Tell the removals consultant everything – from move dates (if you know them) to access information, things you’re concerned about and how you’d like it to work. The more the consultant knows the more accurate the quote will be and the smoother your move experience will be too! Show them everything that needs to be moved – open cupboards and show garages, lofts and outdoor spaces so they can make an accurate evaluation of what resource they need. Don’t forget to tell them if you’ll be buying anything new before move day.

Tell them what you don’t want to be moved – to make sure everything goes to the right place and that you don’t end up paying for things you don’t need to! Point out special care/valuable items – these may need a little extra protection or special handling. Tell them what help you need – do you want packing or are you happy doing your own? would a handyman save you time dismantling things in advance? Don’t avoid tricky situations! – not all moves are straightforward and it’s important the mover can plan for anything tricky. If you had to remove a window to get the sofa in, likely you’ll need that going out too…. don’t be tempted to hide things like poor access, restricted parking or tricky items to get a lower quote. Additional charges or stress on move day could cost you a lot more!

Ask questions – make sure you’re comfortable with what the process involves and how they will make it a great move for you. Don’t be tempted to have one company do a home visit and then give the information to the others. We say this for many reasons, including:

Estimating volume is a manual calculation and is based on the skills and experience of the surveyor, this means that there can be some fluctuation between companies but by having three surveys if one is significantly different to the others you can quickly spot if someone has made a mistake that might affect your costs or move day issues.

Getting a chance to meet a move consultant is about more than checking the volume and getting a price. Not only can they be really useful in guiding you through the moving process but this person represents the company you will entrust to be in your home and handle your prized possessions. They are a good indication of the service, standards and professionalism you will receive once you’ve booked and so can really help in making your decision if prices are similar.