As a removal man, I deal with size and volume every day. I see furniture, ornaments, appliances and storage spaces in a way that our customers don’t. They see a double-bed; I see 100 cubic feet of bed parts which need to be dismantled, labelled and loaded into a van. They see a bookshelf full of books; I see one man packing 10 boxes for 1-2 hours (depending on the customer’s request for alphabetizing or extra care for older, more valuable books). They see a small office; I see all the furniture, paperwork, appliances, trinkets, confidential shredding and possible disposal.
It’s not a problem explaining the moving costs to a client over the phone or, better yet, while surveying their property. The problem arises when the customer is oblivious to what they actually have in their home. Like when people tell you they only need to move a few boxes and one or two pieces of furniture, but what they actually have is 2 or three times that amount.
This is one of the reasons we recommend doing a site survey as it helps us determine the true nature of a move. If you’re unable to book a survey due to scheduling conflicts or time restrictions, here are a few tips:
- Open every door to every cabinet and every drawer of every storage unit, and look inside. People forget how much they have when they keep it all neatly stored away behind doors and inside drawers. Did you forget you have that dinner set in the hallway sideboard? What about those bicycles up in the loft? Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Make sure you mention these findings to your removal company so that they can supply the right amount of man power and materials.
- Take pictures of your property to show to your removal company – especially where crammed spaces are concerned as it is sometimes difficult to tell what all is actually in the room. This will give them an idea of what they’re dealing with if you are not sure how to describe the situation.
- Try to remember how larger items got into the property. If it could get in, it can get out. Was it assembled on site? Did it need to go through the window? Was it very heavy and required 5 men to take it up the stairs? These procedures are important to know as it will require more time, man power and specialist equipment.
