How to Choose a Moving Company When Moving Homes

Moving is rarely anything but stressful, and it’s always tempting to take a lot of the hassle out of it by recruiting external help. Moving companies, for example, can make life considerably easier when moving homes. But, much like any other service, it’s always vital to check some boxes when deciding who you’ll pick.

What’s your budget? How big is your old house and your new house? How much effort are you willing to contribute to the move? Do you have everything you need for the move, or will you need help with that too? Will you need some kind of expert help for removing any particular kitchen appliance integrated with the house’s infrastructure such as a range cooker? These are all essential questions to keep in mind and should be on your moving house checklist, even before you enlist a moving company’s aid.

There is so much more to consider too, thus making the task of choosing a moving company a massive headache. Luckily, there are quite a few things you can keep in mind to make sure that you are only hiring the moving company for an upcoming move. When evaluating your moving requirements, it’s crucial to consider whether you need specialized services, especially for international relocations. For instance, if you’re moving to or from Australia, engaging a reputable freight forwarder or customs broker can streamline the process. Companies offer comprehensive sea freight and customs broker services tailored to Australian relocations, ensuring a smoother transition.

When Should You Hire A Man and Van?

Below are 10 moving house scenarios that will make you wish you had hired a man with a van:

You Are Moving Alone

The best part about moving house is that you get to spend time with your family and friends. Aside from suffering together, you all share the excitement and joy of a new home.

In the end, you also get to share a good meal while reminiscing over what a great job everyone did getting the move completed.

If you are moving alone, however, it could be more fun. You will be doing all the hard work independently and with no one to help you. Can you imagine doing all the hard work by yourself? It’s exhausting and time-consuming, and you may even get injured. Hiring a man with a van will take all the hard work off your hands.

While they are most known for transport, they can also help loading and unloading items from your old house to the moving van. Moreover, many moving companies have started offering moving house services such as packing, unpacking, and even moving furniture.

Here are some more tips for when you are moving house by yourself.

You Are Moving With Kids In Tow

Second, if you have children and they are helping out with the move, the process can be even more tiring and time-consuming. Not only will you find that they need to be stronger to help with the heavy lifting, but they can also get easily distracted and run around your house instead of helping.

Moreover, the concept of moving house might require more work for children to understand. This can cause them to feel stressed or even anxious, especially if you are moving long distance.

Hiring a man with a van can help ease your children’s anxiety during this stressful time. With the help of professionals, your kids will be able to focus more on the fun side of moving and enjoy the process rather than feeling scared throughout the entire move. Your hired man with a van can take care of the heavy lifting and loading, so you and your kids can focus on the lighter tasks. You’ll be able to spend quality time with your family during the move rather than worrying about how everything will fit in the moving van.

You’re Moving After A Change In Relationship

Another scenario where hiring a man with a van can be beneficial is if you are moving due to a change in your relationship. Whether it’s a divorce or the end of a long-term relationship, it can be emotionally challenging for everyone involved.

Moving house during this period can add more stress to the situation. Not only do you have to find a new place to live, but you also have to pack up all your belongings and transport them to your new home.

When it comes to separating shared items, it can be difficult when emotions are still raw. To make the process easier, hire a man with a van who can come in and help move things out quickly. This will help to make the transition smoother and less stressful for everyone involved.

Moreover, hiring a man with a van can be more cost-effective than renting a truck, as many companies offer discounted rates for certain moves. You’ll also find that they are very experienced in handling sensitive situations like these and will handle your possessions with care.

Ultimately, you will be glad you had hired a man with a van, as it helped make this trying time much easier for everyone involved.

You’ve Been Hired For A Job That Requires You To Report ASAP

Have you been hired for a new job that requires you to report as soon as possible? You will have to move within a short time frame, and doing it alone can be difficult.

Hiring a man with a van would be the best option. They are experienced in providing quick and efficient moving services and will be able to get your belongings from one place to another quickly. Moreover, they are very knowledgeable about the moving process, so you won’t have to worry about a thing!

You Are Moving Out For The First Time Ever

Moving house can be very daunting, especially if you are moving out for the first time. You have to figure out which items to pack, how much they weigh and all the other details of the move.

Hiring a man with a van can make all these tasks less stressful, as they are experienced in dealing with first-time movers and know precisely what needs to be done. They will help you pack your belongings securely, load them onto the truck and even unload them at your new home.

Moreover, a man with a van can advise how to pack up your belongings and help you create an organised moving plan.

At the end of it all, you will be thankful that you made the decision to hire a professional for your move. It will make the entire process smoother and give you peace of mind knowing that your items are safe. 

Are you a student moving to university? Check this out.

You Are Moving With Seniors or Are An Elderly and Needing To Move House Yourself

If you are moving with seniors or are an elderly needing to move house yourself, it can be difficult for you to lift heavy items and load them onto a truck. Not only will this ease the stress of the move, but it will also ensure that you and your family stay safe during the process.

A man with a van can help with all aspects of the move, from packing up to loading them onto the truck. They are experienced in dealing with seniors and understand how challenging it can be for them to move house. Moreover, they will ensure that your belongings are handled with care and arrive safely at their destination.

At the end of it all, you’ll be glad you hired a man with a van, ensuring a smooth transition for everyone involved.

You Don’t Have Much To Take With You

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a lot of things to move house. Moreover, a man with a van isn’t only useful when you’ve got a lot of belongings, but it can also help you if you’re only taking a few things with you.

A man with a van will be able to advise you on the most efficient way to pack your belongings and make sure that they are transported safely. Not only that, but they’ll also be able to help load and unload your items so that you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself. 

At the end of it all, you’ll be glad that you had hired a man with a van. It will have taken away the hassle and stress from moving house and allow you to focus on settling in at your new home.

Not sure if you should hire a man and van? Check this out.

You’re Moving With Pets

Our pets are an important part of our lives; understandably, you would want to have them when you move. However, managing everything on your plate and ensuring that your pet is taken care of during the transition can be challenging.

Moreover, pets can be very anxious, especially when they’re moving to a new place. Hiring a man with a van can relieve some of the stress, as they can help you transport your pet safely and securely. You’ll be glad you hired a man with a van, as they would have ensured that your pet was handled with care and arrived at its destination safely.

Read more about moving with pets here.

You Are Moving During The Holidays

Moving during the holidays can be incredibly stressful, as there are many other demands on your time. From shopping to planning meals, finding the time and energy to focus on your move can be challenging.

A man with a van can help you manage the entire process, from packing your belongings to loading them onto the truck. Not only will this save you time and stress, but they’ll also be able to ensure that everything is done properly and securely.

Can you imagine how much work it would be to deal with all of these on top of the holidays? You’ll be relieved that you have hired a man with a van. It will have taken away much of the hassle and stress associated with your move and allow you to concentrate on enjoying the holidays.

The Weather Is Not In Your Favour

If you’re moving during bad weather, it can be a challenge for you to manage everything on your own. You might also have to worry about the safety of your items if they are out in the rain or snow.

On top of all that, lifting and moving heavy items can be overwhelming when the weather is not in your favour. Hiring a man with a van can help alleviate some of this stress as they will be able to handle the entire process for you, from packing to loading. Although it might be an additional expense, you’ll be glad you hired a man with a van. It will remove the stress and hassle associated with moving house and ensure that your belongings arrive safely at their destination.

How To Choose A Man and Van Moving Company When Moving House

Consider the Costs and Your Budget

It should go without saying that it can cost a pretty penny to hire a moving company, and depending on the size of your old home (considering how much you’ll need to move) it may be wiser to do the job yourself.

By hiring a moving company, you can make the entire process much smoother and less stressful. However, financially speaking, it can be a costly way to accomplish a goal that you can easily do yourself.

On estimate, the costs incurred between moving from a home with one bedroom and with two can have a difference of almost £300. That means, the wiser option would be hiring a van and moving on your own. However, for larger homes with three or more bedrooms, it would appear that a moving company is the best way to go.

It would also be essential for you to consider the coverage of the initial price quotations presented to you. Does the quote include every item on your list, or will they be charging you extra for every single little thing?

Get Referrals

Just like any other service, having a referral you trust can help separate the wheat from the chaff. Searching online can provide plenty of options, and the likes of Google My Business can often reveal a wealth of reviews from other customers. Nothing else beats the reliable word of mouth from friends and family, though.

Be sure to ask those close to you as to whether they’ve used any moving companies. Alternatively, if you’re working with an estate agent ask them if they have any reliable movers they trust. By taking advantage of referrals, you might be able to get some money off the services too, so it’s always worth asking around.

Make Sure They’re Licensed and Insured

It seems like an obvious requirement, yet making sure that a moving company is actually licensed and insured should be one of the first things you ascertain about them. Professional responsibility will dictate whether your belongings are truly safe or not during transit from your old home to your new one, so ensuring that a moving company is licensed and insured is vital.

This requirement generally falls under the need to ensure that a moving company is fully professional, but it can surprise you how often unreliable companies are tripped up by these basic searches. They prove that moving companies might charge more than a ‘man in a van’, but they’ll also have all parties covered if the worst happens.

Ask About Professional Accreditation

This can include even the most basic professional qualifications, such as whether they’re listed in an office. Any moving company listed under a residential name suggests that they’re either a new company or one that you should not trust.

In the UK, the most trusted association for moving companies is the British Association of Removers (BAR). Yet, there are other notable associations like The Road Haulage Association (R.H.A) and the Federation of European Moving Associations (FEDEMAC. Other associations worth considering are the International Federation of International Movers (FIDI) and the Self Storage Association of UK and Europe (SSA).

Lastly, be mindful of passive signs that a moving company isn’t one you should trust. This includes being unsure of answers to questions, asking for full upfront payment, and showing up with a rental van rather than their own. The latter point is probably one of the tell-tale signs of unprofessionalism, as any respectable moving company should have their own van or truck.

Ensure You Can Get Written Estimates on All Bids

Agreeing to a price can make all the difference when choosing between moving companies, but it’s equally important to see how the costs break down. Seeing whether each aspect of the move you’ve discussed is recognised in the bid ensures whether the moving company is fully aware of your moving requirements.

Having each moving companies bids written down will make it so much easier to compare their prices side by side. If they charge more for specific services, such as moving pianos or furniture, then it’s likely that they’re more familiar & confident in their abilities to do so.

If they charge by the mile, ask if they use a fleet tracking system like an ELD; if that is the case, ensure they are willing to provide you with a copy of the trip data to accompany your bill.

Make Sure They Can Accommodate Your Specific Requirements

Many removal companies will be prepared to handle a wide variety of different conditions, but you should always ensure that your prospect can accommodate any special requirements you have.

Some of the more simple points include your moving date and time and any accessibility issues they may encounter while making the journey to both your current and new homes. (i.e. narrow streets, road excavations, multiple staircases, low bridges, etc.)

You will also want to make sure they can accommodate any fragile items and any oversized furniture you may have. Also, let them know if you have any schedule restrictions, as this can help them figure out how big of a team they will need to send your way.

Making sure that you and a moving company are on the same page about the things mentioned above can make the difference in your overall moving experience and the price quotes from or more two almost identical moving companies.

So, are you ready to choose a removals company for your house move? If so, check out our list of local moving companies in your area today!