HOW TO CHOOSE A REMOVAL COMPANY

When it comes to moving home, hiring a reliable removals company can make a big difference. They will take the stress out of your moving day by handling all the details of the move, allowing you to focus on settling into your new home.

Before choosing a removal company, there are several key factors to discuss, such as their insurance coverage. It's also important to inquire about any additional services they offer, like specialist packing or storage facilities, to ensure they meet your specific moving needs.

In this guide, we cover everything you should consider before making your final decision, helping you choose the right removal company for a smooth and stress-free move.

Hiring a Removal Company VS Doing it Yourself

Hiring a professional removal company is highly recommended over handling the move yourself. They’ll take the stress out of the process, allowing you to focus on other important tasks and giving you peace of mind.

Removal teams are experts in their field, ensuring the job is completed quickly and efficiently. You can trust the moving team to handle your fragile items with care, safely loading and unloading your belongings. Additionally, full-service moving companies can take the stress off your hands by handling the packing for you.

Removal companies will handle all the heavy lifting for you, ensuring your belongings are moved safely and efficiently. Since they are fully insured, this adds an extra layer of protection for your goods during transit, giving you peace of mind throughout the move.

Moving house yourself can be tiring and stressful. You will need to hire and load the van yourself. Your goods won’t be covered if anything is damaged, and it can be a long process on top of packing and finalising the details of your new home.

It’s recommended to book a removal company at least 4-6 weeks in advance to ensure they have availability and can accommodate your preferred moving date.

How Much Does a Removal Company Cost?

The average house removal cost for a 3-bedroom home is £806. However, the final price can vary depending on factors like the number of items, distance, and ease of access. For smaller moves, man with a van services may be a more affordable option.

Additional services, such as packing and furniture dismantling, will incur extra charges. Packing services typically cost around £250.

Tips for Choosing the Best Removals Company

Here are some aspects to consider when choosing a removals company:

1. Customer Service

A removal company should always be approachable and friendly, as you want to feel confident in the level of care provided. The team should be attentive, addressing any queries or concerns you may have along the way.

If a company is too pushy during the initial phone call and tries to pressure you with a hard sell, this can be off-putting. It’s important to choose a removal company that listens to your needs and ensures you're comfortable with the process.

Every Omni Removals partner will contact customers within 48 hours to discuss quotes, services, and answer any questions you may have.

2. Additional Services

Most removal companies can tailor their services to meet your specific needs. Popular additional services include packing, white glove delivery, and storage. Some companies may also provide high-quality packing materials for an extra charge.

It’s important to inform the company about any factors that could make your move more challenging. This includes things like flights of stairs, narrow streets, or parking restrictions. Letting them know in advance helps ensure they can plan accordingly and provide the best service possible.

3. Check Their Insurance

A trusted removal company should have both Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance to protect your belongings during the move and while in transit.

If you're moving internationally, international removals insurance is essential. Many international removal companies will also offer cargo or shipping insurance. It's important that the company provides you with physical proof of their insurance coverage to ensure you're fully protected.

4. Check Their Accreditations

A removal company's accreditations highlight their reliability and professionalism. Notable accreditations to look out for include:

The British Association of Removers (BAR)

The Road Haulage Organisation

FIDI Global Alliance

These organizations are independent and maintain high standards and expectations that must be met. By choosing an accredited removal company, you're more likely to receive a higher quality of service, ensuring your move is handled with care and professionalism.

5. Complaints Procedure

While you will always expect to receive a high-quality service, there may be discrepancies or issues that need to be acknowledged.

Before choosing a removals company, check what type of procedure they have in place.

6. Delay Charges

Unless previously agreed upon, most removal companies will charge a waiting fee if they experience delays on your moving day. It's important to clarify this with the company in advance to avoid any unexpected charges.

Delays are common on completion day, particularly if you're part of a property chain. It's important to ask the removal company about their delay charges and how they are calculated. Knowing these details in advance will help you avoid any unexpected costs once the move is complete.

7. Compare Quotes

When selecting a removals company, it’s crucial to compare several different quotes before making a final decision. This will help you find the best company for your needs, whether you're working with a specific budget or have additional requirements to consider.

Having several quotes to consider provides you with a clear idea of what you should expect to pay. It's always important to speak to each company to have a better understanding of the cost breakdown, and their charges.

Fill out our online removals form to be contacted by up to 6 professional moving companies in your local area today.

8. Cancellation Policy

Each removal company will have its own cancellation policy. Some may be more flexible, while others might charge a cancellation fee.

Although you may have planned your moving or completion day, unexpected changes can happen. It’s helpful to be aware of any potential penalties or charges you could incur if you need to cancel the service.

9. Check Company Reviews

Checking customer reviews is a great way to gain insight into whether a company delivers on the services they promise. Positive reviews can give you confidence in their reliability and professionalism.

Independent reviews are valuable because they offer honest and reliable feedback on a company's services. Since they are unbiased, they provide first-hand experiences, giving you a clear idea of what it’s like to work with the company.

10. Complete a Home Survey

Reputable removal companies will typically arrange a visit to your current home before the scheduled move. This allows them to assess the number of items you have and determine the complexity of the move.

If an in-person visit isn't possible, many companies offer a video survey as an alternative.

The home survey helps the company provide an accurate quote for their services, ensuring there are no unexpected charges or additional fees on your moving day.

How to Brief a Removal Company?

When organising a removals service, it's important to provide the company with as much information as possible. This allows them to plan the move efficiently, considering any special requirements you may have and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day of the move.

Here are some useful things you should include in your brief:

The Accurate Volume of Items

When you have a pre-move survey carried out, the removalists can determine how many items need to be moved.

Let Them Know of Any Access Issues To the Property

If there are stairs or awkward turnings to consider when moving, you need to be transparent about this. It will prepare the moving team beforehand.

Let Them Know of Any Parking Timing Restrictions

This will help to prevent any fines from occurring. The removals company may not be aware of any issues in the area so it’s up to the mover to make them aware of this.

Let Them Know Any Fragile Or Specific Items to Be Carefully Packed

Removalists are careful when handling goods. However, it’s important to be clear about what boxes contain fragile items. This allows them to take extra care to prevent any damage to high-value items.

Clear Instructions For Unpacking in the New Property

A removal company needs to know where you would like your boxes to be placed when unloaded. While some people will have them placed in one room, other movers may want them to be dispersed into the correct rooms. Providing them with a floor plan can help.

A good removal company will consider your requests. They will then provide feedback on whether they can tailor their services to meet your removal needs.

Omni Removals Can Help You to Choose a Removals Company

At Omni Removals, we connect you with the best trusted and verified removal partners in your local area. Each partner we work with has passed our rigorous verification process and consistently meets the high standards we set, ensuring a reliable and professional service for your move.

Fill out our online removals form to be contacted by up to 6 professional moving companies in your local area. They will provide you with a removals quote based on your specific needs.