THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOVING
By Philip Pertoldi, managing director of Abels Moving Services, the only firm to hold a Royal Warrant to HM the Queen for removals and storage services.

This article is copyright-free and may be used by any media. If images, or an electronic version, are required, please contact Michael Hardware on 020 7939 7980 or meh@chelgate.com

Moving can be an overwhelming process. Locating a new residence, selling a home, co-ordinating dates, resolving finances; and that's before the physical moving has even begun. Moving home is viewed as one of the most stressful things that we will ever do, and nightmarish stories involving damaged furniture, lost property, and delays are unfortunately all too common. Once that final stage of relocation actually arrives, stress levels are so high that some people make the mistake of selecting a moving company too hastily or too late. What should be a timely, professional, and damage-free procedure can quickly become an unwelcome disaster if not having properly researched moving companies.

Avoid making an uninformed decision
Choosing the most appropriate moving company is often the most important decision you will make when moving home. After all, entrusting all of your prized possessions with a particular firm requires a high level of assurance and confidence. To avoid potential trauma and to ensure that you make the best choice, select several like minded companies to provide quotes with detailed descriptions of the process. Be wary of a surveyor who makes a proposal without spending a significant amount of time assessing your property or discussing your needs. Regardless of how experienced the surveyor may be, a tailor-made proposal requires attention to detail, time, information, and planning. A glance into each room will not suffice and is a good indication that the movers will spend equivalent time and care during the removal process.

Distinguishing between price quotes
Once the quotes have arrived, the next task for the customer is to overcome the difficulty of comparing them on a like for like basis. It is safe to assume that companies can not pack, load, and drive at twice the rate of their competitor, so care should be taken with quotations that are unrealistically low. Elements such as the volume of the load, size of the vehicle(s) to be used, the number of man days and insurance cover can vary from company to company. If the quotes are widely varied, read the fine print. Companies that are members of a trade association will have a set of trading conditions including obligations, rights, and responsibilities of both the customer and the remover that often impact the quoted price. A company that omits this information may appear less expensive but is potentially higher cost. If a company looks significantly low cost even after having taken into account the fine print, keep in mind that they are cheap for good reason. Variations in insurance cover tends to drive prices up and down, and whilst the less costly quote may appear satisfactory, remember that you are moving your treasured possessions and 'all risks' requires adequate coverage. Many movers will offer insurance for a value around £25,000 to £50,000 per consignment, which may hardly be enough to cover all your furniture and personal belongings.

Be inquisitive
Asking questions is essential; reputable companies will be prepared to disclose exactly how the move has been planned and what resources they will use throughout the move in relation to their pricing. If you are worried about how careful a mover is, ask about its insurance claim record - the number and level of claims always gives an accurate indication of a company's background. Any hesitation on behalf of a company to discuss such details is questionable and should be taken as a warning sign. If you prefer to address any questions or concerns to a more objective source, the oldest Removal Association is the BAR (British Association of Removers). They will provide helpful guidance and tips.

Innovative packing methods
The condition of your belongings when they arrive at your new home will largely depend upon the way they are initially packed. Different companies have different procedures, but the skill of the packing crew in addition to the quality of packing materials is essential in moving home damage free. The art of packing has evolved since the days of tea chests and newspapers. Outdated methods of this type are no longer used by the best removal companies, and have been replaced with an array of specialist cartons and protective layers guaranteeing the ultimate protection of your goods. The cartons provide for maximum density and usage of space, are cleaner, far more practical, and cause no damage to the packer or its contents. Packing standards can vary dramatically between companies. Packaging needs to be sturdy enough to give outer protection against knocks and abrasions, entailing several layers of padding which the low-end removal companies do not provide. Ideally, a specialist export type blanket, consisting of five or six layers of varying strength and composition, should be wrapping your treasured furniture, possibly followed by a card overlay for final protection. Make sure that the movers pack everything inside the home; it is a sign of professionalism and should reassure you as you see the care and attention taken by the crew in packaging your belongings. Also inquire whether packing materials are included in the original price quote or an added surprise at the time of delivery.

What YOU can do to help out the crew
While hiring a moving company assumes a certain level of customer dependency on the crew - there are ways in which the more adventurous and less time sensitive customers may be proactive and help the process along. It is very important to clearly define the areas of responsibility between movers and customer. Stabalising washing machines, disconnecting computers and HiFi equipment, getting items down from lofts, disconnecting wall lights and gas cookers are all things customers can do before the movers arrive. Packing smaller items is a good idea as well. While customers may wish to pack non-breakables and leave the high-risk items to the professionals, they often overlook the opportunity to pack lightweight or soft items inside sturdy furniture cupboard space and drawers, reducing space and perhaps cost. To avoid an under-estimation of the volume of effects to be removed, customers are encouraged to show everything at the time of the survey including items from the loft, cellar, garage, shed, garden, and outhouse. These areas can easily be overlooked or forgotten during the survey but can add substantial bulk to the surveyed volume, resulting in added frustration and an unpleasant surplus fee to be paid by the customer if there is still room on the van that is. It is also important for customers to discuss with the moving company details about the new property. Parking access, details of overhead cables, branches, or archways that may intrude upon the move should be addressed beforehand to avoid delay. Confirming the correct delivery address and acquiring the contact details of everyone involved is crucial in case of emergency or obstacle. A real must is to ensure you will have the keys to the new home to avoid delay in access and also clarify what time the sellers will have vacated. Don't be left accruing costs whilst your team can't gain access into the home, they also have legally enforced hours of working so will not be able to stay indefinitely.

The best time to move ?
Once a moving company has been carefully chosen, picking a date should cause the least hassle. Yet there are still some things to consider: Besides booking early, be sure to keep in mind that the busiest day to move is on Friday, especially the last Friday of the month. School holidays, especially in summer, are not good periods to plan to move. Avoid the most common moving days if you don't want to be charged more (it's supply and demand), or suffer from a company's increased demand and stretched resources, or even not being able to use your preferred carrier. Good luck because statistics say you'll need it!

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