Students - Find The Right Removal CompanyWritten by Stephen Willett
Of course we all want to save money. But as in most things, in removals, value for money is not same as cheap.I am not addressing well heeled client, who by spending top money hopes to obtain top service (hurrumph). I am interested in how clients with small or single item loads to move, should approach business of balancing cost against quality:- How can you know until it’s too late? Of course every move is different.:- Some single items can be difficult. I have moved kilns, and machinery, as well as pianos, latter up tight stairwells. You may imagine that each job demands right manpower, equipment and planning. So often, a removal quote is as much about how the move will be carried out as cost.Therefore, satisfy yourself that remover is thinking properly about your case. Sometimes prospective clients can hardly be bothered to think about task at hand, and opt for lowest quote to come in. That means that if client has not got her wits about her, she may fall for a company which has not considered or is not competent to assess any problems which might arise during job. So much concerning assessment of a job is subjective that clients should take time make up their own danger list, and actively bring these points to attention off estimator. Removers cannot know what obstacles or delays await them at delivery end. Clients interested in obtaining best price will therefore do themselves a favour with a little forethought and a full declaration of any perceived problems. I am put in mind of a lady we once moved. After a four hour drive, we had to wait two hours for client to show. When she did, she was unabashed-‘What a lovely lunch we have just had!…’she exclaimed, ‘we found such a lovely restaurant! …’ I am very sorry madam;- but that’s why we have conditions of carriage!
| | Student Removals- Self Packing and Insurance - For Proper ProtectionWritten by Stephen Willett
Students and people undertaking small removals are very likely to want to pack themselves. Whereas self packing will save money, it muddies water as far as both insurers and removers are concerned. Spurious claims, poorly defined responsibility (e.g you packed it badly), and high administative cost of 'adjusting' claims for small amounts, all mitigate against good value for customer. Policies are so diluted by exclusion and excess clauses, that they are usually ineffective against breakages. You should however, insure your property - against theft, and complete loss or destruction. Moreover you should take a policy independent of a removal company's cover (talk to a student insurance specialist). I will go further: If a remover insists you buy insurance from them find another company... Why? - Consider this: if a removal company is acting as an agent for an insurer, he cannot allow his business to become a funnel for claims. remover will himself look a bad risk and be uninsurable. Not only that, but remover will be contractually obliged not to admit liability on behalf of insurer (like in motor insurance). The removal company may thus be an impediment to your claim. That is not to say that removers are not themselves covered by their own insurance:- as a minimum they will have public liability cover. Protect yourself with an independent policy in your name. Your money is well spent on proper packaging and packing. Most breakages are result of a lack of, or inadequate preparation. If you take all too common view that your mover should just pick an item up and load it on a van, you will become another statistic. When you have agreed a collection and delivery type of arrangement (rather than a packing service), then mover will have no further responsibility beyond loading your property as it is presented to him.
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