What to look for in a Removals company? Cotswolds/Worcs

Skint_Catt

Should they be members of any organisations? Should I ask to see their insurance cert before we agree to use them?

First time using removals (done it ourselves before) so any hints & tips welcome!

Thanks, C xx

hazyjo

I always find 'word of mouth' counts for a lot!

What area?

There was a similar thread recently which gave details of associations/organisations. Could try a search on here under 'removals company' or something... Failing that, I'm sure someone will be along with the info.

Jx

Skint_Catt

Thanks, we don't know anyone who's moved so not much chance of word of mouth - we're moving about 40 miles from Cotswolds to North Worcestershire.

C xx

charltonkeston

What ever you do dont use the ones I had.
Very lazy of me but I just googled a local firm. (Yell, Orpington) They were near the top of the list and I thought, mistakenly, that all removal firms are the same. They are not.
The boss seamed very professional and a very nice chap. He delivered packaging materials 2 weeks prior to moving like most do. We gave him a deposit and said see you in 2 weeks.
They turned up bang on time and started work straight away. Then 2 hours into the move with 3/4 of our belongings on board 2 of the guys started fighting. Not handbags at 5 paces, real full on to the death stuff.
Also their choice of words was quite industrial. I've worked on the factory floor since I left school so I knew the words, most of the road learnt some new ones. One of the chaps, who was doing the fighting, then left. That was a problem for the boss as he then had no one to drive the waggon. After 30 mins or so they manage to get the guy back.
I then went to the next house leaving my wife to finish off in our old home while I started arranging things the other end. Thats when the the movers started the afternoon fight session, this time sizing up each other with lump hammers. At this stage I was just wanted them gone. I worked just as hard as them unloading their van.

The boss came round in the evening to say sorry, which was the least he could do but he knew we were moving again in 6 months time. He lossed that gig.
I ended up moving our stuff myself with the help of a few good friends. Hard work and I saved a few hundred pounds, also no one started fighting.

RedwoodBrook

As this is MSE, do you really need a removals company? As the above poster has said, a few good friends and hiring a van would be cheaper.

Sorry, I know that doesn't answer the question!

hazyjo

I meant on here... if you list the area in the title, someone's bound to have a recommendation.

Jx

FireWyrm

hazyjo wrote: »

I meant on here... if you list the area in the title, someone's bound to have a recommendation.

Jx

Not to hijack or anything ....but I need a reliable removals firm that will cover Oxford to Daventry. I did the self move thing last time and it nearly killed me. This time, I dont have a father in law, my own father is unwell and I'm pregnant so probably not the best idea to try it alone again.

Skint_Catt

RedwoodBrook wrote: »

As this is MSE, so you really need a removals company? As the above poster has said, a few good friends and hiring a van would be cheaper.

Sorry, I know that doesn't answer the question!

Yes I do - OH and I have moved twice in the last year doing it ourselves - by moving day I will be nearly 8 months pregnant & not about to start humping stuff again myself as I did when I was 5 months gone.

We don't have any friends locally that can help and our parents are elderly.

Not sure I can edit the title of this thread?

flora48

BAR is the association for removers.
We have two recent experiences with removals, with GB Liners with whom we had the complete service, packing and into storage. Excellent but pricey! Our other removal with a local company, cheaper but appalling. Again for the packing service which in their eyes entailed just tossing the contents of drawers and cupboards into boxes even foodsrtuffs thrown in upside down which then leaked everywhere. The aroma of fish sauce is not want you want in your new home!

wriggly

Try to move on a day other than Friday, since this is usually cheaper.

Get a few quotes.

Read the fine print on the back to determine which of the multiple waivers are worth the money. In some cases, the extra fee is well worth the peace of mind, in others, the likelihood of the waived event happening is low and / or the loss is tolerable.

As an example, our cancellation fee waiver required us to notify the removalists two working days before the moving date. Since we had already exchanged, only a medical emergency would have caused us to cancel, and as we were moving on a Tuesday, we would have needed to cancel the Friday before, so we gave it a miss.

Get them to pack. It's quicker and one less stress in the the house-moving process.

Grimbal

I would definitely get them to pack, it also might not be much more expensive than you think. Pickfords came around to quote for us: £1150 for us to pack, £1350 for them to pack. I know this is not exactly MSE, but for £200 I got them to do everything. It would've taken me weeks to do it all I think! Given your current condition, anything you can do to make your life less stressful & easier must be worth it I'd have thought (assuming you can afford it).

They might have a tendency to keep adding optional extras on too, so double check if you need them as a previous poster has said, and also check to see if you can getthe same cover elsewhere. Your current contents Insurer may be able to offer the same level of cover for a cheaper price for example.

Good luck & I hope you can get baby G's room decorated in time!