What questions should you ask a removal company?

Be sure to get what you want from your removal company

We’ve been asked a range of questions over the years, from the obvious to the somewhat unusual. So, in this concept, we were wondering what questions you should be asking your removal company, regardless of which one you choose. Here’s a list of questions that we thought up between ourselves!

The ‘Pre-Move’ Survey

It’s a good idea to get a full grasp on the job at hand. Ask your removal company to send a surveyor round to your home in order to confirm the true volume of your possessions. Remember that hiding items from the surveyor will only result in an inaccurate estimate for the removal process, so discussing the true volume of the move and your requirements can help you get a grasp on the move. It’s unusual for a removal company to charge you for this process, but it can change depending on the business.

Be sure to ask the company if they can provide a packing service, as this will be an important requirement come moving day. They’ll need to dedicate a considerable amount of time to the packing process, so be sure to tell them of your needs straight away. You can include the cost incurred from this in your quote, but be aware of the cost.

To finish of this process, ask for a written quote so you have proof of the quote if needed.

Ask about the staff members

There’s nothing wrong in asking the experience and skills that the members of staff have. Remember that these will be the people who are in charge of the safety of your valuables, so it’s good to get a grasp on who they are. Are they trained? If they are, who by? All of the questions are important for peace of mind and safety policies.

Also, further questions to ask are: Will the movers be casual, contracted or full time employees? Casual workers are more than often less inclined to worry for your possessions or the responsibility the job has.

What about insurance?

Ask the removal company if you can view the details of their insurance policy. It’s good to check that it’s in date and covers any damages that can be incurred through the moving process. Remember that there are some items which won’t be covered by their insurance policies, so you may need to cover some items yourself. A number of household insurance policies actually don’t cover household times when they’re in transit, so remember this when choosing your insurance policy.

Also, ask if you can see the VOSA number of the removal company. Given that the removal process needs to operate a goods vehicle that sits above a certain weight, you’ll need to be sure that they currently hold a license issued by the Traffic Commissioners.

The details of the move

Remember to get a landline phone number and a full physical address for the business (you shouldn’t accept a PO Box as proof of legitimacy). Non-legitimate removal firms will only operate from a mobile phone, so be sure to avoid these.

Ask how the company would like to receive payment. Again, non-legitimate firms will ask for cash-in-hand payment, will reputable removal companies will have no problem taking cheques or credit cards.

Their previous feedback

Finally, it’s good to remember that you can check out their customer feedback online, as a number of websites exist which will hold reviews for millions of businesses worldwide. Looking at just how they operate and treat their past customers will give you a good general idea of whether or not you wish to deal with them.

Again, it’s important that you employ the services of a removal company that you feel generally comfortable with. Skimping on price could lead to the damage and loss of your personal possessions, so remember that cost doesn’t reflect overall performance.

Did you like our tips? What would you add to this list?

For more removal tips, advice and prices, please visit NKA Removals website.