JOIN USThe right kind of packers & movers
Anxiety and excitement are inevitable when it comes to relocating from one place to another, one city to another, or one country to another. It’s really stressful for the individual or family when it comes to packing and moving all their invaluable assets. It’s not just about moving personal articles, it’s about relocating with items which have a lot of emotions attached. It could be that first-anniversary gift, an inherited piece of furniture, an exquisite piece of art, or for that matter, your child’s first picture frame. Basically, everything that matters to you has to be relocated.
Thus, choosing the right packing and moving company is the first step to a hassle-free move. We have also been reading about a lot of fake packers and movers who have duped many people. With the requirement for packing and moving increasing every day and there being no recognised association to certify moving companies and provide ratings, here are some tips to help you select the right moving company for your next move:
• Choose a FIDI-certified mover: It is highly recommended to select a FIDI-accredited company. Federation of International Furniture Removers (FIDI) is the only recognised affiliation globally for the moving industry, which is given to a company after a physical audit by Ernst & Young. This ensures that certain global standards are being met by the moving company in each market. FIDI also checks the financials of the company to ensure that they have a sound financial position and are covered for the liabilities which cannot be forecasted. They also look at files and rate your claim as well as customer satisfaction ratio. This first level of filter can get you to the list of companies who are certified globally and are different from the hordes of unorganised so-called packers. You can check for a FIDI certified mover from the FIDI website: www.fidi.org.
• Pre-move survey: This becomes the most critical aspect once you have shortlisted the moving companies whom you wish to work with. Either a physical survey or a video pre-move survey will be the best way to assess the shortlisted companies. That way, you can understand the local infrastructure, move process and references, which will further enable you to shortlist the moving companies. During a video survey, you could ask the surveyor to take you around his facility, material and store area. This will also give you an overview of their business model. This is less time-consuming for you and gets you a first-hand view about your prospective mover.
• Visit their office: This may be time-consuming but in an event of you not having much clarity, it’s worthwhile to drop by at the movers’s office without any intimation and see what happens.
• Quotation review: Once you have made the quality valuation, it’s important to do the commercial valuation. Please ask for a door to door service and check all the exclusions provided by each mover very clearly. This will help you to understand if it’s an ‘apple to apple’ comparison with no hidden charges. Do check the volume estimated, transit time, service inclusions/exclusions, door to door rate, insurance premium, union charges and taxes to arrive at the final number to make a clear comparison between the selected moving companies.
• Transit insurance: Underwriting the risk during the door to door movement will be key as that could at times be really painful. Like we do life insurance, health insurance or vehicle insurance, transit insurance of your household goods while being packed and moved is very critical. It is important to understand the features of the policy that is being offered by the shortlisted moving companies and check the following:
• Insurance premium rate
• Declare goods basis replacement cost and not as per depreciation rate
• Minimum deductions in case of a claim
• Inclusions and exclusions of the policy
• Claim processing timelines
• Get everything in writing: Business does not understand verbal communication. A proof is imperative. So, get everything in writing, be it the quote, commitments given by the mover, list of inventory, insurance documents, promises, terms and conditions, etc. Also, each relevant document and mail should be carefully checked in order to avoid future trouble.
If the above points are covered, there is a high chance that you will be able to have a seamless move with the least of heartburns.
(The author is CEO, Interem Relocations)