Like any type of service, you need to select reliable movers in London. Moving home is a stressful and at times complex experience. Using a professional moving company versus a cheap man and van service can and is often worth the extra cost.
Why Choose a professional moving company in London?
Quite simply, to save yourself hassle and stress. A professional moving company will ask you about previous moving experiences and what you are most worried about so as to help address any concerns you may have. They will also help point out or provide a plan for logistical challenges with moving home in London. Given the history of London there can be certain challenges due to the layout but also such things as parking restrictions.
What you need to consider when choosing movers in London
Online reviews and recommendations. Google or Trustpilot are the most common review platforms, but you need to be aware these can be manipulated. Bad reviews can actually be helpful. Things can and unfortunately will not always go to plan when moving home. There are always two sides to a story (or a bad review) and sometimes customers can be unreasonable or in the wrong. Read the response from the company. This can tell you a lot about how they address complaints.
We always recommend getting 3 quotes. The quotes should be detailed and easy to understand. If you are unsure, check if the quote includes everything you need.
Finding a removal company in London isn’t difficult. A simple search online for Movers London will give you a list of the top moving companies in London.
Quotes can be conducted on site or via video. A verbal quote for anything larger than a one bed flat in our opinion is not realistic. Video surveys are very reliable now and can be more convenient than a surveyor coming to your home. That said, we generally conduct onsite surveys for 4 bedroom homes or larger.
Is the moving company a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR). This can be a good thing, but not necessarily the be all. The BAR is often for removal companies with large 18 wheel trucks, whereas many movers in London often use Luton size small trucks and may not be members for that reason.
Insurance and Liability
Despite a removal company’s best intentions things can easily be damaged when moving home. It is important therefore that you check that protection for goods is available as it is not always included in the price.
Industry Standard is to accept a limited liability of £40 per item so in the first place you should see if your goods are covered under your home or commercial policy.
Alternatively, it is better that the removal company agrees to provide protection for your goods up to their full value whilst in their control. Having this arrangement available is one of the biggest differences between a professional removals company and a man and van you may find on social media.
You need the experience and knowledge of a professional firm to ensure your move goes smoothly. However, you also need the peace of mind of knowing that your possessions are safe and protected in the unlikely event of damage.
Despite the importance of protection during house moves, a survey by Buzzmove in 2014 found that 33% of people don’t ask and if they do ask, they don’t tend to check what cover is in place.
Making the decision to choose your moving company
Consider all your quotes, the online reviews etc, but more often than not, go with the one that you feel most comfortable with. You are entrusting the movers with your personal possessions, so you need to feel confident. If money isn’t a problem, don’t just go with the cheapest quote. Something that looks to be good to true, well, it often is.
As we discussed, Moving home in London is stressful as well as expensive. Minimise the hassle by choosing the right moving company. You can also check out some of our other blogs for helping you on moving day.
If you would like to know more about our removal service, then please contact a member of our friendly team. You can also check out some of our reviews online with Google or Which Trust Traders to see what our customers say about us.
