Moving home is on the list of the most stressful life events you're likely to face. Here's how to make that move hassle-free by choosing the right removalist for you.
Do you really need a removalist?
Never make the mistake of thinking that you can move home easily and without professional help. Moving takes a lot of mental and physical organisation. It's easy enough to pack your belongings into boxes, but loading them in and out of vans while carrying them up and down flights of stairs is another thing altogether.
If you have a lot of furniture to move or a large quantity of valuable, fragile items, it's best to choose a good professional removalist to do the work for you allowing you to concentrate on organising the rest of your move.
Quotes and estimates
Always get several quotes from reputable, professional removalist firms such as Rumbles Removal & Storage. Compare prices versus the service you'll receive from different companies before making your decision; many of the bigger firms offer a packing service too which is useful if you work full time and have a lot of belongings to pack up.
Expect the removalist to send a representative out to your home to look at what you have to move. This allows them to give you a more accurate quote and to provide the correct size of removal vehicle on the day.
Remember to ask if the company has comprehensive damage insurance and always read the small print in the contract before you sign it. Check with your home insurance provider to make sure that anything of particularly high value is covered independently just in case of breakages during the move. For your own peace of mind, it's worth taking small items of special sentimental value with you, rather than sending them on the removal van just in case they are lost in transit.
Negotiate on price
It may be possible to get a discount from the removalist. Peak times, such as weekends and during school holidays will be more expensive due to the high demand at these times. If possible, arrange your move for a normal working week day when rates should be cheaper and you might be able to negotiate a discount.
Allow plenty of time
Start searching for a removalist well before your move date. The quotation process can take a couple of weeks and good firms get booked up weeks in advance, so always start your search well before your completion date.
Plan ahead
Give your chosen removalist details of your new property's layout and access points, for example, will furniture fit through the doors; how many flights of stairs are there and are there any alternative access routes? This is all useful information that will allow for forward planning and thus make the removalists' job easier on the day.
Recommendation
By far the best way to choose a removalist is by positive recommendation from someone you know. If someone has moved into your street recently, it might be worth asking them who they used for the move and how it went.
These days, social media is a great place to reach out and ask for advice and feedback from others who have recently moved house. People are very keen to give their own 'warts-and-all' opinions and reviews on how their removal company performed and this can be extremely revealing.
Conclusion
Moving home need not be a stressful experience. Take the time to research removal firms; ask pertinent questions and enjoy a hassle-free relocation.
