29 July 2014

Following the growth of man and van services in the UK, it can be difficult to know which company has the best service offering in the local area. However, there are a number of little checks which you can make to see how they are performing and what sort of service quality they offer. Firstly, it is useful to check out the facilities and equipment which the company has. Does it have a presentable office building, plenty of removal vans and a dedicated workforce? Or does it only have a run-down lock-up and a dirty, old moving vehicle? If you’re not sure, then you could do a quick check online to see if there are any pictures on their website or adverts. If it is a small man with a van firm then don’t expect anything over the top, as long as their premises and vans look well-maintained and organised then you should be onto a winner. Secondly, be sure to check exactly what services they offer so that you’re not disappointed on moving day. Some firms come with just one professional mover on the day, while others may have two staff members who can help you with your things. If you have lots of bulky or heavy items to lift then this can be crucial for the smooth-running of your house or office move. If you’re happy to help lift and load the van then you may able to save a little bit of money if you opt for a firm that has only one moving team member. Thirdly, once you know how many staff there are going to be you also need to know how well experienced or trained they are. Organising and carrying out a move can be more complicated than it seems and can sometimes benefit from the expertise of a specialist removals man. Don’t be afraid to ask about the staff training and experience when you phone up, if the employees are well-trained then the company should be more than happy to tell you all about it. Fourthly, the easiest way to know how well a company is performing is by checking out some customer feedback or reviews. Remember that sometimes feedback on company websites is not always accurate so try to find another site where the company has been reviewed. If there is nothing online, then ask around the local area to see if anyone you know has used them and use this to help form an opinion of the company in hand. Finally, compare the man and van package with others in the local area to see how it compares on price and service offering. If there is one that is wildly cheaper than the others, expect it to offer a lower quality of service with fewer additional extras. If they are all similarly priced then you will need to dig a little deeper to see how the service history stands up. Companies that have been trading for a long period of time tend to be those that have managed to keep their customers on side. So if you want a van and man firm to help you with your home or office move try to make sure that they have well-maintained facilities and equipment, trained moving staff, good customer reviews and a service which is suitable for you. Without this, you may find that the man with a van service is more of a hindrance than a help.