Removals in Colchester and Essex

Here are some useful hints & tips:

It’s so easy to feel under pressure to simply book the first available removals company you find, but for gods sake stop

Collect estimates from at least 3 reputable moving companies that you have either heard of or that have been recommended to you.

Consider the cost of the whole removals service, any waiting time charges, insurance or additional charges hidden in the small print.

Don’t be caught out by online or blind, telephone quotes, THEY WILL charge you EXTRA for EVERY item you did not list!

It’s impossible for you to know exactly how many boxes or “square foot” you require moving, especially weeks before you move!
On moving day its difficult for you to negotiate a fair price as you are stuck with the company you have booked.
These companies are often removals brokers, the movers they book for you will be from out of town with no reputation to protect. In some cases ALL the quotes supplied will be from the same organisation under three different names.

Registered removal firms do not operate in this fashion.

10 VITAL Things to ask any removals company:

• Do they guarantee the price they quote is the only price you pay?
• Are they fully insured and registered as a removals service?
• Does your insurance cover any loss or damage during the whole removal?
• Are they members of a recognised trade organisation?
• Does their trade organisation offer a FREE conciliation service?
• Can they provide independent references from previous customers?
• Can they provide details of other companies who will vouch for them?
• Will they deliver boxes and packing materials to you?
• Are all their staff fully trained, full time removals professionals?

We cut costs NOT corners!

Ask any removals company to provide proof of insurance, its so easy for an uninsured “company” to claim to be “fully insured” Any member of our crew or staff visiting your home will be pleased to show you certificates of insurance and proof of current trade Memberships.

Tip: All insurance companies insist a complete list of terms and conditions are published on removals companies websites. Removals companies who only have vehicular insurance or no insurance will not have terms and conditions.

We hear more and more often of pushy salesmen/surveyors and “others” calling on customers homes, always check the person viewing your home has some form of ID confirming they are who they say they are. Never ever alow a visitor view your home unaccompanied.

Beware of ANY company using our good name. We do not allow the use of our registered name by any other removals company or business in any form.

Please check any removals company you may consider to move you and your family. Always check for referring customers comments, ensure they are genuine and ask for proof. Our customers can check out ours here by sending a quick email asking for confirmation of booking and recommendation.
Some web sites supply references with a code number! most don’t bother! what does that tell you? Check out ours here Testimonials.

Don’t delay in packing. During the weeks before your move if you don’t use it, pack it. There is nothing more stressful than trying to pack your possesions on the day of your move.

Please call us as soon as possible with details of any items you find whilst packing that you did not inform us of originally when making your booking, again this enables us to allocate the correct amount of vehicles and time our crews will anticipate to be working for you.

First impressions count, do you really want your new neighbours to see you turning up like the Beverly Hillbillies in a battered old hire van? Using a uniformed removal service will improve your status.You may even find time to introduce yourself while we do the work.

If possible secure an area of road outside your house for the removal truck to park. Use your own car, traffic cones or dustbins. Try and do the same at your new home. Our vehicles are 3.5 Luton vans, enabling us easy access on to most driveways or loading areas without blocking your neighbours access. Our vans will normally require the space of at least two cars in which to park, load and unload.

We would normally only recommend using just one van for small house moves.
You would be surprised by the amount of our customers who only list a few items for us to move and on moving day decide to increase the load, requiring a second trip.
We are more than pleased to allocate extra vehicles for a job at short notice, but it helps us all when allocating the crews if we are supplied with a comprehensive and true list of items at the initial booking stage.

Give yourself plenty of time to pack, it takes longer than you expect.

Don’t use old boxes, they become weak and may end up at the bottom of a stack. Boxes should weigh about 20-30lbs each. Our guys are strong but not exactly the Governor of California! Everything you will need to pack is available on our packing materials page.

Pack your goods in new, double walled, cardboard removal boxes and mark them clearly as to which room they are to be delivered to.

Tape them closed using the “H” method, one all the way along the seam and up half way, two up the sides, half way.

Order plenty of boxes, you will suprise yourself by how many you will actually use!

Pack your heavier items at the bottom of the box and lighter items at the top. Try to keep the weights of your boxes as uniformed as possible.

Mark your boxes with a complete description of the items inside. When it comes to finding that item you need urgently you will be pleased you did.

Pack plates to stand vertically, NOT laid flat, wrap them individually using packing paper or bubble wrap.

Ensure you don’t overload your boxes so they don’t close.

Fill any voids or gaps in boxes with soft items like towels, bubble wrap or soft toys.

Stack your packed boxes against walls or in corners leaving our team room to work.

Mirrors and pictures too large to be boxed will be wrapped by our crew.

Bundle items like brooms and brushes and tape them together.

Remember to remove the glass shelf from the bottom of your fridge and the glass dish from inside your microwave.

Transit Bolts for washing machines are recommended but NOT essential. Remove the hoses from the back of the machine and place inside the drum. Check the washers are still in place before reconnecting.

Any good removal company will protect your goods using packing blankets and Coversafe © sofa and armchair protectors, mattress protectors.

A GREAT idea for protecting your matresses is to put them inside an old duvet cover, you can easily pop the cover in the washing machine later. All our vehicles are supplied with mattress bags for double protection.

For pressed garments take up to six items on hangers, strap the hangers together with a cable tie, then cover with a clean bin bag. We will then transport your clothes hanging inside your own wardrobes on the vans. Or choose a few or our wardrobe cartons.

Removal men don’t like glass (unless its full of lager!) If possible transport fish tanks, glass shelves and very delicate items yourself in the car, or pack them in plastic removal crates using acid free packing materials and bubble wrap.

Mark any delicate fragile items clearly and ensure your removal team are aware.

Please leave fridges and freezers to “stand” for a while before turning them on again in your new home as the gas may need to settle in the motor.

Moving day is one of the most stressful days in your life. Packing the kids and pets off to a favourite auntie or grandparents for the day is a great idea. Alternatively a day at the children’s nursery or kennels works wonders.

While moving home ensure your keys are kept safe on the draining board at all times, because nobody really moves the kitchen sink!

Why not book yourself into a local hotel while you sort your stuff out.Imagine your in the middle of sorting your stuff out, beds upside down, duvet’s still in the bags no curtains on the windows.Lock up, go to the hotel and get a nice hot bath, have room service deliver a nice meal and relax.

We travel all over the UK and our staff are away, overnight on a regular basis, we always try to find a local Best Western Hotel. They are independently owned and offer great value.

Don’t forget to have the locks in your new home changed, we have arranged for Lock’n’Roll to offer our customers a special price for cylinder locks, patio door locks, insurance approved 5-lever mortice locks or garage door locks. See ‘we recommend‘ page.

Buying or selling a property? we have found that the smart guys will offer the property they are living in with immediate vacancy, thus not getting involved with a chain. What they do is store there goods and stay with friends, relatives or rent. When it comes to buying once again they are in a strong position with no chain behind them.

You may be expecting a call at any time giving you a date to move, hang fire, in most cases we find it takes weeks and weeks or in most cases months and months before you will get a confirmed moving date. 

What is going on? Solicitors are now giving their clients only DAYS notice on completion of their new home purchase. All the chains are left not knowing till the very last minute.

When it comes down to it we see more house moves than the average estate agent or solicitor. We have learnt that solicitors don’t have a call feature on their phones.
when they say they will call you as soon as your sale or purchase has gone through don’t hold your breath.
House sales appear to go through at 12.15 1.15 or 2.15pm, so on the day of your move call your solicitor at 12.20 1.20 or 2.20pm and ask for an update. (if he’s back from his pub lunch!)

Ask YOUR solicitor about this, you wait months for a completion date then get 3 days notice. In that time you have to pack and organise your entire house to be moved. In one case a Maldon solicitor gave a customer only 16 Hours notice! Not good enough.

For a bit of fun please vote here, then scroll back down to see the results.

PLEASE, PLEASE Submit your testimonial about our service after your move.

Please visit our links page for useful links and recommendations page.