At first glance, finding an international removal company may not be high up on your list of priorities when it comes to organising your relocation. Some people may even wave if off and think “who really cares?” However, the fact of the matter is, you’re trusting someone with all of your belongings, and while some things are easily replaced, sentimental objects and handmade items are one of a kind and can never be recovered if anything goes wrong. Not only that, but there are horror stories of removal companies going into liquidation and customers being left without ever receiving their goods and being out of pocket to boot.So, with this in mind, we think that finding a good international removal company is worth focusing on. Read on to find out more.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Removal Company
Planning And Quotes
The best thing to do when looking for an international removal company is to get several quotes from different companies. Plan ahead and start getting quotes in as soon as you can, rather than leaving it until the last minute, as you’re less likely to be able to secure a decent price and will have no time to research or prepare. Keep a list so you can compare prices against each other easily, and don’t be afraid to mention to the next company that you’ve had a better offer.
Which Company To Choose
You want to choose an accredited company with good reviews. One that is experienced with international removals, incredibly organised and good with logistics. They will need to know the ins and outs of how to go about shipping goods and all the correct paperwork. Choosing a company that is associated with the National Guild of Removers or the British Association of Removers will stand you in good stead if you are struggling to make a decision on who to use. Such companies will also provide you with the best level of cover should anything go wrong.
You could also consider going with an international moving company which is a ‘FAIM’ – that is, a FIDI Accredited International Mover. This is the only independent quality assurance standard for the international moving industry.
Attitude
Generally speaking, as with any service, attitude goes a long way. If the person you speak to isn’t knowledgeable or friendly, then it’s pretty much a no-go from the start. Marc Benger (Co-Founder and Director of Compare My Move) hit the nail on the head by stating:
"The most important thing when choosing an international removal company is trust. Your belongings are going a long way unaccompanied by you."
At the end of the day, you want to work with people you can trust, who will be friendly and pleasant and willing to help you out with any questions or any hiccups along the way.
Reviews
It is worth your time to research companies by reading reviews. Take a look on expat forums to see if there are any existing threads. This will tell you which removal companies people are recommending and discussing. If you plan far enough in advance, you can even post something in a forum yourself to get the most up-to-date answers.
Insurance
A good removal company should have comprehensive cover of the goods they are transporting for you. This should cover accidental loss or damage and theft. You may be able to take out your own additional insurance cover if you need that extra piece of mind, but if the company doesn’t have any cover of their own in place, then it’s better to go with someone else.
Other Considerations
To make the moving process as stress-free as possible, you might want to consider choosing a removal company which offers a packing service. Depending on where you’re moving to, you need to be mentally prepared for the fact that your belongings could take some time to catch up with you, given that air freight is based on weight and very expensive in comparison to say, sending your belongings via cargo ship.
Do you have any tips for finding international movers? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or answer the questions here to be featured in an interview!