How-to-avoid-the-cowboys

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Further Information about our Storage Services

We are currently expanding our external storage space by buying virtually new 20 foot shipping containers. These are accessible by vehicles up to Box Van size. Access is currentlt 6.00am to 9,00pm Monday to Friday and Weekends by arrangement (although currently limited). For suitable clients we are willing to consider a wider access, based on suitable proof. Rates are from £25 plus VAT per week. The storage containers are ideal storage units for small businesses, where working from home has become a problem but you need to keep your overheads low.

How to avoid the cowboys

What exactly do we mean by ‘cowboys’ when it comes to removals setups? With a cowboy plumber we all have a good idea...he’d probably have no qualifications, do a slipshod , dangerous job and try to charge a ridiculously high price.

A cowboy removals company would be similar. Here are some of the most likely characteristics of Cowboy removals firms.

1) There staff would certainly not have any training.

At the minimum a reputable company will have had older experienced removal staff guide newer staff, showing them the do’s and don’ts. Official training has, admittedly, been hard to find but is becoming available and A Smooth move uses these services.

2) There staff would be ‘working on the side’

This practice is actually quite common, even with decent companies. At A Smooth Move we guarantee that our staff are full-time or properly employed casual staff. Feel free to ask for further details.

3) They are likely to quickly show a careless attitude to your possessions.

There vehicles generally have no or very few transit blankets. A reputable companies vehicles will have huge stacks of blankets, ties, mattress ans suite covers.

4) They don’t usually supply packing boxes. And if they do they are old and of poor quality.

At A Smooth Move we supply packing boxes (double walled and strong!), packing paper and tape as standard on virtually all removals! We also supply hanging wardrobes for your hanging clothes

5) They often start off cheap and end up dear!

They won’t provide a proper written quotation and may insist that there is more furniture than you described on your removal. As they also insisted on quoting for your removal over the phone and have not called out to do a proper no-obligation quotation like a reputable firm, it can be hard to prove you did give a full list. Besides they often have clients over a barrel on move day and don’t they know it!!

6) They usually use smaller vehicles like box vans NOT Pantechnichons.

That’s not in itself wrong. It’s fine for one-bedroomed flats. But as the overall volume of most moves is two or three times the volume of the average box van AND you will only get access to your new property early to mid-afternoon AND your purchasers will almost certainly want to move in as soon as the money has transfered...A SMALL VAN JUST DOES NOT CUT THE MUSTARD. Your cowboy mover will probably give you hassle about not getting immediate access...even though he knows too well access is usually later in the day. And the really cheeky ones even try to charge you more for this inevitable delay.

7) They may claim to have insurance but you will never see anything in writing from them (because they don’t have it).

ALWAYS INSIST ON SEEING WRITTEN DETAILS OF COVER. IT IS ABSOLUTELLY THE SIMPLEST WAY OF CHECKING OUT IF THE COMPANY IS A COWBOY SETR-UP.

8) They rarely advertise in the main directories such as Yellow pages, Thomsons or BT, prefering the local classified setions of newpapers.

Cowboys are often here today, gone tomorrow. Directory advertising takesa much higher level of commitment than the local papers do. That does not mean that companies advertising in directories are always bad..or diretory advertisers arer always good...but you are more likely to get a quality removals and storage company from the yelow pages (or similar`0.

9) They will insist on cash payment.

If you want to pay by cash then that is generally fine with reputable firms too, but they also offer cheque and card payment schemes also.

So here is a quick checklist of what to look for and expect from a quality Removals Company.

They will call out and carry out a free, no-obligation removals survey.

They will provide a comprehensive written quotation detailing what they will provide, the fixed price and insurance or liability cover details for both removals and , if required, storage.

They will willingly supply removal boxes, packing paper, tape and hanging wardrobe boxes. They will also cater for special requirements, such as wine boxes, book boxes and bubblewrap etc.

They will answer phone calls promptly and answer any questions you may have.