courts.
2) What insurance do they offer?
Not all companies provide insurance for your items in transit. With no insurance, if something goes wrong it could cost you a lot of money. It’s vital. Whether you make use of the removal company’s insurance or your own separate policy however is your choice. Combined with other policies, external removal insurance can often have lower premiums.
3) Do they have references they can supply?
Genuine customer feedback can be incredibly useful when making your decision. However reputable and professional a company may be, you have to make sure they can suit your needs for the removal; fragile, awkward or bulky items can prove a challenge for even the best removal companies.
4) Survey
There should always be a survey taken before your move is made, followed by a written quotation and a fixed price that includes ALL costs. Over the phone estimates are often far from accurate. Not only does the removal company need to be aware of the layout of the property, the quantity of items to be moved and any fragile, bulky or awkward items, but they need to be able to assess what equipment they need and how many staff. Without a survey there could be some nasty extra costs and time added to the move.
5) How will the move be conducted?
You need to be aware of exactly how the move will progress – after all it takes place in your property. Vehicles need to be of appropriate size to make as few journeys between locations as possible. The company might be able to supply you will packing boxes and other materials. Even equipment such as SatNav, blankets and sheets can all make the move a much smoother process. In terms of contact and payments, ensure that their number is a landline, the address isn’t just a PO box and payment can be made in other methods than cash. These are all possible signs of a fraudulent company.
6) How are their staff trained, are they fully employed?
Well trained staff are essential, not only for protecting your goods, but for protecting you. Poorly trained staff who become injured while moving your goods could leave you liable to supply compensation. Similarly ensuring they are fully employed, rather than just a casual contractor is important since fully employed staff are more likely to take better care of your goods.
By ensuring the company is reputable, your move is likely to go far smoother. Ask the right questions, look around many different companies and compare them and you can reduce the stress of your move massively.