Choosing a Removals Company

Don’t underestimate the time spent packing and moving your belongings, not to mention the stress of carrying heavy furniture pieces.

Packing itself takes days. And if you choose to move everything yourself, you will have to invest another day in unpacking everything as well as calling friends and family to help you carry boxes. Make sure to check out our Moving Home Checklist to make sure you plan your move properly. 

You might end up with broken plates or scratched furniture pieces. Plus, some items are extremely hard to carry, so if you have massive wood furniture or large sofas, you are setting yourself for a day that is bound to give you a few grey hairs.

That said, some people still want to save some extra bucks by doing everything themselves. This may work if you are currently unemployed and you don’t lose money by taking too many days off. But if you are a 9-5 worker or freelancer, your boss won’t be happy to hear that you got sick twice in a month.

Going DIY could also be a viable option if you don’t have heavy furniture or fragile items, which is unlikely to be the case. But if you do, you probably won’t need a removals company.

A self-storage unit can be helpful as well if you don’t want to bring the heavy furniture to your new place for the time being.

If you do have heavy furniture and fragile items, you might want to consider a removals company since they also offer insurance in case something goes bad. Also, it’s going to be easier for you if you have professionals helping you both pack and move your belongings.

This being said, picking the right removals company is not easy. With so many options out there, it’s hard to pick, but this is where we help.

We put together a short guide on how to pick the best removals company in your area, negotiate on price, and more.

A good removal company practices transparency

There are a number of services that a removals company offers, including packing, moving, and providing insurance.

Based on the quality of the services, the distance traveled, and the size of the crew, you will receive a quote. The bigger the crew is, the faster the team, and the better the insurance options are, the more you pay.

But you should be able to find out how much these services cost individually and make a compromise in one area, if necessary, to negotiate on price.

For example, you might ask what their hourly rate is, how much it the traveling costs are, and how much the insurance costs separately.

A good company is transparent about their costs, and they will try their best to help you out. For example, some moving companies offer discounts if you use your own packing supplies.

If you don’t have belongings that are expensive and need to be moved, maybe you can negotiate a more affordable insurance package.

A good removals company will visit your home in person before making an offer

Getting quotes over the phone from a removals company is always a bad idea, both for them and for you.

They are some factors that can lower the costs on your end and make their job twice as hard. For example, a piano will be hard to carry, especially if the stairways are very tight. But if they don’t come to look around first, they won’t know it.

On a similar note, you might be able to get a discount if you don’t have “problematic” items that require a lot of work. For example, if you’re moving to the first floor and you don’t have a piano to carry, it’s going to be easier on movers compared to someone living on the 10th floor in a crowded area.

If you do get a quote from a removals company that can’t pay a visit (this usually happens when you call them just a few days before your move), make sure you are honest about what type of items you have and what the new location looks like.

You should have a conversation about moving your items at least 2 weeks before your moving day. Most removals companies are quite busy, and you might not find anything on a short notice.

Compare the prices from moving companies in the area where you are moving

When you ask for an estimate, make sure you get the hourly rate for workers, the insurance fees, the fees for packing, mileage, and other costs before you compare two companies.

If you are moving to a smaller town, you might be able to get a better offer from a moving company in the place you are relocating. When you are comparing two companies, make sure they both offer the same service package. Otherwise, you might be making a compromise on quality.

You should also research the area where you are moving, when it comes to uneven roads and the type of automobiles moving companies use.

Tall lorries don’t go well with bad roads and steep gradients, which might get you in trouble with the local police. Make sure you ask about permission to unload before you do so.

Another factor that impacts the pricing is when you plan to move. During holidays and on Saturdays, prices are usually higher since the demand is increased as well.

Research your insurance options

Make sure you reading the contract and asking the right questions about emergencies. Ask the removals company representative about what happens if the move is delayed, or what kind of insurance they are offering and what it covers. Do valuable items require special insurance, and what’s the limit per item?

Also keep in mind that if you choose to pack some items yourself, those items won’t be covered by insurance. You might be saving a bit on the packing costs but might lose money if your items do get damaged.

Before you send the items, make a list with the fragile and heavy objects that may offer some difficulties.

Ask them if they will help you unload the packages in the designated room

Many companies help their clients get their packages to the designated room if the boxes are labeled, which saves a lot of time and energy for property owners.

Some removals companies offer cheaper services but don’t include putting the boxes in certain rooms. Before you sign a contract, make sure you ask if they will help you out with this and if they need a floor plan so the movers know where to unload certain boxes.

Ask for the credentials and experience of the removals company  

If the removals company has a website, you can check yourself if they are members of The British Association of Removers or The National Guild of Removers and Storers. These organizations ask from their members a certain degree of professionalism and experience in the industry before accepting them. Being part of one of these organizations can be a good indicator of the quality of the services that they offer.

The post Choosing a Removals Company appeared first on Self Storage Comparison with WhatStorage.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/choosing-removals-company/

11 Items That Should be Stored in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit

When you decide to take the big step of storing your belongings in a self-storage unit, you should look for what kind of features these services come with.

Certain items are more fragile than others and can be damaged over time by humidity, high and low temperatures, and exposure to light.

You may be tempted to skip this step, but the truth is that our homes are different from storage units. In them, we always try to maintain a balanced temperature and humidity.

The items that were preserved so easily in your home will need air conditioning in a storage unit as well. Most of them do.

If you have some belongings that you cherish and you plan to use a storage unit, make sure you look at our list of items that require special care.

1. Paintings and art collections

Extreme temperatures can make the canvas shrink, and humid environments can lead to mold and mildew growth.

Art is best stored in cold and dry environments without sudden temperature changes.

2. Fabrics

Anything made out of fabric, including upholstered furniture, can grow mildew and develop an ugly smell in a humid setting. Fabrics last longer when they are cleaned professionally and stored at 50% humidity.

3. Electronics

Electronic devices can handle a little bit more humidity, up to 60%. But you have to be careful with high temperatures during the summer.

Above 60% humidity, your electronics will stand no chance, and you will start noticing corrosion and mold.

4. Metals

Many collectors choose to store their metal coins in a self-storage unit. But metal is no more resistant to humidity than other materials, not to mention that you need to keep your items away from sudden temperature changes.

In the presence of moisture, iron will rust and copper will change its color to green (hence, why your finger turns green from copper rings), silver will darken, and lead will be completely destroyed.

5. Paper

If you collect comics or you want to store your books and photographs, keep in mind that they might turn yellow in the winter or summer due to temperature changes.

Paper items are affected by humidity as well. Ideally, it should be below 30% humidity, and your belongings should be protected from light as well.

6. Mattress and pillows

Mattresses and pillows are tricky because there is always the chance of retaining moisture. It’s not that difficult for a dress to dry after it gets a bit humid in the storage unit, but a thick mattress will become a home to mold in a situation like this.

The humidity levels in a self-storage unit should be around 40%

7. Leather furniture

Aside from making sure leather doesn’t shrink from humidity or warp from high temperatures in the summer, you also have to make sure you let it breathe.

A thin cotton sheet works best for this type of furniture. It protects it from dust accumulation and it lets the leather breathe, which prevents pungent smells.

8. Wines

Perhaps one of the trickiest items to store, wines need low light, moderate humidity, and a constant temperature.

You may be tempted to store your wines in a dry environment, but it’s best to keep the humidity between 40% and 70 %. Environments that are too dry will damage the quality of the wine. They will also make the seals harden and the bottles difficult to open.

On the other hand, too much moisture in the air will change the color of the wine and accelerate the aging process. This will ruin its flavor.

9. Wood furniture and antique items

If you have some cabinets from your parents or antique items, a climate controlled environment is a must due to how wood reacts in cold and hot environments.

In a colder setting, the wood will contract. In hot temperatures, it will dilate. On top of this, the moisture in the air should be controlled as well since it can lead to mold.

Occasionally, the wood also needs to be treated against parasites and polished with oil to maintain its shine.

What can be stored in a storage unit without climate control?

If you want to store your belongings, do it in the spring or the fall, before extremely hot or cold weather arrives. Even items that would be otherwise damaged in the lack of climate control will remain intact during the gentler seasons.

The problem with this approach is that the weather is rarely predictable. You can end up with exceptionally hot days during the spring or cold, rainy days during the fall.

Other items that can be stored without any special requirements are items that are made to withstand extreme temperatures, such as patio furniture pieces, frying pans, pots, spoons, knives, and forks.

Whatever doesn’t get damaged in extreme temperatures, can be stored in a storage unit without climate control.

The post 11 Items That Should be Stored in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit appeared first on Whatstorage.

source https://whatstorage.co.uk/11-items-that-should-be-stored-in-a-climate-controlled-storage-unit/