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An Essential Removals Guide
When Moving Home

as featured in the Argus Essential Moving guide

PLANNING:

It’s always a good idea when moving to plan in advance, so you do not have to wait for a move date to start receiving quotes. Firstly you’ll have to decide which service you require, Chess Moves and other similar companies specialise in domestic removals. We will provide a written quote to handle your move (including the packing if you wish) and provide uniformed, experienced porters to carry out the job based on that set price. You could also choose a “Man with a Van” service (also provided by Chess Moves), which is carried out and charged on an hourly rate. However the cost could mount up if there is any sort of delay (ie traffic or waiting for your keys). A “Man with a Van” service could work out cheaper for a single or small amount of items. If moving anything larger then a studio / 1 bedroom flat, it is best to go with the safer set price, so you know from the start what you will be paying.

Now unless you know whom you want to move with, you’re more then likely going to shop around. Try asking friends and family which company they have used and did the move go smoothly? Were all items handled with care? Did the porters make them feel at ease throughout the day and of course, would they recommend that company? At Chess Moves we pride ourselves on our high recommendation rate.

Unless unavoidable, try to avoid removal quotes over the phone; you’ll be putting yourself at risk for extra charges if you forget about some items or furniture etc. Anyway it’s always good to meet the company who you will be trusting to handle your goods. When meeting the representatives from each company, don’t be afraid to ask questions and when they are being answered, do you feel re-assured?

TIP: Ask if there are any key waiting charges. It is presumed you will receive your keys (if not already owned) between approximately 12.00pm – 2.00pm on the day. However any longer then that may result in a charge of up to £50 an hour with some companies.

Try to avoid allowing the representative sitting you down and giving you a sales pitch, the aim of us visiting is to asses your moving requirements. Companies shouldn’t be keeping you for hours, telling you how good they are.

After you have met with the representative, you will be provided with your written quotation.

IMPORTANT: Ensure when receiving your quote you also receive a copy of the companies Terms & Conditions. This will explain everything you need to know like insurance policies and any additional charges. Go through these as T&C’s vary between companies. If a company can not produce a set of Terms & Conditions, it is more than likely they are not fully insured, therefore you are unlikely to be compensated for any damage which may occur.

Of course with anything in life, it is important not to be charged over the odds. But do however be wary of any quotes which seem too good to be true. For example, a company with overheads such as insurance policies, public liability, regular vehicle maintenance and staff training procedures are unlikely to provide a quote for £200 to move your house!

TIP: Larger and therefore more experienced companies like Chess Moves will be V.A.T registered (required by law). If a company is charging V.A.T on the quote there should also be the companies V.A.T number: this also applies with your final invoice.

Once you are given an indication of your move date, liaise with your desired moving company to ensure they have the availability. Keep your removal company informed of the provisional dates that you and your solicitors are aiming for. When you know the date you are completing, 2 weeks notice is normally sufficient for a removal company.

TIP: If you are fortunate enough to have some input into the completion date of your new purchase try and avoid Fridays, as some companies may charge extra as Fridays are generally the busiest days for moving.

Now you have accepted a quote you should ensure you have the details in writing, i.e the date, the start time and the of course the cost

PACKING & PREPARING

f you decided to do the packing yourself, your removal company should be able to provide all the packing materials you’ll require for your move i.e. boxes, bubble wrap etc. These will either be included with the move, or supplied at a discounted rate (refer to your original quote). This is of course if you are not treating yourself to a “Full Packing Service”.

TIP: If your new property has poor access due to parking restrictions and/or busy streets, then you can phone the local council and make reservations outside. The space required depends on the size of the van(s) your Removal Company will use, and normally 2 weeks notice is sufficient.

TIP: If you have young children, it might be less stressful for you, if on the day they could be babysat away from your home. Similarly although it’s very tempting, having a lot of family members/friends present during “loading” and “unloading” on the day may slightly delay the fast moving porters. However who you have present on the day is of course up to you.

So now your only weeks away from your move, time to venture into that loft, or delve into the shed and sort out what comes with you – and what doesn’t. Daunting thought, but it is important not to leave this task till the last minute. Make a start on packing the boxes. Most removal companies, and rightly so, will not be liable for any items damaged if packed poorly. This is not to say that the Porters will be heavy handed, but you wouldn’t expect plates, glasses or fine china to survive transit if they were just placed in a box with no protection.

TIP: To save a little money start saving your newspapers well in advance. These will come in handy for wrapping kitchen items.

Ensure no items are left freely rattling in a box.

TIP: Try using things like pillows, or old items of clothing to fill gaps, and protect items in the box.

Some people bubble wrap things like hanging pictures, mirrors and flat screen Televisions. Feel free to do this for your own peace of mind, but any respectable company should wrap these items anyway (normally with thick transit blankets).

TIP: Normally you do not have to empty the contents of Chest of Drawers (check with your company first), which could save a bit of time.

IMPORTANT: Complete most of if not all of the packing before the removal company arrive (apart from any essentials such as cleaning materials etc, which cannot be packed until the last minute). You’ll be surprised at how efficiently some companies can “load” your contents into their vans. It could considerably pro-long the day if you still have packing to finish, which could lead to extra charges.

TIP: Mark the destination for each box in large clear writing i.e bedroom 1, or bedroom 3. This will save you being asked every two seconds when the van(s) are being “unloaded”.

If your quote doesn’t include the dismantling and/or re-assembling of necessary items such as dining table or beds etc then try to have these dismantled before the removal company arrive. If any dismantling/re-assembling is going to be carried out by the porters, then it should be indicated on your quote.

TIP: If down to you, you could dismantle things like double beds the night before - that’s if you don’t mind sleeping on just a mattress for one night.

MOVING DAY

Hopefully you remembered not to pack the kettle or the tea bags! So pour yourself a cup, and finish off packing that last box. Most removal companies will not be insured for jewellery or important documents such as passports (refer to your Terms & Conditions) so try to travel to your new home with these things on your persons. Now the removal company have arrived, why not treat the porters to a nice “cuppa” (trust me, they’ll appreciate it). Try to relax as much as possible, providing you’ve chosen a respectable company, then you’re in the hands of the experts. Remember these guys move houses for a living, so they know what they’re doing.

TIP: Once all your home contents have been “loaded” take one last sweep of the house, room by room, to ensure nothing is left behind.

I know it may seem stressful, but the transfer of monies and receiving of your new keys are out of your hands. Let your solicitors take care of that for you. Normally you are required by law to be out of your property (“loaded”) by around 12:00 – 01:00 pm. If you haven’t received your new keys yet it’s not a problem, take the time for some lunch, the porters will more then likely do the same. As soon as you get the call saying you can pick up your new keys, inform the porters and you’re nearly there!

Once the unloading begins if you marked the boxes with the corresponding rooms, then the porters will just place them accordingly. You should not be left with all the boxes in one room, like the lounge for example, unless you’ve requested. If a piece of furniture is in the wrong room do not be afraid to ask for it to be moved to the correct one, this is after all what you’re paying for. However, please remember these guys are removal porters, not interior designers, so try to have a good idea of “what goes where” from the start.

Depending on the company you’ve used, damage to any items this is unlikely. However please try to remember that porters are only human and accidents can happen.

TIP: Take the time to inspect your furniture for any possible scratches or marks as normally at the end of a removal; you will be presented with a “disclaimer” which upon signing gives you 7 days to raise any concerns over damaged property (again check this in your Terms & Conditions).

Now all that’s left is to settle your invoice with the Removal Company using the pre-arranged method – and to settle into your new home for the first night.

I hope you found this guide helpful.

Guide provided by Luke Symmonds

Managing Director of Chess Moves Removals

www.chessmovesremovals.co.uk