Check out our handy blog posts for more information on what to prepare before you move and how to ensure you have a stress-free home move:
The Ultimate Guide to a Stress-Free House Move
What Do You Need When Moving Across the UK?
Most removal companies will offer a packing service, but it is not always including in their standard pricing. A man & van on the other hand, is less likely to offer a packing service as standard, but may still offer something as an optional add-on.
The best thing to do is to ask if they can provide a packing service. Make sure you let them know if this is something you require when you instruct them so they can dedicate sufficient time to complete your packing and include it in your quote to ensure you will be aware of the costs - and avoid any nasty surprises!
Some removal companies will partner with storage facilities to offer their clients a recommended storage solution during the move, but this is not always the case. Ask if they have storage facilities available or can recommend somewhere, and if your removal company can't provide any help, try searching online for a storage comparison site. If you need some ideas for what to do with your excess belongings during your move, check out our guide, Downsizing: 5 Things to Do With Your Extra Clutter
Ask the removal company what size vans and lorries they have. You do not want to have to wait whilst small vans are loaded/moved and then unloaded. One large pantechnicon should be available if appropriate.
The main van sizes you will find are:
Ask your removal firm if they supply packing boxes, and how many boxes they will bring in advance. Some will sell you sets of packing boxes; some will be able to provide them as part of the move (always ask for double-walled boxes as these are stronger). Get plenty of tape and arm yourself with a small cutter to open the boxes at the other end. Many firms also have special book boxes or wine racks.
Check that the removal company has a good supply of moving equipment:
These pieces of equipment can make the difference between a bad and a good move.
Are their members of staff trained? Who by? The British Association of Removers, or BAR, and other trade associations run training programmes which can be attended by removals firms. Not all removal companies will choose to use formal training qualifications or courses for their staff, but they should at least be able to give you some information on how experienced their staff are and what qualifies them to service your move. Any formal qualifications or membership of official trade bodies is a bonus.
The National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS) are one of the multiple official bodies that removal companies can join and they offer an independent ombudsman service to help protect consumers when a dispute arises with a removal company during a move.
There is also another official body for complaints resolution in the removals industry. The Removals Ombudsman operates the Removals Industry Ombudsman Scheme to resolve any disputes that have not reached a satisfactory conclusion through the National Guild of Removers and Storers.
Removal insurance is essential for most home moves - especially if you have a number of high value items that will need to be transported. Any good removal company will have a standard insurance policy that will cover any damages up to a certain amount. However, you should always check how much cover this policy will provide, as you may want to supplement this is you have precious items that the removal company's insurance policy won't cover.
Ask to see details of their insurance. Check that you don’t need to supplement this if you have some precious items that their insurance doesn’t cover during the move. Many household contents insurance policies do not cover standard household items in transit.
Find out more about removal insurance in our handy blog post here: 7 Important Questions to Ask When Choosing Removals Insurance
