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One of the main causes of friction between customer and remover is when the van turns up for a small unvisited job to find it bears little resemblance to the job quoted. Even the most obliging remover in the
land may wish to renegotiate.
There are other reasons why the cost of your removal ends up being either higher than agreed, or higher than necessary. It's often the problem you haven't thought of which causes most grief. Removers are used to that - I once moved 3 seat sofa that had to come in through a sash window which had been subsequently double glazed, and as a result was built in.
If you have managed to find a good price for your small move, the chances are that yours will be one part of your removers load. Make sure you keep your side of the bargain.
Here are ten things to think about to ensure that everything goes well on the day and you pay the right price.
Preparation
- Make sure you have boxed up everything you possibly can. You will then decrease the risk of damage in transit, (allowing tidy and secure loading) and allow shorter loading and unloading time;
- Take the trouble to wrap vulnerable items properly. Most breakage is caused by poor or minimal protection;
- Don’t try to disassemble old flat pack chipboard furniture, these items rarely reconstruct properly;
- Make sure you are ready for the van on the day.
Communicating with Removal firms
- Think hard about how to describe the amount of stuff you are moving. People usually book a remover before they have packed, and it is not unusual to underestimate the volume of your possessions when boxed.
- Do not pay a separate charge for a removers insurance cover. Instead get your own policy from a student insurance specialist. It will be cheaper and more effective. Removers may well feature their own 'all risk' insurance, but exclusion and excess clauses may render policies useless. In fact your best insurance is to pack carefully and effectively;
- Do not pay to move things you don't need and later throw away. This may sound obvious, but it is also very common;
- If you manage to arrange a part load, you should be aware that it is date specific. The remover has another customer going the same way. Do not subsequently change the date and expect the price to stand as a right.
- Phone round plenty of companies to find one whose travel schedules coincide with yours. Part loading really is the way to save, so don’t be discouraged - be flexible;
- Consider and clearly describe problems of access at either end, and be sure to organise immediate access at the delivery end.
The author, Stephen Willett, has spent 25 years in various service industries, including the last 8 in the removals sector. He has recently set up www.student-movers-forum.com, an excellent resource for those looking to move.
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