With hundreds of removal companies in the UK, how do you know you are choosing the best company for your moving day?

You will have trawled the internet and found a few companies with great offers. You’ll have ready countless reviews and ratings but feel you still need to know more. Here are some questions you should ask to make sure they’re the right company for you:

1. How long have you been in the business?

   This might be the most telling information you can get from your prospect mover. If they were able to stay in business for several years even with a lot of competitors, that means they provide excellent customer service.
   Here at LMS, we have been in business for 10 years, which gives us a solid grounding and shows that we’re still thriving and receiving excellent feedback despite all of the competition.

2. What’s Included in your quote?

   Nobody ever wants a surprise bill regardless of the item or service. Make sure this is asked and make sure you have a clear knowledge of the package inclusions, as well as the fees that could pile up during the move. It could be a “heavy item” surcharge or additional fuel expenses. Remember to always ask your mover about any and all additional costs. It’s also important to clarify if the packing service includes dismantling and purchasing of packing materials, as well as organising permits.
   Our quotes cover everything and we will never give anybody a surprise bill at the end of the job. Throughout our discussions, we will cover everything with you to ensure you understand exactly what is included and what may be an extra (additional services for example).

3. When do I pay?

   Once you have a clear idea of the moving costs, you should know when and how to pay. Removal companies have different payment terms and methods–just choose what works best for you.
   We request that a 50% deposit is paid to secure your booking and then the other 50% be paid on completion.

4. Are there any items you won’t take?

   This question should be high up on your list of questions to ask. Are there items that can’t be in their vehicle? Most of the time movers prohibit flammables, paints, acids, and corrosives. Some also have weight restrictions. These are due to health and safety regulations or are considered dangerous. So before you hire a removal company, check first if they will allow your stuff to be loaded and moved to your new location.
   We can move almost anything (not hazardous). If there’s something unusual or specific you’d like to move, please get in touch.

5. How big are your vehicles?
   

   Two of the most common moving fails are damaged furniture and delicate possessions breaking. Wardrobes are usually a headache, followed by fragile items like vases or mirrors. It’s essential to know what kind of vans and lorries the removal company is using so you can rest assured that your household items will fit inside and won’t get any damage.
   We have all vehicles available for any-sized moves.

6. What sort of time frame are you looking at?

   There are several factors that can affect the duration of the move. It can last days or even weeks depending on the weather, complexity of the job, distance, and holidays. Roadworks can also cause delays, especially if the movers have to take a longer route. The amount of time it will take will depend on a variety of factors, including those that need dismantling and rebuilding can determine the time it will take to finish relocating. If you make sure you’re completely open with the movers, they will be able to give you a rough estimate of time – meaning you can plan to move things around that.

7. When Will They Conduct A Survey?

   The home removal survey is one of the most crucial events before the move. This is their chance to look at what the job requires and to come up with the plan that will get your things to your new house. They can assess first-hand what needs doing and what items are going to be tricky. It allows them to tailor the service based on exactly what you need. Making sure you know when they’re going to conduct it will allow you to give them plenty of time to really make sure they’ve surveyed everything.
   We try to make the survey as simple as possible for our customers and this can often be done over the phone or on a video call. Sometimes, we will need to pop out to see you but this is done at a mutually convenient time and all in-person removal surveys are conducted by the Owner of LMS, Lee Robinson.

8. Do They Supply Packing Materials? Such As Packing Boxes, Tapes, etc.

   This is important because not all moving companies do offer this service. And the last thing you want on moving home is to spend a fortune to buy packing boxes and packing material online and then to find out they are unsuitable to use. So, make sure you know if you need to supply your own removal boxes, or if the company will supply them for you (also make sure you know if the boxes are included in your quote, or if you need to pay for them separately). Some companies will sell you ‘packing sets’ which contain everything you need to pack for your move. Will they provide wardrobe cartons, blankets, mattress protection, and other protective materials (such as television bags) on moving day for your belongings? How your belongings are protected during your move is critical to their safe arrival at your new home. It’s worth finding this out beforehand to avoid any nasty surprises and make your home moving experience less stressful and more enjoyable!
   We offer a few removal packing services for you to choose from which are:

   1. Part removal packing services: Our packing team will carefully pack and load delicate items such as glassware, mirrors, paintings, crockery etc.
   2. Full removal packing services: Leave it all for us! Our professional team of packers will carefully make sure all your belongings are packaged up – damage free!
   3. DIY: We can get all the professional moving boxes and materials delivered to your door as a self-packing option.

9. Do they have Removals Insurance?

   Nobody likes when accidents happen or things go wrong, but they can occasionally happen during a removal. Find out what insurance the company offers, how much it costs and what it covers. You may also be able to use your contents or house insurance, but make sure to verify this with your insurance company before the move – and keep in mind that if you need to claim against your own insurance, your future premiums may rise.
   Here at LMS, we don’t charge extra for insurance. As a removal company, we feel that insurance should be a given. You shouldn’t be charged extra for this.

10. Do you offer insurance for delays and cancellations?

    Most removal companies will have a sliding scale of how much you’ll need to pay if you cancel your booked removal, depending on how close to moving day the cancellation happens. Chains sometimes fall through, completion can be delayed or changed, or you don’t get your keys on time on completion day. Ask about insurance for cancellations, changing the date of your removal, or a delay in receiving your keys on moving day.
    We offer a 24-hour unlimited deposit transfer scheme. You can give us 24 hours’ notice of a date change and transfer the deposit to a new date. If we can’t accommodate the new move date, your deposit is refunded.

11. Do you disconnect and reconnect appliances?

    Some removal companies require appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers to be disconnected and drained prior to being moved.
    At LMS, it’s part of the service!

12. What other services do you offer?

    Most removal companies can do so much more for their customers.
    Additional services could be:
    Professional Packing – packing is without a doubt stressful for everyone. Getting a professional packing service takes away this stress but also minimises the chances of things being damaged.
    Packing Materials – can they supply these if you’re packing your own house?
    Storage – This may come in handy if you’re downsizing for example and need items put into temporary storage.
    End of Tenancy Cleaning – using the same company means everything will run as smoothly as possible on moving day. You can take a look at our cleaning and clearance services here for more information
    Dismantling and Reassembly Services
    We offer all of these services. The full works! Talk to us today and we can tailor your move specifically to you.

If you are moving soon and would like to price your move, please contact us on 0116 43000 47 and our friendly team is here to help you. Why not get a quote today?