Moving a house or an office is a big job, and it requires a few people to make it happen. Moving happens after finding an agent, a buyer, selling a house or space, or when you found a new place to move in. To make moving easier, finding a good removal company is one of the best options. If you’ve never tried using a removal company to move house before, it can be a minefield trying to figure out how to find the best one that will cater to your needs.
According to Mark Rees, owner of one of the longest standing and most experienced Perth removalists, the number one tip, is to rely on word-of-mouth. Talk to your friends and family and ask if they have used a good removal company. The next best thing is to research on Google and to read up on reviews. But mind you, many of those reviews can be fake as well.
When you search online for a removal company, there will be lots of options for you, which makes it difficult. But there are many great removal companies out there. For example, if you live in the United Kingdom, you can check out Macro Removals, which offers both house and office removals, and other additional services.
Determining who to trust with the relocation of your prized possessions at a time when you’re going to be pretty much stressed out is the last thing you might want to do. But no worries, because we are here to help you out. Today, we are giving you the best tips on how to find a good removal company.
What Does a Removal Company Do?
A removal company is the one that will take on most of the hard work that goes into making the physical move. It is also sometimes called a moving company, removalist, or van line. Removal companies offer all-inclusive services for relocations, such as packing, loading, moving, unloading, unpacking, and even arranging of the things to be shifted. Other companies may also offer additional services, like cleaning for houses, offices, or warehousing facilities.
In the United States, the cost for long-distance moves is usually determined by the weight of the items to be moved, the distance, how fast the items should be moved, and as well as the time of the year or month when the move takes place. But in the United Kingdom and Australia, the price is usually based on the volume of the items. Some companies might also offer flat-rate pricing.
The moving process of a removal company also includes finding or buying materials, like paper, tape, boxes, and bubble wrap, which are used to pack or protect fragile items. There are also other companies that offer self-service moving, where the person moving purchases space on one or more trailers or shipping containers. These containers will then be driven by professionals to the new location.
Tips on Finding a Good Removal Company
If you are moving to a new location soon, and looking for a good removal company to help you out, here are the best tips we can give for you to find the best one for your needs:
Try to search for a good removal company near you
Yes, the internet is an easier way to find a lot of things. However, searching the internet sometimes feels like there’s a lot of quantity over quality. If you are looking for a good removal company, you can narrow down your list to companies that are within your geographical area. Doing that before starting to compare all the prices and options can help you find the best one easier.
List down your requirements and get quotes
Before choosing, try to have around 5 to 6 companies under consideration. Then, think about what your requirements are. For example, do you need them to pack up your belongings for moving house or for storage? Or are you moving house, or office, or worried about fragile things like appliances? The more details you include in your list, the easier it will be for you to find the right company that will wow you with their responses.
Check the services offered by the company, especially if you are moving items to storage
If you are planning to move your items to storage and also wondering how you’d get your things there in the first place, there are removal companies that offer both moving and storage solutions. All you have to do is pack up your things on your location, and they will take care of the rest.
Read reviews and compare several removal companies
One of the best ways to choose a good removal company is to read reviews by past customers. You can also try to search for comparison sites to make your search a bit easier. Aside from that, you can also ask your friends or family members who have hired a removal company before and see if they’d recommend the company based on their experiences.
Know about insurance
When searching for a removal company, it is also important to know the level of insurance offered by your potential removal company. Add to it with your own insurance if needed.
Secure a pre-move survey
A pre-move survey will enable the removal company to properly assess how long it will take to move your belongings, and as well as how many people are needed. Aside from that, this also allows you to check out the company and ensure that you are sure to let them handle all your possessions.
Know if there’s a delay policy
Once you found a potential removal company, it is also helpful to be aware of their delays policy. It’s because sometimes, delays happen for reasons beyond your control on moving day. That’s why it helps to be aware of it in advance and factor it in your considerations.
Before moving day, know about the complaints policy
It’s also great if you are prepared for this. Also, a good removal company will have no problem with you asking about the complaints policy. Therefore, have documents on hand just in case anything does go misaligned.
Three Basic Steps in Filing Complaint Report
Finding a good removal company may seem to be overwhelming, but remember that it’s your personal belongings that are at stake. Good preparation will save the day, no matter how daunting the task may seem. Learning the complaints policy is one of the best ways to prepare before you move. A customer complaint is a feedback from a purchaser about a problem with a company’s products, services, or operations. This feedback provides an opportunity for businesses to provide excellent customer service by addressing complaints and providing resolutions. To give you more insights, here are essential steps in filing a complaint report when things go haywire.
1. Identify the service that did not meet your expectation
Depending on the gravity of your concern, it’s always the first step to assess what service from your removal company did not exceed the expected service. Raising concerns provides an opportunity for service providers to become aware of issues, find solutions and improve their service in the future. Focus on the facts, such as how many items were not delivered or met unwanted circumstances, such as being broken while doing the removal service. Remember, a complaint that details the dissatisfaction with service will assist the provider in understanding and assessing your complaint.
2. Put your concerns into writing
More complex or less urgent concerns are best put in writing. Writing a letter allows you to summarize relevant information in one document and present it logically, making it easier for the service provider to understand your complaint. You may also take pictures and record videos to back up your concern. If your removal company offers feedback or a complaint form, the task will be faster and easier. Provide brief background information about the issue and outline your steps to make amends for the situation. Please include the time, date, name of the driver or employee you spoke with, and their response. Attaching a copy of the form, letter, or document relating to your complaint may also be helpful.
3. Ask for direct help from the removal company
Your complaint is most effective if you address the concern to the proper authorities. It may seem an impulse reaction to post online the unwanted services you experience rather than directly talking to the company, but remember, for the problem to be addressed immediately, it speaks to the persons involved. When you want actual results and aim to improve the quality of service, discuss the complaint with the company’s customer service.
These are some of the best tips we can give on how to find a good removal company. We hope these will help you in finding the perfect removal company to make your move easier and hassle-free.