What To Look For When Choosing A Removalist Company

Are you moving house and wondering what to look for when choosing your removalist company? The market for a removalist company is a bit of a mixed bag. There are of course reputable and professional companies that will make your moving experience as hassle-free as possible. At the same time, there are scammers or companies that hire people on a casual, rotating basis but present them as professionals.

When all your belongings are being made vulnerable, you don’t want choosing a removalist company to feel like a lucky dip. Instead, you should make an educated decision to ensure you get the service you deserve. Here are some ways to ways educate yourself before making your decision.

Understand the Different Kinds of Removalists

Local Removalists

Generally speaking, these removalists operate a large moving truck and are assisted by a couple of workers. These workers will load your belongings into the truck, transport it to your new house and unload it for you.

This leaves you to do the packing and unpacking yourself. Local removalist services deal with short distances moves, typically in the same city.

DIY Container Removalists

This kind of removalist company supplies you with a large shipping container for you to load your belongings into yourself. DIY removalists can transport your belongings a long way, for example interstate. However, it is your job to unpack the container at your new home too. The removalists will simply return to collect their container.

This is a more affordable option for those who don’t mind doing the heavy lifting themselves (literally).

Full-Service Removalists

With this option, you won’t even need to pack your belongings. These removalist companies will bring packaging materials with them. They will pack your belongings, load them into the truck, transport it to your new home and unpack it all for you.

This is a more expensive option, but it means the task of moving is blissfully taken care of for you.

Get At Least Three Quotes

Once you know the kind of removalist service you are after, you can narrow your Internet search for companies that fit your needs.

It’s important to research thoroughly. This means getting at least three quotes from different companies to gain an understanding of the market.

Once you decide on your ideal company, you can even use the other quotes to request a price match. Even if your price match is denied, at least the company may explain the benefits of their service in more detail to justify the higher price.

Check the Reviews

Checking the reviews doesn’t mean running the other direction from any removalist company with negative feedback. It means checking the bad reviews represent only a small minority of their feedback.

Whether or not the company engages with negative feedback is also insightful. Companies that make an effort to remedy poor customer experiences indicates greater dedication to their reputation and customer service.

Verify Their Legitimacy

We’ve all heard horror stories about removalists who made the already stressful process of moving an even greater nightmare. Some of these stories involve theft, damage to belongings or general carelessness. The best way to avoid becoming a cautionary tale yourself is to ensure you are transacting with a legitimate business. Here are our recommendations:

• Avoid companies asking for an unreasonably high deposit
• Check for proof of insurance
• Check they have an ABN
• Find out if there are any hidden fees
• Check that your quote is detailed, including information such as payment terms, insurance, transit times and potential add-ons
• Look out for companies that change their name to distance themselves from negative reviews
• Assess whether the company has open lines of communication, making it easy for you to voice concerns or queries

By keeping an eye out for red flags and getting quotes from multiple companies, you will be in a far better position to choose a great removalist.

With the removalist sorted, you can turn your attention to notifying organisations of your address change and switching all your services to your new home. That’s where Compare & Connect can come in handy, by finding the best service deals for your new home. Let us get you set up in just minutes online or with one easy phone call.