Moving is a major milestone in anyone’s life. Aside from adjusting to an entirely new environment, you will also be facing a lot of extra tasks — from the planning to the execution of the move.
To make the process less daunting, you need patience, the right knowledge and expert help from professional removalists. Removalists are specialists with years of experience in moving and transporting items safely. Most of the time, they offer a range of services, giving you control on how much or how little you have to do — all while maintaining the safety of your belongings.
Like any other task, hiring removalists doesn’t need to be difficult, as long as you know the proper way to do it. Read on to learn more about the important steps you should take to ensure that you hire the right people for the job.
6 Steps in Hiring a Removalist
Before closing a deal with a removalist, you must first consider all your options to ensure that you get the most value for money. To assist you in this process, here are six steps in choosing the right removal service provider for your move:
Step #1: Get recommendations
Getting recommendations is a great starting point in your search for the perfect removal company for your specific moving needs. People who have recently moved, as well as real estate agents, can provide you with viable prospects and candidates with whom they have worked in the past. You can also browse the internet for removal companies with offices near you.
One word of caution: You should be wary of websites that offer to get you 3 removal quotes, as they will often recommend the cheapest option and they will not actually do the removal themselves. Take on the task yourself to ensure the safety and security of your belongings.
Step #2: Do research for the initial screening
After preparing a list of potential removalists to hire, it is time for you to do some homework. Gather the basic information on your prospects. Some of the details you must verify are their company name, physical address and contact information. Take note of their website as well.
Since this also serves as the initial screening, you should try to look for reviews from previous clients to understand how well the candidates performed their jobs. At this point, you should also check the removal associations they partner with and you should only move with an Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) member.
Step # 3: Get written quotes from at least three companies
Once you’ve researched the removal companies, narrow down your list to three or four candidates. This will reduce the time you need for asking questions and minimise the number of quotes you need to compare.
When getting written quotes, make sure to provide the removalists with enough information to calculate costs accurately. The trick is to count how many boxes you would need for the move and to inform the removalists of any obstacles (like stairs, elevators, narrow doorways, etc.) they may face when loading and unloading the moving truck. The distance between your house and the assigned parking area is also a major factor to consider.
Or better yet, ask if the company can have someone visit your place to calculate the costs of the move more accurately. Make sure to show the estimator everything you plan to bring to your new home to ensure that the removal costs are as close as possible to the actual fees they will charge you on the day of your move.
Step #4: Talk to them
Once you have the estimates on-hand, it is time to talk to the removalists. This is a good time to ask for clarifications if you have any. Some of the most important questions you can ask them are:
● Which services do you offer and at what rate?
When faced with a huge gap in pricing, it is important that you consider which services come with the set price. By understanding what is included, you may get more value out of the higher bid, since they offer more extensive services than the cheaper ones.
● Are you insured? What is your insurance coverage?
Insurance is very important when it comes to removals because it protects the clients and their belongingsshould there be any accidental incidents during the move.
● What is the estimated transit time?
As experienced movers, the companies you talk to should be able to provide you with an estimate of how long it would take to load, unload, and transport your goods.
● Can you provide references of your previous work?
A removal company’s previous clients should be able to provide you with reviews of the quality of the services they were able to receive. This will also help you make sure that the information you got from the removalists is accurate and true.
Step #5: Compare prices, experience, and services
After you’re done with verifying information, getting quotes, and reviewing the experiences of previous clients, it is time to compare the different removalists on your list. Make sure to consider all the factors, including the companies’ experience, reputation, services included and lastly, their rates.
Remember that while it is well and good to keep your expenses to a minimum, you must consider that there’s always something that makes the price rise or fall. If you find that a mover has excellent reviews and verifiable credentials, you may have to pay slightly more for their quality of service.
Step #6: Finalise your decision
Once you’ve selected a specific removal company, it is time to finalise your decision by confirming the date of your move, verifying the estimated cost (you can’t be too sure), and signing the contract.
Ready to Get Moving?
You can reduce the stress of relocation if you hire the right removalists for the job. Take this article as a guide (and modify it as you see fit) to ensure that the people you hire are best suited for the job. Get a quick quote from Nuss Removals here.
