We are halfway through our series on relocating, where we provide some practical advice on how to manage your move, either to a big city or small town. The most practical and efficient way to cart all your belongings to your new home is by hiring a removal company, but it can also be a very costly exercise. We would like to share a few tips on finding the best removal company to suit your budget.

A friend recently told me that if I am looking to save money while relocating, that the removal company was not going to be the area where I would be saving any money.

That got me thinking, how expensive can a big move be? Turns out, VERY expensive. I got in touch with three different removal companies (in South Africa) and all of them operate on a similar premise. You provide them with the address of your new location, your moving date, and an inventory list of all the items which require relocation. Based on this information they will generate a quotation. In the spirit of the BuzzFeed Series, Worth It, I got three quotations for comparison.

The original idea for this article was about how to find the best removal company and how you’d know which one was the best as a first-time relocator. When doing the necessary research, it became apparent that this was going to be an even bigger task than I had anticipated. There were so many removal companies to choose from and I had my work cut out for me. I devised a strategy that would keep me on track and within budget.

First and foremost, create a list of the possessions you wish to move. 

This is where you need to be cut-throat and only keep what is necessary. Divide your belongings into four categories: Keep, Resell, Donate, or Discard.  This is probably the toughest part of any move but the most crucial step in the process. Think Marie Kondo. Once you have decided on which items to move, it’s time to focus on which removal company is the right fit for your needs. In addition, ensure that you have sufficient time for planning purposes. The reason for this is that most removal companies often have a strict schedule, and their logistics planner will often have trips booked up to three months in advance. 

One way of selecting a potential removal company is by deciding on what your selection criteria will be. The following formula is intended to guide you on the selection process:

Get a Maximum of Four Quotes

Any more than this can leave you frustrated, fatigued by the process, and more confused.

Complete an Online Search for Positive and Negative Reviews

 This is typically a good indicator of the kind of service you can expect.  

Have Your Inventory List Ready and Available

Most removal companies will give you an option of completing either their in-house inventory list or submitting your own. It is best to provide them with your own list as they will be able to give you an exact price based on your individual items.

Consider Which Type of Transport You Need

The options most removal companies will offer are road, rail, sea freight or air. All these options are available to you depending on where you will be moving to as well as what your budget is.

Insurance Cover While in Transit

Every removal company will offer you an insurance package for your belongings while they are in transit. The good news is that you can save on this cost, if you already have household insurance, check with your service provider whether this would cover your household items while in transit for the purposes of relocation.

Boxes

A great way to save money, once your relocation is certain, is to start collecting as many used boxes as possible. All removal companies have their own boxes (which makes life so much more convenient) however, they do come at a cost.

Packing and Unpacking

While most (if not all) of the removal companies offer a service where they can pack up your belongings for you, a cost-saving method is for to you choose to box up your own things. When moving you will need help packing up and unpacking, and YES, this is an added service which the removal company does charge for. Now, if you are anything like me and hate packing and unpacking, then this is a service you would gladly pay for. But, once again ask yourself, does your budget allow for it. You may be better off employing a few friends to help you when packing up and perhaps getting someone on the other side (if you do not have friends or family) and pay them a day rate. Instead, you could just pay for offloading. Another tip, the driver does not offload. 

Unpacking and Placement

Having all your items placed correctly in your new home carries a cost as well. Be sure to tick the box if you want to either include or exclude it. 

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Before settling on a removal company, there are a few conditions to filter the selection process through. 

You want to ensure that the removal company is legitimate, therefore check if the company is registered, ­they would have a trading licence or business licence. With a registered company you’d have a better chance for recourse should any of your items be lost or stolen. When making enquiries make a note of the time you made the telephone call, or sent the email, or messaged them on social media. Set a timeline for yourself for when the most acceptable time is for them to get back to you. In my experience, if the company does not get back to you within 24 hours of your initial enquiry, it can be a red flag for potential poor client service. And finally, if they do not follow up one week after giving you the initial quotation, it means your business is not important to them.

You may say that these are strict measures by which to judge a company, and I would offer that it certainly is. Would you trust a total stranger with your valuables without doing a thorough background check? On the other hand, you could just sell everything and start anew.

Of course, when you relocate, I’m sure you’d want the entire family to be relocated. If you have a pet, and you need them transported, there are many companies that specialise in pet transport. Some removal companies do offer this as an additional service. And remember, if you are unable to take your pets with you, please consider rehousing them.

If you, a family member or friend are considering a big move, I recommend you catch up on our previous articles to help you navigate this journey, click here.