Hiring a removalist and being able to trust them to move all of your personal belongings and valuable items is not a decision to take lightly.
Naturally, you don’t want just to let anyone come into your home and go through all of your belongings.
Being able to find a trustworthy and reliable removalist is vital to ensuring you have a positive and successful move.
What should you do besides asking your friends and family for recommendations, and reading online reviews? Make sure to ask a removalist these 10 questions before you decide to hire them.
1. What Is Your Experience?
The first question you should ask any potential removalist is about their removals experience. It’s even more critical if you need to move valuable or one of a kind items, such as antiques or fine art.
Finding removalists who have many years of experience, and know how to handle and transport your valuable items safely is essential.
Also, the more experienced a removalist company, the more likely they are to handle your items with care and prevent any mishaps for occurring.
2. What Is Inclusive In The Quote?
A lot of moving companies, particularly ones who offer low prices, have things which are not included in the initial quote.
Be sure that you know exactly what is covered in the quote before you agree to it. Does the quote include insurance? Does it only cover a certain number of hours, with additional time charged extra? Are packing and unpacking included? Also, ask what extras are included in the quote.
When you speak to a moving consultant, they may list many different options when discussing a quote. It’s easy for you to mistakenly think they are all included, instead of extra services.
To give the most accurate information to a removalist, using a furniture calculator can help ensure you don’t forget to mention any furniture.
By being clear on what you are paying for with the quote, it will enhance the moving experience for both you and the removalists. It also makes sure that there are no ‘surprises’ for either of you on moving day.
3. Do You Provide A Packing Service?
A lot of people are time-poor and don’t have enough time to pack all of their belongings into boxes, and carefully protect them.
Most professional removalists will offer affordable and flexible packing services. They will assist with packing from a single fragile item, through to your entire house. Packers can also help with unpacking your belongings once you arrive at your new home.
4. Are My Valuables Protected?
It’s important to ask if your valuable items are protected during loading and unloading on the moving trucks, as well as in transit itself.
After all, your valuable items are quite often priceless and would be devastating if they were lost or damaged.
Experienced removalists will use heavy-duty moving blankets. As well as crates, bubble wrap, packing boxes and materials to ensure your items arrive safely. They will also carefully pack and secure them with straps in the moving truck.
Hearing how a removalist handles and protects your valuables will help to put your mind at ease.
5. How Do You Protect My Home?
Careful removalists go out of their way to protect your home and your belongings. But, it’s still important to ask them how exactly they will protect your home from any damage while they pick up and collect big and bulky furniture.
They may first pack the furniture inside the house before moving it, to protect both the furniture and your walls and floors.
6. How Long Does Transit Take?
While not as important as some other questions, it’s still a good idea to find out how long transit will take to your destination. This greatly varies based on the time of day, the distance between homes, and also if it is a regional or interstate location. A lot of people plan their move around the expected delivery time to their new home, especially during long-distance moves.
7. Do You Have Insurance?
It’s recommended to have insurance for your belongings when you move. Especially if they are valuable. While experienced removalists take full care when moving your belongings, occasionally accidents happen.
To reduce any risks and safeguard your items, you should use insurance.
Usually, removalists provide different levels of insurance included with their quote or have insurance as an extra.
Make sure to find out exactly what the insurance covers and what the quote includes. You can then choose to take out additional insurance either with the removalist, or your own insurance company. It’s better to know what the insurance will cover in advance, in the small chance something does go wrong.
8. Are Your Movers Employees or Contractors?
If the moving company hires permanent employees, they are more likely to care about the removalist company’s reputation who they work for. They will also likely go out of their way to provide a higher level of service.
Employees are generally more skilled and have a lot more experience that contractors, and are more trustworthy while handling your belongings.
9. Do You have Any Testimonials Or References From Previous Clients?
Any trustworthy removalist will have testimonials on their website from previous clients. In addition to this, be sure to ask your friends, family, and work colleagues if any of them have dealt with the moving company before, and what their experience was like. Also be sure to check out online review websites. They will give you an idea of the customer service provided, and reasons for any negative reviews left.
10. Do You Require A Deposit?
Be sure to ask this after you have agreed to a quote. Many removalist companies need a deposit to secure your moving day and time. If you are unaware of this, you may find that come moving day the movers don’t show up. It’s best to clarify this right away so that you don’t find yourself stranded on moving day, and desperate to find a last minute mover at a premium.
Asking these ten questions before you select a removalist, can help you find the right one for you. It will also make sure there are no moving day surprises, and that everything goes according to plan.
Fair Trading NSW also has additional information which you should consider when hiring a removalist.
For a professional and experienced removalist you can trust, contact Local & Interstate Removals today. Our friendly customer service team are ready to answer any questions you may have, and provide a free quote. Call 1300 705 705 or contact us online today.
