How To Choose A Removalist

Choosing the best removalist can be a daunting task, particularly when you consider that moving house is often mentioned when discussing life’s most stressful events.

We all know the industry stereotypes: removalists not showing up on time, being too slow and inefficient, lumping customers with hidden costs, being too rough with belongings. These days, outdated removals services with poor customer service are far from the only option available.

So, what can you do to make sure you book with the very best? How can you avoid cost blow-outs, and that the contents of your home or office will be treated with the utmost respect and care?

Over the past decade of moving Melbourne, we've seen a lot of rival companies with dodgy tactics — we've got a lot of calls from their customers asking us to help out last-minute, as well. We've made our service customer-focused, with the aim of taking the stress out of moving.

Here, we share with you our top tips for sourcing and choosing the very best removalist, for ultimate peace of mind:

Be wary of really cheap rates

One of the most commonly experienced pitfalls in the removalist industry is being lumped with unexpected costs. Be very cautious of ultra-cheap rates — if they seem too good to be true, they likely are. Ask yourself, if a company is offering dirt-cheap rates, are they paying their staff correctly? Are they maintaining their vehicles properly? Are they insured?

Does the estimate include tolls, stairs, travel time to-and-from? Have they stipulated how many people will be appointed to the job? Has the estimate been put in writing and does it include GST?

You shouldn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to move, and pricing should be fair and competitive. That said, ambiguous estimates are a red flag, and it pays to ask questions about what’s included and make sure you understand the charges before making a booking.

Check out the reviews

Find out what people are saying about their experiences with Melbourne-based (and surrounding) removalists via Google and Facebook. If the reviews are scarce, or worse, there are multiple complaints and low ratings, it’s best to steer clear.

Terms and conditions

Before booking anything, ensure your removalist has clear terms and conditions in place, and that you're familiar with them — even just a brief glance should give you an idea if they're fair and reasonable.

Damage guarantee

At Man With A Van, every job we do is covered by our damage guarantee. In the rare instance that something does become damaged, we will facilitate its repair or replacement on your behalf using Melbourne’s most credible technicians and suppliers. If you can't get a straight answer out of the service you're looking at about what is covered and what is not, don't risk the battle afterwards.

Service is more than an accreditation

Many service-orientated industries will have accreditation bodies that relevant businesses can affiliate with at their discretion. Ticking the accreditation box is one thing, but the real test in removals is having a fair approach, smooth systems for booking and scheduling, and putting the customer's needs first.

Size matters - give an accurate indication of the amount of work you need done

Once you've chosen a suitable moving service, it's vital that you are upfront with how much stuff needs moving. This is crucial to ensuring an adequate sized vehicle is scheduled for the job. It's also important so the company can make sure they come equipped with enough ties, moving blankets, trolleys, and movers for the job.

While larger trucks usually have slightly higher rates, it’s quicker to pack a truck with space left over than it is to try and squeeze too many items into a smaller truck.  A large enough vehicle will save time, money and unnecessary hassle. If you've chosen a service you trust, it's worth following their advice — good removalists are in demand and have a lot of experience at calculating the best deal for the customer. They'll want to do a great job so you spread the good word, and come back next time you move.

Doing your part for a stress-free move

The more prepared you are, the more likely you are to have a speedy and stress-free move. To make things seamless for you and your removalist, consider the following tips:

• Ensure your hallways and walkways are clear
• Ensure there is available parking and close by before the removalists show up
• It’s better if boxes are stacked and not overfilled; if in doubt, have a read of our ‘perfectly packed box’ tips to help guide you
• Disassemble things like beds in advance, and make sure all its parts are packed up properly to prevent them being misplaced — this will save a lot of time on moving day

More moving tips are available on The Man's Moving Checklist, which is also available as a downloadable PDF: