All of your worldly belongings packed up into boxes and stored, waiting to be transported to your new home; sounds like a dream-come-true scenario. But if you don't feel like hiring a van, lugging your stuff up and down and the stairs, or going through the moving process by yourself, assign that task to one of the numerous man and van companies out there.  Taking into account the number of rogue removals companies or poor service companies on the market, the quest for a reputable mover can turn into a true ordeal. But not to worry, here we offer a few tips that will make your move less challenging.

Credentials are essentials...

No matter where you are looking for, a man and van company, Internet or some newspapers, do your best to get some clients' opinions on the quality of the company you are about to hire. Word of a mouth is a pretty credible source that reveals exactly how clean a company's reputation is. So do not hesitate to ask for an opinion from your friends, post a thread in some of the local community forums, or just track down the online complaints and who knows what will come out. You can always check out the companies' listings of the British Association of Removers, as well. The UK department of trade monitors the organization and all the member companies are obliged to follow a specific code.

Hunting for a good reputation...

A company with a clean reputation will always provide you with detailed information on its services, rates and prices, accordingly. Needless to say, companies that offer impossibly low rates are throwing easy baits, especially, if they are eager to do a quote without making an in-house inspection. The usual practice is estimates are placed on top of the company letterhead along with the other company identification data. The quote must also include the number of your boxes, some heavy items of furniture, if you have any for moving, the date, terms of payment and an estimate of service duration in hours.

Let's meet in person...

It makes sense to visit the office of your potential mover and require to be introduced to some of the company practices and guidelines, as well as to ask about the insurance coverage that they can offer in case of breakages. In addition, the way a company office looks is a strong giveaway of the working manners of its staff. If you see desks full with piles of offers, it is a sure sign that the company is doing well.

Check out the competition...

The best stimulus for a company to develop itself is stiff competition; so before calling or arranging a meeting with the company of your choice, do not miss the chance to research thoroughly the other man and van companies and even if some of the conditions they offer do not respond to your query, such as, available hours of moving or insurance coverage, have no shame mentioning what you are looking for. For instance, price, timing and extra packing services may not be listed, but might be available. Negotiations are always OK, so do not miss the opportunity to get high quality services at a lower price.
Finally, take a good amount of time to do your company research, so that your removal experience ends up being the best one possible.  Don't expect to find the perfect removal company just with the first shot. It can take up to a month; the time, however, is worth the wait for your possessions to make it safely and at a low cost to their new home.

MORE NEWS AND TIPS