How to compare removal companies
Comparing removal companies
Have you found having to compare removal companies to be a truly difficult task? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Fortunately, we’re here to help by illuminating some key steps and alleviating any worries you might have to ensure that you make the best decision when selecting a mover. We’ll outline some useful things to consider when organising a home removal below, so, read on!
Identify removal companies
Let’s start off with the basics. To begin the comparison process, you’ll need to identify removal companies that serve the route you wish to move. That’s right, sadly not every firm will operate to every destination in the world. In order to effectively compare removal companies, you’ll therefore need to do some market research, single out firms, evaluate the destinations they offer removals to, to see if your new home can be found amongst them, and finally request quotes to be able to compare prices… which is a lot of work, we know.
On the other hand, if you don’t have days of free time to contact all the companies in your area by yourself, we would recommend that you use a service like Sirelo where you can quickly and easily request removal quotes. This service will help you find up to 5 companies that can process your relocation and have them send you removal quotes as soon as possible, how nifty! Of course, the moving-related fun doesn’t stop here, so keep on reading!
Offered services
Identifying a company is merely the tip of the iceberg of what you’ll need to consider when comparing house removal companies. The next big thing you’ll need to look into is the services offered by these firms, as it’s likely that you’ll have needs specific to your move that will need to be fulfilled (such as moving a car or placing items in storage). Hence, it’s important to evaluate what each remover can actually offer. We advise that you make a list of the services you believe will be required for your relocation and ideally select the removal company that best matches your needs.
Just so you know, unless you happen to have a very specific or small move, it’s unlikely that you’ll have trouble finding a removal company. However, items with special requirements, such as a piano, may require specialists which may make it a little harder to find a suitable removal company, and might even make the move a little more expensive.
Remover associations
Another thing that is worth investigating when comparing removal firms is whether or not they are members of removal associations. If you’re carrying out a national removal, the two biggest UK associations you should be on the lookout for are the British Association of Removers and the National Guild of Removers and Storers. Being a member of these associations guarantees a level of quality and trustworthiness. Furthermore, should you encounter difficulties with a member, there’s even an ombudsman that you can call to settle a dispute.
Of course, if you’re moving further afield than the UK, you might find yourself enlisting the help of a removal company that is a member of an international association such as FIDI, IAM, or PAIMA. While these organisations don’t have an ombudsman, they do have some procedures for companies that do not act in line with their standards.
Since removal companies operating outside these institutions won’t have such a mechanism by which to seek redress, it’s a factor that you really should keep in mind when comparing house removal companies!
Read reviews
A piece of advice that can never be understated or repeated enough is to read the reviews customers have left regarding their moving experience with the companies you’re evaluating. The reasoning behind this is the fact that these reviews will often be the best insight for what you can expect from a removal company.
By reading reviews, you’ll know if the company has communication issues, tends to damage goods, the company is fictitious, or overestimates prices. Always be heedful of reviews when comparing moving companies and look out for companies with reviews that seem too good to be true, since there’s a high chance some of them are not completely authentic.
Request quotes for price comparison
The last piece of advice we can give you is to compare the house removal quotes provided by each of the firms in terms of price. As with comparison shopping for anything else, comparing prices is the best way to find a good rate. However, there are some things to be wary of when contrasting costs between firms. Just like Ryanair, low frills removal companies will, in most cases, have hidden extras that you’ll have to pay a high price for. In this way, when you receive the quote, you can and should most definitely ask what is actually included in the base price! You’d be surprised how much it costs to be this cheap…
Furthermore, you may also want to ask about the cost of extra services that you may be considering for your removal. What you might find is that the additional services (e.g.: loading, contents insurance, storage, etc.) will come with a premium price tag. Factoring in these additional costs will make comparing removal companies more accurate.
Voilà, that’s it! After reading this article, hopefully, you feel better prepared for when it’s finally time to compare house removal companies and their quotes. Don’t be afraid to take out your magnifying glass and scrutinise them. If you don’t, you’ll end up paying more than the market price for your move! So, go forth, be a savvy mover, and good luck.
