Planning your move

Information provided by Abels Moving Services, the only removals firm holding a
Royal Warrant to Her Majesty The Queen.
(see below)

Moving house is very high on the list of the most stressful events we are likely to encounter. The whole process of dealing with estate agents, solicitors, builders and buyers creates many problems, delays and hurdles along the way, which can test the patience of a saint.

For the move itself, it is so important to choose the right removal company - one which will help to take the hassle out of the actual day of the move, which in itself can be a testing, and sometimes explosive, time.

Here we provide 13 top tips to avoid an unlucky move:

1. Try to arrange your move outside school holiday times, the last week in the month, or Friday. During these times companies are usually the most stretched for resources so you could receive poor service from some removal companies, and they will probably cost you more.

2. The summer holiday season is a crazy time to move. Movers like to take their children on holidays too, so many companies use casual labour. Hot weather makes the work harder, so there are more mistakes and claims.

3. Getting quotes from three moving companies is a time consuming business. Check that quotes include all your requirements, so that you are comparing like-for-like. Quotations may be complicated and some times confusing so it is vital you know what is included in the quote to avoid any unexpected little extras, which may appear later.

4. If you are moving some distance away, some companies will backload vehicles from other companies or branches to give a cheap price, but this could entail different staff at each end. Only loaders will know where items are packed and be able to care for valuable fragile or delicate items. Clients will have little or no contact with the crew at the other end, and they will not know where your treasures are within the load. It is also not unusual for vans to be delayed en route doing their 'other job' so arrival at your home is later than desired.

5. It is advisable to check if your move will be a part load. Part load means more than one job on the vehicle and each job is interdependent. One job cancelled or delayed means that it could stop the whole trip taking place. Also with part loads jobs grow, so not all the space is available, leading to items being shut out.

6. Provisional bookings mean very little. Some companies may double book and ignore any job for which there is no signed contract. Unless the contract is signed and fully paid up under the terms and conditions, then the contract can be null and void.

7. Getting the right size of van is very important and a legal requirement. Is it permitted to carry the weight of the load for your move? After all you do not want your furniture to be squeezed into a van, which may cause damage while it is on the move. The unsatisfactory alternative may be that not all the load will fit on one van. Ensure that this is covered in the contract.

8. Be aware that small vans avoid some of the licensing laws and are very restricted in the load they can carry. Overloads are both illegal and dangerous and may contravene the insurance cover, resulting in any claim being rejected if things do go wrong.

9. It is essential to confirm the time when the keys to the new house are available and who pays for any waiting time. The people leaving the new house might be bodgers, doing it themselves and taking much longer than anticipated while your removal company is waiting for them to finish.

10. Discuss the access to the new property with the moving company and the sellers. Is parking going to pose a problem? The removal assessor should be aware of this, along with details of overhead cables, branches or archways leading to the house.

11. Look carefully at the insurance policy. There are probably three main insurance brokers used by reputable movers. Others may offer a cheaper policy at the expense of the cover provided and unfortunately the exceptions might only come to light only after the event. Cheap insurance often means shoddy cover. Read the small print!

12. Ensure that the movers have adequate vehicle cover. Many Movers offer insurance at around £25,000 to £50, 000 per vehicle, which will hardly be enough cover for people's belongings and furniture.

13. Finally, if your furniture and belongings are going into storage, ask for details and location and, if possible, inspect the storage facility. Remember, you are entrusting the mover with your worldly possessions - you want to know how they are going to look after them.

The cost of a removal expert will be the lowest hourly rate of any of the home service providers, such as your plumber, electrician, carpet fitter or lawyer. It is well worth hiring the best to ensure the care and protection of your prized possessions.

Do not under value this service to save money, after all, the mover is being entrusted with all your worldly possessions so you need to make the right choice.

British Association of Removers: www.barmovers.com or tel: 020 8861 3331

National Guild of Removers and Storers: www.ngrs.org.uk or tel: 01494 792279 Abels Moving Services: www.abels.co.uk or tel: 0800 626769