Finding the right removal firm for your upcoming move

Getting the right people to help you move home is so important. This means your estate agent, your conveyancer and the people that will do the physical heavy lifting. Choosing the right removal firm will make a big difference, not only on moving day itself, but before and after your move.

Reviews and Recommendations

A good place to start looking for a removal firm you can trust is to ask people you know. This could be friends, family, or your property move team, like your estate agent and conveyancer. 
After you have been signposted to a few companies it’s time to do some research for yourself. People move home infrequently so it’s always a good idea to check for recent reviews. 
If property professionals have themselves used a particular company when moving home, it’s normally a pretty good sign that they’re the best.

Do Your Research

You have looked at the reviews on the company website, social media pages and an independent review site, like Google Reviews or Trustpilot. There’s a few bad ones but mostly positive. Should you just leave it at that and book with them? Of course, you could but there are a few more recommended steps to take.

• Ask the company if they would be happy to ask previous customers’ if they can give you their contact details. You can then have a real-life conversation with someone to explore the service they received. If the company decline, that’s a red flag
• Ask the company what their insurance policy is. Ask them to send you a copy. This is standard practice so if they have any objections, you know this is another red flag.

Check the T&Cs 

It’s easy for someone to ping you a quote: “That’ll be £5,000 for your move”. What should also be attached are their terms & conditions. It’s important that you get these to look through and that you actually read them.

The British Association of Removers have a set that are good. Even better companies will adapt them to their own requirements.

Extra Suggestions

When it comes to arranging a moving date, exchanges and completions can be a moveable feast. One removal firm we spoke to described it as ‘like juggling jelly’. Find out how good the removal firm is at communicating. What methods will they use? Email, phone, text, social media? You need to know that they will keep lines of communication open throughout, what can be a very tense time.

Sometimes, you can judge a book by its cover. It helps if the firm has a clear, concise website and if the staff and offices are presented tidily. Check their vehicles are clean and in good condition and ask about smoking. The last thing you want is your furniture, clothing and valuables smelling like smoke.

DIY

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful. If you give yourself plenty of time when boxing things up, labelling and getting organised, you could hire your own van/vans and do it yourself. Get family and friends on board and treat them to a well-deserved takeaway when the job is done.

disclaimer We DO NOT recommend moving your prized possessions like in the photo above!

Bonus Tip

Did you know, many insurers will be able to extend your existing contents cover. This means that when the movers are in your home, you’ll have extra cover. It’s always worth taking a ‘worst-case scenario’ approach.

If you need any recommendations, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.

Happy Moving!

Barry & Laura

Copyright Butler Residential