Moving , stressful ? - Nah! (Removal Services in general)

Member Name: jeanjeannie

Product:	Removal Services in general
Date:	18/09/01 (596 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots

Disadvantages: Not so many

Well, we’ve done it!! Our tenth move is over and I actually have time to sit here and write this Op. To be honest, my back’s in half and now I have sat down I can’t get up again so, never one to miss an opportunity to air my thoughts – here goes.

Completion was set for Friday –the most popular day to move because it gives people the weekend to settle in but this has it’s disadvantages.
· It is more difficult to book a removal van, as it is their busiest day.
· Services on a Friday are often worse than on a Monday as everyone is gearing up for the two precious days off and cannot get away quick enough.
· If the exchange of money does not go smoothly right through the chain you can be left high and dry until the following Monday with all the extra expense which that involves.

Handy hint 1 -Choosing a removal company –

Don’t go for Pickfords is my first bit of advice. They seem to have the monopoly in the UK and actually trade under many locally known names that they have taken over so it’s worth checking this out. I shall have to write another Opinion on them – too much to say here!!
· Ask around – personal recommendation can’t be bettered.
· Make sure they belong to their professional organisation in case you need to make a complaint.
· Get at least three estimates – they vary enormously.

In our case, our preferred removal company which moved us last time could not meet the date at such short notice – we only knew the date about ten days before so we ended up using a new company to our area called Packfirst. When the young man arrived to give us an estimate he looked smart and appeared very efficient; he made notes as he went round the house assessing how much furniture we had to move and the size of van which would be required.
He told us that he was not insured to take paint, from which I assumed he meant anything in
flammable; this made sense so we took it ourselves to the new house. No problem if forewarned.
He promised the estimate in 2 days & it duly arrived and it was split into three parts –
1. Packing service to be done the day before. £200.00
2. Removal to our new home - £399.00
3. Cleaning service after vacating the property - £40.00.

We were well impressed and opted for 1 & 2 but I just could not bring myself to actually pay for our house to be cleaned for someone else’s benefit. Clean the new house – Oh yes but that unfortunately is not possible. I should also add that, if they do the packing and anything gets damaged you are fully insured. They took great care and everything breakable was wrapped with stacks of paper, far more than you would ever use yourself.

The day before the move two ladies & a young man arrived and went through the house like whirlwinds packing everything in their path. They were just so quick and wasted no time at all. However, we were a bit taken by surprise as they operated somewhat differently to other removal firms we have used in the past. Normally, all the contents of drawers are just left in the drawer, covered with paper and transported but this company emptied all the drawers into sacks to prevent any damage to the furniture. Fine except we were left with no knickers, socks or other personal items which I hastily retrieved before the bags disappeared under the pile waiting for collection in the dining room.

Handy hint 2 - pack a suitcase as if you were going away for the weekend to include all your toiletries, towels and your underwear plus clean clothes etc.

We also made the mistake of leaving our chequebook out in the kitchen which quickly disappeared!. Now, this did make me a little cross. What a stupid thing to pack. Knowing how removal companies like to be paid before they leave the house we telephoned the company to explain. They were not at all worried, apolo
gised for packing it & said it would be OK to pay when we found it.

Handy hint 3 - I think that we were wise to tell them up front – they might not have been so understanding at the end of a tiring day to go away empty handed.

Well, there we were, all packed up, with only some mugs & teabags to keep us company (strange how they escaped the packing frenzy) so we took ourselves off to the pub for dinner, a few drinks to help us sleep and we would be ready for the off next day.

Moving day dawned & I heard them arrive and looked out of the window to see this huge orange van reversing very, very slowly down the road. Only two guys jumped out which surprised me, normally there are four but these two were just so efficient, literally running backwards & forwards with our belongings and only stopping to help us use up the teabags from time to time.

Handy hint 4 - Because everything had been packed the day before & most of it, apart from the heavy furniture, had been brought downstairs, the van was loaded in no time.

Consequently, I began to think that we would be sitting outside the new house for hours waiting fro the OK to collect the keys from the solicitor. Not so, the phone rang & I was told that the money had changed hands; we could collect the keys & be on our way.

Handy (& exciting) hint 5 – “Off went the van with this old girl in it” to show them the way and what an experience that was! First of all I had to get in the cab, without a safety net and I swear it was at least 20’ above the road. Then I sat between these two young, very sweaty men, bless ‘em and took them the long way round avoiding all the narrow roads and lanes as best I could. I marvelled at how the driver went round the corners – just incredible & to think I have problems with my little Golf.

Handy hint 6 – before they started to unload we gave them both a tip to keep their spirits up and be
fore long we were installed in our new home, they were on their way back to the depot & our nosiest friends were arriving bearing cards & gifts.

To conclude, it all went very smoothly except………… I lost my shoes. I always go around barefoot and kicked my shoes off as soon as we arrived. The next day I had to go to the hairdressers and I couldn’t find them anywhere or any of my other shoes! Did I cancel my hair? No way, I went barefoot and have probably been the talking point of the salon ever since. My shoes did come to light 2 days later; someone had dropped a packing case on them.
My others I found a week later in a holdall which my husband had put away in the loft.

Handy hint 7 – keep at least one spare pair of shoes in your car.
Happy moving to you all.

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