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Getting Your Removals Quote Right.

2012-05-11T13:38:40Z

For most people moving is an infrequent occurrence so arranging a removal is not something done regularly. It is sensible to compare a number of removals firms to see how they match-up on price and type service they offer. Our enquiry form offers you up five removals firms to compare:

http://www.quotes4removals.co.uk/quote-forms/removals-quotes.aspx

You do have to bear in mind, however, the initial quote is usually for a basic move and based purely on the information you have submitted either through an online enquiry or over the phone. We always advise people that these initially quotes are not binding and should be used as an indicative figure.

It’s also advisable to get the removals firm to come to your property to carry out a survey. In some cases for a very small moves or single items this may not be necessary but for most moves a survey is required to get a final and accurate quote.

The survey is essential because there are a number of factors that will affect the cost of the move:

· The volume of items

This is key to how much your move will cost you – the more you have the more it will cost. Where people can run into difficulties is in under estimating how much stuff they have. It’s easy to forget items when calculating the volume, for example a load of boxes you forgot were in the basement. The Removal firms will work out the volume in cubic feet to ascertain the size of vehicle they will need and they will thoroughly inspect all items and check the whole property and garden so no items are missed and they get an accurate figure for the quote.

· Packing or not

Initial quotes usually do not include a packing service. It’s advisable to get the removals firm to pack for you as they are skilled at getting everything into as little a space as possible, and in a way that your items are safe and secure for transit. Just be aware this is additional service in most cases.

· Difficult access

It’s very important to outline to the removals company whether or not there is easy access to the property. If there is difficult access it could mean the quote will be higher due to the increased time required to do the job, man power required, or even the use of specialised equipment that the removals company may need to hire from a third party.

· Parking / congestion zones

If you live in a major city then there may be issues with parking or a requirement for vehicles to pay a congestion charge or road toll. This will need to be communicated to the removals firm as these additional expenses need to be added on.

· Storage

If the new place you’re moving too is not ready then storage of your goods is required. Most removals companies have their own storage, or can arrange it with firm they know. Remember not only do you need to factor in the storage costs but you need to be fully aware of transit cost from you old property to the storage facility and then onto the property.

We all try and get the most for our money but it’s important to be upfront and honest with the removals firm about all aspects of the move to avoid difficulties further on down the line. In many cases by paying a bit more at the start of the process you may be saving money in the long run. By hiring well established and experienced removals people you can reduce the time it takes and the space your items take up. Initially they may not have been the cheapest but in the long run they could save you time and money, and of course make for an easier moving experience.

Moving Countdown - 8 Weeks to go, 8 things to do

2011-08-23T10:23:25Z

Congratulations! You’ve agreed on your moving date. This is the point when things begin to get even more exciting, and potentially more stressful. The best thing you can do to cut down your stress is to stay as organised as you can. Here is a list of tasks that you will need to do to 8 weeks before the big day in order to prepare for your move.

1. Start a ‘moving diary’

In the run-up to your move, it will really help if you keep all your moving documents together. Why not buy a folder and a notebook specifically for all your reminders, lists and notes so that you can easily keep track of your progress.

2. Begin to decide which items you will take with you

Start to think about the items you will be taking with you to your new home. Keeping a floor plan of your new home handy could help you to make any tough decisions about things you may need to get

rid of. If you can cut down your items in advance of your move, you will get cheaper removals quotes, since removals companies’ fees depend on the volume of items they have to move.

3. Keep a record of your possessions

Make an inventory of the items you have in each room. Having a list to refer to will speed things up when you unpack at your new home, and will also help you to double-check that nothing has been lost during your relocation.

4. Get removals quotes and book your movers

If you are going to hire a removals company, now is the time to get removals quotes. Make a list of questions to ask each company and use this to help you make your final decision when you compare removals firms. Decide whether or not you would like them to pack for you, and inform them of anything to be kept in storage, as some removals companies are able to provide this service too.

Note that the busiest days for removal companies are Fridays and weekends, so if your planned move date falls on any of these days it is wise to book your removal sooner than later as many companies get booked up well in advance.

5. Make sure it’s all covered

Find out whether you will need to arrange extra insurance to cover your transition from one property to the next. Most removals companies provide their own cover, but you will not be fully protected by this if you are packing your own items.

6. Do you need to transfer your children’s school records?

If your children are changing schools, you will probably need to have their school records transferred. Contact your child’s school and ask them how to go about this.

7. Tell people you are moving

You’d be surprised how many people forget to notify their friends and family of their change of address! If you do this by email, we suggest avoiding a PDF as this is a little more difficult for your friends and family to copy into their contact list.

8. Finish any little DIY tasks

If you have agreed to do any repairs for the new owners, now is the time to get them out of the way, before all the pressures of moving home begin to get too much.

For more helpful advice on what to do when moving home, download reallymoving.com's moving house checklist.

photo credit: ">Anusorn P nachol / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

How to move an entire house

2010-12-21T11:08:28Z

Estimating the Budget for Moving an Entire House

Moving an entire house was beyond our imagination few years back but now it has transformed into reality. It is now possible to relocate an entire house at our wish. We spend a lot of our hard earned money in constructing our dream house. At that moment it becomes difficult to ascertain the changing environment of our current house location over the next 10-15 years. We often want to shift from our current neighbourhood to a better locality at a later stage which will be convenient for us to reside. After checking out the necessary criteria that will allow relocating the entire house it is important to figure out the budget required for this process. To get proper guidance consult professional home movers to carry out such activities easily.

Things Guiding the Cost of Moving an entire house

There are several factors that should be taken into consideration while estimating the budget.

Size of the house
Distance of relocation
Cost of hiring the house relocating contractors
Cost involved in removing the public utility, power lines and other obstruction on the way while moving the house
Cost related to property insurance that will take care of the damages, if any

Size of the house is a major issue in calculating the cost of moving the house. The bigger the house, higher will be the cost of relocating it. Small houses are easy to move and require less labour in moving. The height of the house is a major concern. The condition and structure of the house should also be viewed. Old houses are difficult to relocate as they can easy get damaged when moved. Advanced equipments are used by contractors like home movers which can assist in such situations.

It is also important to evaluate the original value of the house. Thoroughly examine the proposed moving area. All these will help in taking the right decision about relocating the house.

Top 5 tips for first time buyers

2010-06-15T09:08:00Z

Moving can be hard on first-time buyersBuying a property for the first time can be a very big decision, particularly if you’re buying one as a couple. Along with the financial implications is the feeling that you’ll finally have a place of your own, and it can be exciting to think about exactly what you’re going to do with the house and how you’ll make it your own.

It’s truly an exciting time, but it can also be stressful as you’re constantly checking out new houses, answering peoples’ questions and wondering when you’re going to find that perfect property.

Here are five tips to help the process go as easily as possible:

Compare prices in the area
First time buyers sometimes don’t mind paying extra for a special house in the area they’re looking in, when in reality it may be very uneconomical to do so. It’s very important to check the price of similar houses in the area to ensure the favoured house is not comparatively overpriced. For example, you shouldn’t pay £200,000 for a semi-detached house when similar houses in the area are going for £175,000. A better idea may be to buy a cheaper one and use the money saved to make it meet your standards.

Your house is not only an investment
It’s important you don’t only treat your house as a financial investment. Can you see yourself living there for years into the future? If not you should continue looking until you find a house that feels like a home. The housing market fluctuates regularly and buying a house solely on the basis of a sound financial investment is not a good idea as its price may drop heavily in the future. Buy what you love and it’ll treat you right.

Bear in mind the financial implications
Pick the house you love, but don’t lose sight of the fact that you’ll have to pay for it! Work out how much you’ll have per month based on your (combined) salaries and how much you expect bills and your mortgage to be. You want to have some left over for treats, savings and emergencies. Don’t stretch your budget too far or you may find yourself regretting it at a later date. And don’t forget you can help your budget by getting things like removals quotes early – by requesting quotes early you can shop around for the best deal.

Buy cheaply at first
Buying a house is only the first expense; kitting it out can add several thousand pounds onto the overall cost. And you do need a great deal of items, including sofas, beds, dressers, fridges and freezers. Buying these items brand new will attract a massive premium, so why not see how you can by buying second hand? Freecycle is an online community of members offering items for free; eBay is also a good choice, and so is Gumtree.

Ask family and friends for help
Family and friends often have items they simply don’t need, and by asking around you can get a lot of miscellaneous possessions that would otherwise cost quite a bit of money to buy. From tables and chairs to kitchen utensils, speak to your family and see what’s on offer. If you feel guilty about taking them, offer to take them out for dinner, clean the car or complete a DIY job. Many family members are only too happy to help

6 Things to do before you move abroad

2010-05-21T09:00:58Z

Use our top tips to help with your move abroadMoving abroad can be an incredibly exciting time. A new home, a new culture, new weather – it can be a very special time for anyone. But don’t forget that when you move abroad you leave behind a significant part of your life that you’ll find it difficult to connect with in the future. Technological advancements such as e-mail, webcams and social networks can help you remain in touch with friends and family but when you move abroad you abandon your previous life and start afresh. Unless you mourn your past, you may find you become depressed after you’ve moved abroad.

Here are 6 things you should always do before you move abroad:

Have a going away party
Going away parties may seem like clichés, but they offer a cathartic end to your time in the UK and provide an opportunity to say goodbye to all your friends and relatives at a central location. Make sure you hold your going away party after you’ve packed everything and are literally ready to travel, otherwise you’ll be worrying all the way through. Going away parties are a time to relax and enjoy your friends’ company, not stress yourself out.

Reconnect with friends
Make sure you reconnect with your friends and relatives you haven’t seen for a while before you leave. You can do this at the going away party but you will only be able to spend a short amount of time with each guest so if you’d like to really reconnect with old friends you should schedule a longer period of time with them.

Complete your old life
This will mean different things to different people, but it’s important to have a sense of completion when you leave your life behind and move abroad. This may mean selling all your belongings and not having to leave any or storage or with relatives. It may mean losing weight and getting fitter so you can start your new life without remembering your old one. Whatever you need to do to move on you must ensure you do.

Inform all companies and friends of your new contact details
Remain contactable when you go abroad. Send out change of address cards at the earliest opportunity and set up a blog/Facebook account so you can keep friends and relatives up to date at all times. Pack lots of writing paper and purchase a camera if you don’t have one so you can send letters and provide ample photographs of your new life.

Make plans for friends and relatives to visit
Arrange a date for friends and relatives to visit as soon as possible. That way you won’t have to mourn your old life too much and have something to look forward to as soon as you arrive in the new country. When you arrange a date make sure you give yourself enough time to get your new house in order so you can welcome your guests without too much stress to yourself!

Get a removals quote early
Make sure you get an overseas removals quote as soon as possible, and understand the different options and costs involved. You can ship your goods by air freight or container, the former being significantly more expensive. Make sure your removals company knows the deal – you don’t want it to get to moving day and find noone is available to send your belongings.

Who should I notify when moving house?

2010-05-16T09:00:14Z

You never have to worry about who you forgot to tell about your move with our great guideOne of the biggest inconveniences of moving house is having to send out change of address cards to businesses and acquaintances. After all, the last thing you want is to forget to notify someone; all your post will be delivered to the old house but you’ll never know.

Thankfully we’ve put together a list of organisations and people you need to send change of address cards to, making it quick and easy to let everyone know where you’re going to be living:

People:

•    Friends – both local, national and international – if you have their email addresses or have them as a friend on Facebook this can be a great and cheap way of getting the word out
•    Relatives – let all your family know you’re moving; it’s best to let them know first to avoid any ill feeling
•    Business associates – don’t neglect your business relationships. Let key people know your change of address so you can continue networking in the future

Organisations:

•    Banks – this includes building societies and e-banks
•    Religious organisations – local churches and mailing lists too
•    Doctors/dentists – very important as your new doctor may need access to your records if you fall ill
•    Insurance providers – your cover, particularly for car and home insurance, may be void if you do not     inform of a change of address
•    Solicitor – they may need to write to you urgently at some time in the future
•    Magazine subscriptions – don’t pay extra for something you can’t read
•    Schools – inform your child’s school they’ll be moving on and return library books
•    Post office – tell your post office you’ll be moving. They may offer a re-mailing service so you still get post send to your old address after you’ve moved
•    Inland Revenue – you should sort out your tax as soon as possible to avoid complications
•    DSS - your benefits may face delays if you don’t inform the DSS as soon as possible
•    Utilities – inform your gas, electric and water suppliers at least 2 working days before you move. Make sure you take up to date meter readings too
•    TV Licensing – make sure you have a TV license in your new home to avoid problems later down the line
•    Vets – your pet may need medical care soon after the move. Find a vet in your new local area and arrange to become a customer early
•    DVLA – you must let the DVLA know your change of address so they can update your driving license and vehicle registration certificate
•    Passport office – your passport may need to be endorsed so put your change of address in writing
•    Premium bond companies – complete and return your holders’ card

Moving Home when Pregnant

2010-05-08T09:00:09Z

Make your move as easy as possibleMoving is a stressful time for anybody, but moving whilst pregnant does put extra pressure on the mother to be. You can put your mind to ease as we here at Quotes4 removals have come up with top tips and advice you won’t be forgetting.

• Some mothers to be get tired quickly, so get as many helping hands on board as possible, even employing moving guys to help, can help ease a lot of moving pressure. Make sure you do the research to ensure you are getting the job done at the best price available to you.

• If you are doing most of the packing make sure you start as early as possible and don’t do too much in one go. When packing clearly label each box so you don’t have to do a lot of unpacking.
This is a given but try to avoid bending down too much and lifting heavy boxes.

• Baby products can take a while to have delivered so when ordering all your baby requirements, get them delivered to your new home, this will save some major packing.

• Find out where any local baby or toddler groups are, chemists and the nearest hospital. Register with a doctor if your moving to another area and when moving make sure you pack any hospital notes in your handbag.

• Drink plenty of fluid on the moving day. You will be on your feet all day, so pack some luxuries for the evening in your hand luggage such as bubble bath.

Ten things to do in the first week after you move house

2010-04-24T09:05:59Z

Explore your local area once you've moved - you'll feel more at home in minutesThings get very hectic in the first month after you move house. In between getting back to work, unpacking all your belongings and sorting out the kids you may find yourself exhausted. At night you’ll probably just fall into bed.

However there are certain things you should ensure you do in the first week following your house move or you’ll regret it later on. Moving house is a very complicated process and entails a lot of processes before you can actively say you live in your new home.

By doing these things early you help ensure you get up and running quickly and also go some way to beating the moving blues – it’s really hard to settle down and enjoy yourself when things are overhanging, so get stuff done as early as possible.

Here are 10 things you should do in the first week:

Talk to your neighbours – they’ll probably have seen you move in, so ask them round for coffee or put a note through their door introducing yourself
Register with doctors and dentists – you never know when you’re going to fall ill, and the stress of moving can take its toll
Register with a vet – pets get stressed by moving and may require a check-up. Even if they’re ok it’s best to register early
Contact your utilities company – ensure you tell them the correct meter readings so you don’t get overcharged
Inform friends of your change of address – pre-printed cards are ideal and can be popped into the post
Explore the local area – feeling comfortable with your local area is the first step to feeling at home
Use local services – buy some meat from the butchers and stamps from the post office. Introduce yourself to all local business owners
Scope out clubs and pubs – know where the locals go and how you can get involved easily. If you’re religious, look at local churches.
Keep in contact with relatives and friends – give them a call to let them know how you’re doing
Relax – don’t feel as though everything must get done immediately. You’ve just had a stressful experience so take some time to chill out

10 places you may forget to look in when moving house

2010-04-17T09:04:43Z

Ensure you don't leave anything behind when you pack - check in these places to make sure!Packing can be a nightmare, particularly if you’ve got a large house or a lot of storage space. And the niggling worry at the back of your mind is shared by everyone contemplating or in the middle of a house move: what if I forget something?

Good preparation is the key to not forgetting any of your belongings. Packing generally takes far longer than at first expected so make sure you leave enough time to get everything done. A worthwhile formula is to take how much time you think it’ll take and either double it or add on 50%.

That way you can ensure you won’t be so stressed during the packing phase and will be less likely to leave something important behind.

To make it even less likely, here are 10 places you mustn’t forget to look in when packing for your move:

The upper level of your garage
The loft
The backs of kitchen cupboards
The space in between drawers, particularly important if you’re leaving furniture behind
Underneath white goods and heavy equipment in the shed and garage
Underneath sofas and down cushions.
Behind the shed
Down the backs of radiators
In the bathroom cabinet
At the back of kitchen cupboards

Five emotions you’ll feel when moving house

2010-04-10T09:04:45Z

You'll likely to feel a wide range of emotions when you move houseMoving house can be an emotional rollercoaster. Remember that you are not your emotions, and you shouldn’t base the success of your house move on the levels or depths of your emotions. As human beings we experience constantly changing emotions, particularly around important events, and this cannot be reduced to a statement on how you feel about your house move.

You’re moving, and that is that. It will be an incredibly beneficial event to happen to you if you treat it the right way and take advantage of opportunities open to you.

Meanwhile, here are five of the most common emotions experienced when moving house.

Regret . . .
Any big decision will be met with a certain amount of regret, as you’ve leaving what you know for something you don’t. But trust us – it’s normal. In fact, it’s healthy to be slightly regretful. This makes you appreciate your old house, and moves you through the new door with the right attitude.

Anxiety. . .
Life events cause stress, and the bigger the event the greater the stress. You’ve probably heard people say that moving house can be one of life’s biggest upheavals and it’s certainly true. So be prepared to feel very anxious; your mind will start asking questions such as ‘how will I fit in?’ and ‘but what about my friends?’ These are completely normal and always accompany stressful situations. Ensuring you prepare in plenty of time, for example by getting a removals quote well before your completion date, can help reduce anxiety.

Loss. . .
Moving house, like the end of a relationship, can be likened to bereavement. You’re losing a part of you and moving onto pastures new, and even though you can come back and look at the house your experience of it will never be the same again. You may even feel loss at the local community, the morning commute to work, and the small things such as the view from your bedroom. Acknowledge all these losses – it’ll be harder later on if you bottle it up now.

Sadness. . .
You’re probably likely to get down in the dumps about your house move, which is why it’s very important to remain positive and surround yourself with friends and family. Sadness always accompanies loss so remember this if you start to feel depressed. Exercise can help alleviate feelings of sadness.

Fear. . .
Human beings have an innate fear of the unknown. Replacing a life you know with a life you don’t would strike fear into the heart of anyone, so don’t feel bad for fearing your new life. But you must remember that it’s up to you to grab it and make the most of it.