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Some tips for a trouble-free moving day
Take it away February 2004
They call moving home one of life’s most stressful experiences, which puts it
right up there with bereavement and divorce. But it doesn’t have to be that way,
and the good news is that the more planning and care you put into moving day,
the more likely it is that moving house will go like a dream.
Choosing a good removal firm is key, or you can do it yourself, of course. Van
hire can cost just £40, and so if you have relatively few possessions it can be
a viable option. But be very careful, the experts warn. “Once you’ve taken into
account all the costs involved – van hire, fuel, packing materials – there’s
often very little difference at the bottom line,” says Paul Swindon, spokesman
for the British Association of Removers, “and that’s assuming nothing goes
wrong.” Do cost in your own time too, especially if it means taking time off
work.
The professionals
Always choose a BAR company, says Howard Posner, chief executive officer of
Halifax General Insurance: “Should there be problems with the move, BAR offers
free conciliation and arbitration services.”
“There is an art to moving large units through tight spaces without damage, and
a hired van will not have the protective materials and webbing to secure your
furniture,” adds Wayne Ellis, spokesman for removals company and BAR member
Andrew Porter. “Also, if you passed your driving test after 1 January 1997, you
can only drive a Transit size vehicle, unless you have taken a further test.” If
you passed before that date, you can drive a 7.5 tonne vehicle, he adds.
Getting a competitive quote is easy these days: use Yellow Pages and ring
around, or use an online price comparison service like Reallymoving.com. Because
prices are on display, they tend to be competitive, say insiders – but be aware
there may be hidden extras.
“Extras to watch for are ‘free packing materials’, which become costly if you
don’t give them back on the day the move is completed,” warns Philip Pertoldi,
managing director of Abels Moving Services. “Also, waiting time can be very
expensive if the keys are not available or completion does not happen on time.”
“Many of our members can offer an online quotation service, including online
discounts,” says Swindon, “so you can find real value for money. There is no
real substitute for obtaining the quote followed by a visit by a trained
estimator,” he says.
The best way to get an accurate quote for all the costs is by carrying out a
physical inspection, says Swindon. Factors that impact the price of the move
include the quantity and quality of goods to be moved, the amount of packing –
routine and specialised – to be done, and the location – parking, steep steps
etc.
Then there are the unexpected extras, like lifting carpets and moving goods from
the loft. “As in all industries, there is no such thing as a ‘free lunch’,” adds
Ellis. “If your insurer includes packing services ‘free of charge’, they may not
be competitive on a basic move.”
And professional removal firms can take all the stress out of moving, Swindon
adds: “All BAR members would expect to offer a full packing and unpacking
service, using modern, clean eco-friendly packing materials – the days of the
tea chest are long gone.” Packing china and crystal, dismantling and re-erecting
furniture will increase the cost of the move, but could save days of headaches.
And at the luxury end of the market, it seems a change like moving might even
end up being as good as a rest. “Our services include a packing and unpacking
service,” says Pertoldi. “There is also a putting away service and a personal
assistant service, which can involve anything from shopping to making beds and
cooking a meal on arrival.”
And Abels even relocated a customer’s £50,000 vintage wine cellar to France
recently: “We are asked to move antiques, paintings and valuable items
regularly, and our staff are trained to handle these expensive goods,” says
Pertoldi. “The wine ‘cellar’ was just another move that needed our special care
and attention.”
Moving costs
So whether you’re moving vintage wine or just your ancient vinyl collection and
household paraphernalia, how much does it all cost?
How much stuff you have, how far you are moving, the number of vehicles you
need, whether you are moving abroad, and whether you need storage and relocation
of pets will all affect the
cost, says Swindon.
“Distance has a profound effect (depending on volume) from somewhere around the
150 miles mark,” confirms Ellis. “At this distance and beyond, Drivers’ Hours
Regulations prevent the completion of the job in one day. So the customer has to
pay for a vehicle and crew for two days. The clock is ticking even when the
vehicle is stationary and the crew is loading/unloading.”
You can cut costs with good timing, says Swindon, by avoiding Fridays when
demand drives prices up: “The removal industry’s peak season begins Easter time,
and Friday is typically the busiest day of the week. Some companies offer
discounts for moving mid-week.”
Check your
insurance policy too, says Posner: “Make sure your home insurance actually
covers you for moving house – surprisingly, some
insurance companies have an exclusion clause. And most policies do not cover
accidental loss or damage for self-moves, so leave it all to a professional
removal firm.”
“Moving house is a hazardous undertaking,” confirms Swindon, “and even with the
greatest care taken, no mover can absolutely guarantee that your personal
belongings won’t get damaged. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you
talk to your remover as to how your goods are covered.”
Preparation is the key, say insiders, and can make moving a stress-free
experience. Getting everything organised well before the big day means that the
only surprises on moving day should be pleasant ones, as you meet the neighbours
and settle into your new home.
Case study – a true horror story
James Farquhar was in a distressed state. He was planning a move to Sweden and
dealing with the removal firm he first chose has been a nightmare. The company
failed to do the job and they robbed him too. Then they drank all his wine and
beat him very badly when he remonstrated with them. The matter is now in police
hands.
Abels Moving Services stepped in and helped the man, who asks not to be
identified. They sent in a team to assist him and help restore his confidence.
“We were very concerned that Mr Farquhar had to go through such a distressing
ordeal,” says Pertoldi. “Any customer needs to be able to rely on their mover
and know that the people they are letting in through their door are trustworthy
and reliable.”
Top moving tips
• Always choose a BAR member.
• Plan your move well in advance, say, up to a month ahead.
• Think about your timing – you may get a discount for moving mid-week, or in
term time.
• Check that you are insured/your policies
cover the move. Talk to your removal firm and insurers.
• If you can afford to have the packing done
for you, says BAR, then do so. Packing is not expensive, and can save a lot of
headache.
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